Comparing the French Revolution and the American Revolution

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The French and American revolutions are both very significant in the world’s history. The American Revolution happened first, around the last half of the 18th century where the Thirteen Colonies became the United States of America, and gained independence from the British Empire. The French revolution on the other hand, was from 1789 until the turn of the century 1799. For the French people this was a period of political and social turmoil. The idea of Enlightenment stuck a large population of the French people and led to many changes in society. These two individual revolutions have many comparisons and although they are not identical they become intertwined with separate philosophies on politics and economic expansion.

The revolutions had a large quantity of ideas in common; however, they were two different countries, in two unlike geographical locations, with total dissimilar types of culture. The Americans planned out their revolution for many years until capturing the right moment to spark it. A significant fact is that the French played a key role in aiding America in its struggle against the British Empire. They supplied the Americans with money and munitions, they helped organize the American military, and even sent their own fleet to help end the revolutionary war. After the war ended the French upon returning to France, came to the conclusion that they did not have the freedom that they just helped America receive. This led to the French planning a revolution of their own.

The American Revolution was about the independence of the country. The people who planned this revolution were among the Capitalist middle class of society. The higher class consisted of the British loyalists and the lowest c...

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...igion whereas the French had a rough time battling it.

The American and French revolutions compare and contrast in many ways. The ideas of starting wars and liberating the people lead to new governments and success in economy. The ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers interested the people of America and France to upgrade their lifestyles. Every aspect of life from religion to capitalist economy led to the sparks of these revolutions and the differences of the two made them so significant.

Works Cited

Andress, David. The Terror: The Merciless War for Freedom in Revolutionary France New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005

Humphrey; Carol Sue, ed. The Revolutionary Era: Primary Documents on Events from 1776 to 1800 Greenwood Press, 2003

Perry, Marvin. Western Civilization Ideas, Politics & Society. 8th. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Commpany, 2007.

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