3.1 Short Paper: Comparative Essay on the American and French Revolutions
1.) Why does the United States come out its revolution with a republic instead of a monarchy? Why do the French wind up with an Emperor Napoleon but the United States does not have a King George of the House of Washington? There are moments in our history where the citizens of the world stand up and for their beliefs, their honor, and themselves. They come together to reform the existing government that is holding them back from achieving their desired lifestyle. When this occurs, most likely, war is inevitable to follow. When war comes to a country, death and destruction is destined. Leaders and rules change, but the pride of its citizens prevails and becomes
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When that monarchy went against the colonists, and regarded them a part of the empire, this was not entirely how the colonist’s wished to identify themselves. America and its colonists wished to establish themselves as being independent from a monarchy and to have a say in how they were ruled. After the revolution was over, Washington went back to Mount Vernon to retire, or so he thought.
When Washington was asked by his fellow founding fathers to become the new King of the United States, his reaction must have been priceless. After fighting the revolution for many long hard years, to get away from a monarchy, and now they wanted to create another one. Washington had his reasons why he did not wish to be king because, “He was driven by Ameri-can nationalism years before independence was declared, and for eight long years after 1775 he sacrificed as a soldier to bring the American na¬tion into being. He emerged from retirement to search for a means of safeguarding a national Union imperiled by sectionalists and localists, and with considerable misgivings he agreed to take on the presidency in an attempt to establish an energetic national government and a robust and truly independent United States.” Washington did not wish to be King, he wished to have what he fought in the revolution for, a government that was governed by the people not a monarch. America’s founding fathers, were at the helm of the
The Latin American Revolutions and the American Revolution both had similarities and differences. These revolutions were similar in a way, because they both were fighting against their suppressing powers and one difference was the way that unity shaped the way they gained independence.
Everyone knows George Washington as the first president, but most people do not know his other roles in the creation of the United States of America. In Joseph J. Ellis’s book, His Excellency George Washington, Ellis tells about Washington’s life. He includes his time as a general in the Revolutionary War, his life in retirement after the war, and also his time as the president. Ellis’s main focus in the book is to paint a picture for the reader so it almost feels like they are right next to Washington as his life is explained. The information in his book allows for readers to have a better understanding of what Washington went through in his life and also ,at times, gives educated guesses on what Washington might have been thinking. Through this book, it is easy to see why George Washington is referred to as one of the greatest Americans to ever live.
Due to the fact that the people in America wanted to split from Great Britain, it demonstrated that they wanted freedom and democracy. With what Washington did, it contradicted with the whole idea of freedom and conflicted the purpose of the Revolutionary War. His action was not favored by the people of America. What happened to him was similar to Louis XVI, the last French king, during the French Revolution. The people of America overthrew the the monarchy with the help of the government and the military. He was executed for treason at the place where now is The White House. This was why The White House was built, to commemorate the victory of American people gaining their
After leading the Americans to a victory in the Revolutionary War which caused America to break away free from Great Britain and becoming an independent country. But America needed a president to make their country better so they turned to George Washington after his outstanding job that he’ve done during the revolution. George Washington then took office and became the president of the United States. He felt as though the nation was too young to be strong enough to engage in an European war. President Washington had to create a cabinet which was to help in advising him about certain situation and to help him. He also had two fellow presidents in his cabinet, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. After serving two terms which is 8 years, President Washington decided to step down and he wrote a Farewell Address(speech). In his farewell address, he stated a few things that he would like to see happen which included him warning the US not to get involved in foreign wars, telling them not to make any alliances with foreign powers that would force them to become involved in foreign affairs, warned them against the dangers of political parties and telling them that the country’s sectional conflicts would divide the
It is well known that the United States was founded on the basis of Democracy, but what if the primary settlers had the intention of establishing a monarch? As the founding fathers created our country’s foundation, George Washington became known as the leader. Throughout his time as the man in charge, Washington was well-respected and loved. If the U.S. was created as a monarchy, George Washington would have been considered a good king due to his courage, respectability, and thoughtfulness when he retired from office.
The American and the French revolutions had many similarities and differences. One similarity being is that they both wanted to escape the rule of their King. Second, they both started by an uprising of people against unfair taxation by the monarchy. The French peasants were not represented by the Parliament. It was mainly composed of middle and upper class people. Now, the American colonists were not represented in England because of their lack of presence. Both wanted to set up a Republic, which provided liberty and justice to all classes of citizens. Just like France, the American colonists were composed up mainly middle and lower class citizens. The American Revolution started out by not wanting bloodshed and violence. France started
Throughout history, humanity has always yearned for better. When a leader, as an individual or an entire government, ceases to fuel their nation’s drive for better, the citizens take it into their own hands. From this sovereignty of the people, the idea of revolution is born. This idea has become prominent many times. One can analyze a country like France. Due to the government’s selfish actions, the third estate revolted. In countries like Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico, the citizens were tired of strict rule from a power that is an ocean away. This caused the people in Latin America to revolt against their leader, Spain. Although the French and Latin American Revolutions both were inspired by the American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas, the French Revolution was vastly unsuccessful compared to the Latin American Revolution which brought freedom to many countries.
The American Revolution began for two reasons: political and economic, while the French Revolution began with domination and mismanagement that contributed to the French society. During the Revolution many events occurred having a major effect, such as the sugar act, currency act, and the Townshend act. The French began the Tennis Court Oath, the Storming of the Bastille, and the overthrown of Monarchy. The French Revolution followed in suit with the American Revolution, because the French were in favor for what the American Revolution was fighting for.
A revolution, by definition, is the overthrow of one government followed by replacement with another. The American Revolution against the British during 1775 to 1783 and the French Revolution pitting the French people against their own government during 1789 to 1799 were both very important political and social turnovers. This movement towards the establishment of a constitutional government influenced political thought throughout the world. By closely examining three of the main causes of these revolutions, it is clear that although the two revolutions have their differences, the basis of cause for the revolutions have, overall, much stronger similarities.
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 American and French revolutions both compare and contrast in their origins and outcomes; both revolutions began due to the common peoples need to obtain independence and liberty from an oppressive government. The American Revolution was triggered by the American colonists need for financial independence from the overpowering nation of Great Britain, while the French revolution was a struggle to gain social equality among the masses. Although the American and French Revolutions were fought over the same ideas, the American Revolution is considered more “conservative” than the French. The intent of the American revolutionaries was not to initiate a revolution, but rather to gain their
During the late 1700's, two great revolutions occurred, the American Revolution and the French Revolution. These two historical events happened at the same time, but had a great number of differences and very little similarity. When French Revolution occurred, it turned into a very violent and bloody event, while the American Revolution was almost nonviolent, aside from the war. In 1774, King Louis XVI made a decision that could have prevented the French Revolution by breathing new life into the French economy: he appointed Physiocrat Robert Turgot as Controller General of Finance.
He has first gained public notice when he went to persuade the French the leave the Ohio Valley as they threatened to drive out the English (“George Washington”). This began to what is known as the Seven Year’s French and Indian War. After this war, many taxes were created to pay for the debt of Britain Protection. New Englanders felt the taxes were an abuse of power and began an American Revolution at Lexington and Concord in which Washington joined the Continental Congress and was named the Commander in Chief of the Continental forces. He led the forces to a moral boosting victory at Valley Forge against the British. After the war, he became the most important man in the country (“George Washington”). Washington retired from the army and became elected the first president of the United States after the new government was formed. When he retired from office he had given his ‘Farewell Address’ speech that included two main priorities for the success of America: no political parties and no foreign affairs (Williams). Although tensions between the French and British were inevitable, Washington was vital in the victory of the later Revolutionary War from the military knowledge he gained from the Seven Year’s War. Washington was extremely influential; thus, without him the ratification of the Constitution would not have been possible. The checks and balances system would not have been created resulting
During the 18th century, the Enlightenment ideas were flourishing in both the American and French Revolutions. The Enlightenment perspective consisted of people searching for their social prestige, questioning authorities and believing they could create a new republic. The Americans aimed for independence and the French desired to overthrow their monarchy. The objective in both revolutions were relatively the same, to overthrow and recreate in efforts to achieve national sovereignty. However, the outcomes of the two socials worlds were radically different. The French citizens emerged more enlightenment thinkers demanding their equal rights despite regressing back to a monarch. In contrast, the Americans formed a successful democratic republic but continued inequality within their society. Furthermore, the French were significantly more revolutionary, as opposed to reactionary, than the Americans.
June 1755, George Washington Became Commander in Chief but to many patriots he was much more than the Commander in Chief. He became the calm voice to those who needed it, George Washington was known to be strongly determined and held a heavy load of the patriotic duty to country. George Washington was the real backbone into the Revolution war and kept it from going under during the hardships and unexpected trials and tribulations that occurred during the long years of war. Without General Washington as the commander and chief, it’s believed that the unthinkable and imaginable could never have succeeded. His faith in the cause and his devotion to the ideals it embodied made him the symbol of America — the spirit of the Revolution. http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/george2.html