The American and French Revolution: Similarities and Differences
During the late 18th century, two great revolutions occurred, the American Revolution and the French Revolution. Between the years of 1775-1783, The American Revolution was fought between the thirteen British colonies in North America and Great Britain, their mother country. Thomas Hutchinson, the royal governor of Massachusetts at the time, sums the reason for war best, saying "No middle ground exists between the supreme authority of Parliament and the total dependence of the colonies: it is impossible there should be two independent legislatures in one and the same state'" (Van Tyne 135). The American Revolution was effectively a "conservative" advancement, and was fought
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This barred the bourgeoisie from progressing socially and politically. The semi-feudal system found in France was not only disliked by the bourgeoisie, but it was also resented by peasants and typically any person with an income. By 1789 many French people had become critical of the monarchy, which led to a common bitterness towards royal absolutism among the French people. The people disliked this political theory because it argues that a solitary person should hold all the power in a government. The Frenchmen resented the increasing and irregular taxes, government intrusion in their personal lives, and the maltreatment of religious minorities. An uncontrollable national debt was created due to the huge saddle from the unbalanced system of taxation. On July 14, 1789, the storming of the Bastille immediately became proof that power no longer resided in the King, but in the people, in accordance with the theories developed by their philosophers of the eighteenth century. These great thinkers' philosophies were influenced by the age of Enlightenment. The age of Enlightenment, while occurring simultaneously alongside the pre-war era, played a major role in shaping peoples' negative newfound opinions of their country and their king. The age of Enlightenment is depicted as an increase in the use of reasonableness to institute morals,
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 Revolution and the American Revolution have many similarities but there are definitely some differences between these two wars as well. Yes, both wars were focused around liberty and equality and both were trying to gain freedom but the main difference between these two wars were the context. (www.quora.com) America wanted to gain freedom from rules and taxes that Great Britain had put upon them, whereas France wanted to abolish the French monarchy and form a better government where people had more freedom of speech.
The French and American Revolution had similar goals, and were caused by the lack of the same things. First came the American Revolution: the movement that formed the United States. Later, the French Revolution came inspired by the Americans. Both of these revolutions were lead by leaders including: George Washington was the commander and chief of the American Revolution. Maximillien Robespierre the leader of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution. Cornwallis The leader of Britian in the American Revolution. John Adams who signed the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson the author of the Declaration of Independence.
A revolution is not an event that comes around every few years. In fact, for an event to be considered a revolution that event must bring about significant political, social, ideological, religious or even technological change. Throughout history there have been some very noteworthy revolutions such as the Agricultural Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution. Of all the revolutions in history, it is perhaps the French Revolution that remains the most romanticized in the minds of the people. The French Revolution was, at its core, a revolution of the masses, for the masses. It was a long, violent affair, lasting from 1787 to 1799. Like most periods of historical importance, the French Revolution was not caused by a single, specific event in history. It was rather the result of the accumulation of many events spread all through the 18th century. Some of the most important causes of the French Revolution were the economic crisis, the rising tensions between the social classes, the shortcoming of the rule of Louis XVI, and the Age of Enlightenment.
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.
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.
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
The French and American revolutions were both countries fighting for independence, almost one after another, the American first, and then the French. Both were very similar, while also, very different. Both were inspired by Enlightenment thinkers, and both involved citizens against the king. The French revolutionists were inspired by the American patriots.
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.
The French Revolution began less than two decades after the American Revolution. In many ways, the American experience was an inspiration for the citizens of France. But the people of the two countries had different situations and had different concerns, which influenced the way each revolution began, progressed, and ended. In this assignment you will write an essay that compares and contrasts the two revolutions.
The Age of Enlightenment served as the concrete base for America. It also served the same purpose in France. The desire for a “utopia” was what each nation wanted, as any country would. The Enlightenment promoted the individual or the idea of humanism. Humanism, which spread across Europe after the creation of the printing press, was a philosophy that no longer focused on theism but human needs. Man was no longer depending on the church for thoughts to make decisions. The idea of fearing their God and church was no longer seen as necessary. People were trying to come up with solutions through their own rational thought uninfluenced by anyone else, but themselves. Both France and the American colonies were becoming secular, though France
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?
The American Revolution was a wide-open conflict between Great Britain and the 13 colonies. The war began as a disagreement over the way Britain treated the colonies against the way colonies felt they should be treated. The conflict embodied in one of the reassembling cries of America, no taxation without representation. On the other hand, the French revolution was determined by the status that one held. The wealthy enjoyed life at ease and comfort, while the poor struggled to survive. This created resentment. Although the American and French revolutions were similar, they were also different because as the Americans were establishing a new nation 3,000 miles across the ocean, the French were full of anger and
On July 4, 1776, fifty-six men gathered in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. A few years later, on August 26, 1789, a similar gathering occurred in France. This resulted in the signing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. As discussed in the text, these two documents were the embodiment of Enlightenment thinking. (Sayre 845). The Enlightenment was a time where one took a rational, scientific, and logical approach to everything in life. In addition, this age focused on the role of the individual in government. The earlier form of government was focused on the divine right of kings. This is the idea that kings receive their authority from God. However, writings produced by John Locke and Rousseau
The 3 estate revolted against the first and second estate and this leaded to the French Revolution. This revolts affected the causes of the French Revolution. The absolute Monarchy is one of this causes, kings told you what you should do. Economic injustice is another cause of the French Revolution, just the third estate needed to pay taxes while the first and second estate did not pay taxes. The social inequality was also a cause to the French Revolution, because the third estate worked and payed taxes and the first and second estate did not pay taxes.