The French And American Revolutions Essay

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

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 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.

Both the American and French revolutions were focused on liberty and equality. America was trying to gain freedom from the rules, unfair taxation, War debt, and lack of representation from the British. The French Revolution on the other hand wanted to abolish the French monarchy and create a better government in which people could have more of a say in society, and also had similar causes as the American Revolution. They were similar in their causes because both of them were caused because of unfair taxation, war debt, and lack of representation. However, “The American Revolution involved a colonial uprising against an

The American and French Revolutions were profoundly motivated by economics. Prior to the Revolution, British colonies in America were thriving. Colonists paid fairly few taxes and were permitted to participate in domestic economic activity, granted they adhere to the Navigation Act, an act requiring, “that all trade within the empire be conducted on ships which were constructed, owned and largely manned by British citizens. Certain enumerated goods whether exported or imported by the colonies had to be shipped through England regardless of the final port of destination.” (Baack) Its mother country however, was not analogous. England’s debt had nearly doubled due to their victory over France during the 7 Year War and was frantically

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 French and American Revolutions were started all because of one thing, The Enlightenment, The Enlightenment was a time where people were thinking about the corrupted government in their countries. Monarchs were becoming way too powerful, they were taxing the third class people so much they could barely afford to eat. Even when the topic was brought up to the King nothing ever changed. The Declaration of Independence was another thing that brought the American Revolution to life, the whole thing was telling about how America wanted freedom from England, and it angered the King George greatly. The Declaration of the Rights of Man was the French document that told about all the changes that needed to be made to the French government.

The American Revolution and the French Revolution were both very different wars, but they also had many similarities. The main instigator in both the American and French Revolution was enlightenment ideas. These ideas resulted in many people becoming dissatisfied with the government and the way things were being managed. Both countries were being taxed in an unfair way, so the people became angry and refused to pay these taxes. As a result from all the resistance, serious financial problems arose, which led to the people desperately attempting to reach a more independent way of life.

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 Revolutions in America and France had many correlating factors and causes. Both countries began their revolts to escape the ruling powers of their King. Both countries had people inspired to begin a revolution because of unjust taxations imposed by the monarchies rule over them. Circumstances were different in America and France, their specific reasons for revolution were distinct and purposeful. Peasant workers in France were upset about not being represented in the French Parliament, as it was traditionally controlled by middle and upper-class citizens. In America, revolutionary ideas began when the colonists from Great Britain were not given representation in British Parliament, and were forced to pay taxes to the British Kingdom

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.

to get all the power of France. It should also be said that not all the nobles

The French Revolution was arguably and widely regarded by historians as being one of the most important events in human history. The revolution in France (between 1789 to 1799) accelerated the rise of republics and democracies. It became the “focal point for the development of all modern political ideologies, leading to the spread of liberalism, nationalism, socialism, feminism, and secularism (among many others).” The French revolution bared witness to the birth of ‘total war’ by organising the resources of France and the lives of its citizens towards the objective of military conquest. Some of its “central documents, like the Declaration of the Rights of Man, expanded the arena of human rights to include women and slaves, leading to movements for abolitionism and universal suffrage in the next century.” As the modern-era has unfolded in the wake of the French revolution, I will be examining the causes and consequences of the crucial Tennis Court Oath, analysing primarily the work of historians and their perspective on the French Revolution to draw my own conclusions and make insightful comments based off their historiography. I will then draw a conclusion connecting the importance of the revolution to modern society today, and its significance for New Zealanders.