Enlightenment Vs French Revolution Essay

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The United States and France’s revolutions were caused by the Enlightenment’s idea of freedom and equality. Both countries had similar types of government, which was an absolute monarch and the people felt the need to be released from this oppression. The lower classes were being taxed the most and this really was a problem for them since they could barely afford their food. Before the Enlightenment period began, most people could not think for themselves, instead they would believe what the majority of people were talking about. Then, the enlightened thinkers came along and started to think for themselves and to question religious beliefs and they inspired other people to think for themselves as well. This change of beliefs is what led the Americans and the French to fight for their rights. The Enlightenment idea of equal rights made the Americans realize that they were in an unequal form of government and that they needed to do something about it. This American act inspired the French to do something as well. The American Revolution started when Great Britain was becoming weaker and the United States no longer felt protected with them. So they wanted their own set of rules, not Britain rules. They created the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and they became their own country. This set of rules was …show more content…

While the unfair tax system was still happening, the bread was scarce and that was the main food that French ate. The women marched to the Palace of Versailles to claim their respective bread. Another main reason why France had a revolution was because of the Reign of Terror. The Reign of Terror began when Robespierre was ruling France. At first he was one of the people, then the ambition took over his head and started executing people for no reason so his own people revolved against him. The Reign of Terror ended with Robespierre’s