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Enlightenment Vs French Revolutions

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The ideas discussed in the Age of Reason, or the Enlightenment, has played an influential role in the production of revolutionary ideals for the French and American citizens as they battled for their independence, which made them unique events that occurred in history. According to McDougal Littell, from Modern World History, philosophers in the Enlightenment formulated concepts that influences human beliefs, such as “reason, nature, happiness, progress, and liberty.” These ideas are highly evident in the revolutions because human morale was challenged to a certain degree. Not only does the two revolutions possess unique similarities and differences; but also important elements that notably emphasizes them both distinctly. There are multiple …show more content…

One distinct difference was how they define and view liberty and how it should be implemented in their government. In his lecture, “The Great Divide: The Ideological Legacies of the American and French Revolutions”, Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D. proclaims that “For Americans, the state of nature was very real. It was where individuals were endowed by the Creator with natural rights like life and liberty.” Americans believed that they already hold the rights to attain freedom granted by the Creator, however their government restricted those rights -- in which they have concluded from the ideas of John Locke. The French on the other hand, “ imagined a new order in which everyone naturally loved and cared for one another, but only if all the bad laws and customs of the past were completely destroyed.” (Holmes, PhD 2014) This means that the French believed that freedom can only be present if the laws that oppressed them were gone -- this idea was influenced by the writings of Rousseau. For example, the Americans’ view on equality is based on the idea that “all men are created equal”, which was stated in the Declaration of Independence. For the French, freedom is collective and based on general will (the diverse opinions and interests the people possess). Another difference between the two revolutions is their overall outcomes. One can argue that the American Revolution turned out to be more …show more content…

One distinguished event was called Storming the Bastille that happened on July 14, 1789 -- which can be debated as “a pivotal moment in the unfolding of the French Revolution” (Platon 2014). In addition, Platon also states that “...the events of July 14 retained their power as the most powerful symbol of the people bringing down a despotic government and putting an end to arbitrary rule.” These people raided the prison due to the fear of being attacked, so they needed weapons to protect themselves. (Littell, 221). The National Assembly was a significant event for the Third Estate because it was a chance to gain power in political decisions. McDougal states, “Soon after, nobles and members of the clergy who favored reform joined the Third Estate delegates.” (Littell, 220). This shows that even the nobles felt powerless in their government and wanted to join the commoners, also known as the lower

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The government’s power would be placed in the hands of the people, who would choose people to represent them and make decisions (Doc. I). The American people, now united and independent from Great Britain, developed a strong sense of nationalism. People were proud to be an American, and believed strongly in their country (Doc. C). In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Americans began to question slavery. In the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, slavery was banned in the territory northwest of the Ohio River.

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As a result of their revolution, the Americans got their independence from Britain and introduced enlightenment ideas into their government. The American government after the revolution was much different than the government before the revolution. Before the revolution the American people were not represented in government and had no say. After the revolution the American people became the government. People elected other people that they trusted to go represent them in government.

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There are multiple

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The American Revolution is arguably the turning point of American history as it resulted in somewhat of a significant, positive change in politics, economics, and society as a whole. However, from 1775 to 1800, the effects of the revolution on the American society were subtle as most principles glorified by revolutionists contradicted the examples set forth by colonial reality. Perhaps most alike to revolutionary beliefs was the American economy and how it participated in free trade or encouraged the independence of hard labor. Politically, the states did apply Enlightenment and republican ideas as promised, but more often than not, the benefits of such ideas were limited to rich, land-owning, protestant, white men. This glorification of

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Lorenzo Johnson Mr. Olavarri Scholars World History, Period 7 28 October 2015 How are the French and American Revolutions so unique in world history? There have been many different events that have made a different and made changes to create the world we live in today. But do people know how they have changed the world. How are they unique or relevant to today? The French and American revolutions had many causes to the forming of the revolutions to which led to major events and historical changes.

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The similarities of these revolutions were simple: in both of the cases, they disagreed with their rulers’ desires. The differences of these financial causes was that the Third estate was the only social class paying tax, and the colonists in America all had to pay tax to the British, who were in charge of them. Overall, this information clearly shows how financial problems were one of the causes of both revolutions even though they were different in

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The main difference between the American and French Revoultion was that one successfully converted to a democratic government and one did not. The French Revolution was not successful in forming a democratic government due to France’s history of a monarchy, economic issues and divison among its’ people. Unlike America, France had a long history of sole rulers and dictatorship which made the change to a democratic government much more difficult and ultimately impossible. America’s motto of “all men are created equal” (Doc A) was the complete opposite of France’s dividing estate class system. The third estate consisted of peasents, common people and the bourgeoisie, the second estate belonged to the Nobles, and the first was the home to the Clergy.

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Within the period of 1750 to 1914, changes were taking place around the world. New empires and nations began growing and expanding their territory, and as a result of these actions, wars, bankruptcy, and rebellions became more common. An example is the American Revolution, in which the American colonists, who were influenced by new philosophies and the sense of nationalism, fought and gained their independence from Britain. This revolution eventually inspired others throughout the world as it was successful in gaining the colonies independence from a powerful European empire. Those revolutions include the Haitian and French Revolution.

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The American and French Revolution are both remembered in history as two major changes that would shape what we know today. Every child learns of the American Revolution at least once in their lives. Both these revolutions had the similar cause, effects, and stages that resulted or started them. Just like in every warring country, it is inevitable that there will be some change that occurs whether it be for the better or for worse. Although the American and French revolutions were very similar in the actions, there were many differences leading them into ultimately different paths and states of rest.

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“The Third Estate, the commoners of society, constituted the overwhelming majority of the French population. They were divided by vast differences in occupation, level of education, and wealth. The peasants, who alone constituted 75 to 80 percent of the total population, were by far the largest segment of the Third Estate (568).” These peasants had just about enough with the king and the

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During the French Revolution, people fought and killed for the things they believed in, specifically rights. It was started for many things, including resentment of royal absolutism, rise of enlightenment ideals, unmanageable national debt, and the unfair treatment of the Third Estate. The French Revolution produced written works such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which served as a model of man’s inalienable right to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. Everyone during the Revolution agreed on and wanted one thing: rights. However, not everyone wanted people to have this privilege, and cared more for themselves.

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The Assembly stormed the Bastille in revolution against the king. They accomplished all French citizens to be subject to the same, legal laws under the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. This Declaration stated, “The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or

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During both revolutions, the higher class people pay no attention to the peasants, so they took a stand and had revolutions. The French Revolution it was knownn as the "bloody war" and in the Glorious Revolution was know to be glorious and known by "no blood, no war,, new king". The French revolution 40,000 people died and the Glorious Revolution no one died it was glorious and that's why it is named the Glorious Revolution. During the French Revolution, the king wasn't listening to the peasants so they beheaded his head and in the Glorious Revolution the king worked it out with his peasents and kepted his head. At the end of both Revolutions, they made a Bills of Rights.

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The bottom Third Estate suffered from heavy tax burden, unemployment, scarcity of food, lack of rights and political power. They united with the shared connection of despising the monarchy, and the First and Second Estate for their exalted privileges, and strongly desired equality. The bourgeoisie especially, were voicing the demand of change, as they were educated and had higher literacy among them. Also, majority of them were merchants, providing them the opportunities to get informations concerning other countries. For example, the traders heard about how in Britain the authority of the monarch had been overthrown and limited.

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The Enlightenment gave people power to make the changes they wanted for independence and politics using intellect and reason, their natural right. The norm of a society that is modelled today became reason over

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