French Revolution and the American Revolution

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French Revolution and the American Revolution

            Before the American Revolution started, in 1775 under the leadership of Samuel Adams, citizens were strictly British subordinates. The country's social structure was made up of the middle class who were individuals working in skilled jobs such as craftsmen and teachers to sustain themselves and the upper class, which comprised the wealthiest families who differentiated themselves from other people by showing off their greater power, influence, and wealth (Bonwick, 90). However, during the war, women played huge roles such as participating in riots, managing businesses, and farms, and attending to the needs of soldiers who engaged in the battlefields, to attain independence.

            On the other hand, before the French Revolution, citizens in France were under the leadership of a monarchy governed by the Marquis de Lafayette and Count of Mirabeau. when the revolution began in 1789, citizens who lacked power or money were unable to take part in politics. This is because most monarchs did not want the support of their subjects to enforce policies that suited them, hence, the citizens remained oppressed and voiceless (Fremont-Barnes, 24). However, there were three levels in France's social system; the clergy (First Estate) and the nobility (Second Estate) who were excused from paying most taxes since they volunteered to help the church cater to the education and health care of most citizens, and the Third Estate, which comprised of the citizens who faced heavy taxation from the monarchy (Bukovansky, 50).

            Moreover, most revolutions start with the occurrence of violence that is mostly a result of a rise in extreme demands from the ruling government against citizens. During the French Revolution, many events took place causing a great impact. The revolution began with mismanagement and dominance that led to the French community, while the American revolution began due to economic and political instabilities, caused by their persistent call for freedom (Bukovansky, 51). In the French Revolution, more violence was observed, since they massacred anyone who was perceived to support the king, while the revolutionaries in the American Revolution weren't ferocious and never killed those who supported the British unless they were on the battlefield.

            However, the two revolutions had some similarities. They both concentrated on equality and liberty since they both aimed at acquiring freedom. The French Revolutionaries' goal was to wipe out the French monarchy and form a better system where the citizens could have more say in the decision-making in the country (Landes, 45). Similarly, the Americans aimed to acquire more freedom from the taxes and rules imposed on them by the British rulers (Weigley, 103).

            Through the Revolutionary War, America was successful in retaining its republican and democratic nature since they were able to achieve independence, despite all the costs faced due to large net benefits for both the citizens and the world at large (Weigley, 104). While France went through different government changes, depending on the objectives, the French Revolution was able to overthrow Louis XVI but failed in completely abolishing the monarchy. This is because even after the provision of equality to the French citizens, wealth was distributed from the upper class to the church, and ended in the past government, hence opening the way for a more dynamic political regime that strengthened the economy.

Works Cited

Bonwick, Colin. The American Revolution. Palgrave: Macmillan, 1991. Pg. 90-92

Bukovansky, Mlada. Legitimacy and power politics: the American and French Revolutions in international political culture. Princeton University Press, 2010. Pg. 50-53.

Fremont-Barnes, Gregory. The French Revolutionary Wars. Routledge, 2013. Pg. 23-26

Landes, Joan B. Women and the Public Sphere in the Age of the French Revolution. Cornell University Press, 1988. Pg. 45

Weigley, Russell Frank. The American way of war: a history of United States military strategy and policy. Indiana University Press, 1977. Pg. 102-104