Similarities Between American And French Revolution

682 Words3 Pages

During the eighteenth century, the Enlightenment culminated in the French and American Revolutions. Philosophy and science increased in prominence. Philosophers such as J. Locke and Russo dreamed of a brighter age and universal equality. This Enlightenment dream turned into a reality with both the American the French Revolutions, uncovering more opportunities for the people and the countries themselves. While there are several similarities between these revolutions, there are also a few key differences that set them apart from each other. Both Revolutions had in common was that they had the same ideas behind them, ideas closely connected to the Enlightenment movement and driven by the desire to oppose oppression and defeat social inequality. But the political and social climate was completely different in both countries during and prior to their revolutions. In France people arose to fight the monarchy, which was becoming more and more inefficient as a system, corrupt and degraded, whereas in the Colonies people were just reluctant to be part of the British Empire. Also, despite …show more content…

The Enlightenment, which started in France and is associated with writers such as Rousseau and Voltaire, caused those under the thumb of monarchies to begin to recognize the inequality inherent in such systems. People of all classes, especially the middle and lower classes, began to use these ideas to formulate an ideology of resistance. They insisted on the implementation of new measures that would guarantee the natural rights of all citizens and believed that, as Rousseau wrote, “no man has any natural authority over his fellow men, and since force is not the source of right, conventions remain as the basis of all lawful authority among men.” . These ideas also shaped the American Revolution and the success of it went on to also inspire the French as

Open Document