Article Analysis: The Shoemaker and The Revolution Alfred F. Young wrote The Shoemaker and the Revolution to explain how a regular citizen could become such an active participant in the American Revolution. He explores one citizen in particular, the shoemaker George Robert Twelves Hewes, and how he went from a young, nervous boy to a patriot that stood up for what he believed. Young describes that this transformation can be explained by participation in events that inspired the revolution - the Boston Massacre, the Boston tea Party, and the tarring and feathering of John Malcolm. The first event that began to shape the man that Hewes would become was the Boston Massacre in March of 1770. Hewes also had several altercations with British troops before the Massacre …show more content…
Young states that by participating in these events, Howes was able to enhance his revolutionary spirit which would enable him to become such a patriot. The events in the American Revolution can be closely compared to those of the French Revolution. The most striking similarity can be seen in the ideals that were followed by both nations. The ideals of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and equality were born from the American Revolution and heavily influenced the French when they revolted against their country. These revolutions did have some differences, one of which would be the way they would be carried out. The American Revolution occurred to to one side of a country overthrowing their mother country for independence. The French Revolution occurred due to some of the nation wanting to change the way the monarchy functioned, not gain independence. Overall, these two revolutions can be seen as comparing closely. Youngs article articulates the transition one citizen could make from ordinary to
The French Revolution was a drastic time for the people of France. In 1789, the majority of people were living in poverty and dealing with terrible conditions. People were split into three estates: the first, second, and third, the first being the wealthiest. Political, economic, and social situations were what contributed to people’s desire for change. The three main, or biggest causes of the French Revolution, were taxes, inequality, and lack of reform.
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
She views the French Revolution as an act of liberation. The driving force behind the revolution came from the poor. The needs of the poor were not being met so they overthrew the government without a plan to found a new one. The American revolution was successful because it had the plan to reform government. It was driven by the idea of a new form of government rather than meeting the needs of the poor.
During the Eighteenth Century, France had an absolute monarchy with Louis XVI as king and Marie Antoinette as queen. In that time period, French society was based upon a system of Estates where the clergy made up the First Estate; the nobility comprised the Second Estate, and everyone else including professionals, peasants, and the bourgeoisie made up the Third Estate. The Third Estate was immensely unhappy with the old regime, the Estates General, and Louis XVI’s leadership. France was also in the midst of a fiscal crisis due to the American Revolution, Louis XVI’s lavish lifestyle, the Seven Years War, and the tax exemption of the First and Second Estate. Following the surge of new ideas and impactful philosophers from the Enlightenment,
An event the American Revolution is similar to is the Arab Spring which occurred in the Middle East during 2010. Although in widely different times and location, the American Revolution and the Arab Spring have many aspects in common. First, there was the similar cause of an oppressive government with the Middle East containing multiple dictatorships. Also, the Arab Spring had a similar short term effect because democracy was introduced into the region which was a new structure for the people. However, the long term effects have yet to fully play out and really change the region.
The French Revolution and Latin American Revolution both followed the pattern of: citizens became dissatisfied with government, moderates gaining more power, radicals taking over, and then entering a period of acceptance. France was divided into three estates. The third estate
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.
Once I get done with that, I will then compare the causes to each other. Let’s begin with the American revolution the conflict arose from growing tensions between residents of Great Britain’s 13 North American colonies and the colonial government, which represented the British crown. Skirmishes between British troops and colonial militiamen in Lexington and Concord in April 1775 kicked off the armed conflict, and by the following summer, the rebels were waging a full-scale war for their independence. France entered the American Revolution on the side of the colonists in 1778, turning what had essentially been a civil war into an international conflict. After French assistance helped the Continental Army force the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, the Americans had effectively won their independence, though fighting would not formally end until 1783.
In 1789, USA became the first democratic country, with president, George Washington, who chosen by United States citizens. At a word, the American Revolution succeeds in creating stable government. However one revolution that happened in 1789 and had many similarities with American Revolution, not really succeeded compare to American Revolution is French Revolution. They both had one important similarity, which was they both influenced by the idea of Enlightenment, especially all men are equal and has natural rights from births. In addition, two revolutions are both caused by people who stood up against absolute monarchy.
The French Revolution was one of the most significant wars that changed France’s history. The Revolution started in 1789 and ended in 1799 and was mainly initiated by the conditions affecting the Third Estate. Louis XVI was predominately the king during this time period but little did he know that an uprising among the peasants was happening. The French Revolution was caused by the Enlightenment ideas because of the American Revolution, the knowledge of rights, and the questioning of France’s government. The American Revolution was basically the “fire” that ignited the change the Third Estate wanted to see in their country.
There were many disagreements and because of those, many events were the cause of the American Revolution. These events included bloodshed by others, peoples rights weren’t enforced, individuals didn’t receive freedom, and our country was just not yet whole. Despite of the causes of why the road to Revolution took place there were effects afterwards. When American Revolution was over with the The Declaration of Independence came into place, treaties were signed, and the Bill of Rights. Now these effects/events were amazing, it helped our country tremendously.
In your unit study, you explored the causes and effects, characteristics, as well as the consequences, of each of these revolutions. What did they have in common? How did they differ? For this portfolio, you will complete this document as you explore the similarities and differences between the French and American Revolutions.
Overall, the Haitian Revolution is a contrast to the French Revolution because the main reasons and goals of the people were different. In Haiti, the news of American Independence motivated slaves to unite and fight for equality from European nations. Meanwhile in France, the radicals hoped that by overthrowing the monarchy, a new assembly would be created and France would become a republic. Enlightenment philosophies played a role in both revolutions, yet the main reasons for the events differed from one
The French Revolution all began after people in France decided it was time to fight for their rights and freedom and escape the tyranny that took place and give the people more power. At the time King Louis XVI was the French king and had power from 1774 to 1792 and was later executed in 1793. In France, the people were divided into three separate social estates, clergy, nobility, and the commoner as the lowest and the highest above all of course would be the king. The Enlightenment was a movement by intellectuals who promoted reason and science, and they began to question the system in place at the time in France and they began to spread revolutionary ideas that got people thinking about change. The “French Revolution was influenced by Enlightenment ideals” and when the ideas began to spread people were newly educated about something they never thought about, and after
The first way that the French Revolution in the late 1700s and the Russian Revolution in the early 1900s compare is their government. During their times, they both had weak leaders that did not desire to rule, this was King Louis XVI of France and Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Both Royal families were eventually executed or assassinated. Also, both countries around the time of their revolutions were affected by a war in a way, the American Revolution for France and World War I for Russia. Both tried new governments, for France this was democracy and for Russia it was communism.