The American and French Revolution: Liberty and Irony

Revolutions happen for very real reasons; such as the French, and American Revolution as well as some similarities of the Napoleonic era. The act of people revolting plainly states that there is something internally wrong with their government. What were the events that led these two countries to revolt? What did these two countries, separated by a whole ocean, have in common during their period of conflict within, and how different were their outcomes? Why?

From my own observation I believe these thorns in history grew from a seed called religion. The Catholic Church became very powerful and influenced the state of these two countries in a major way. Kings and Queens were the governing force in those days and were believed to possess a divine right to hold such positions. Between the corruption of royalty and the clergy along with a rigid social class, a revolt was bound to happen. Only one third of the French embraced Reformation, the larger part refused the French translation of the Bible and all that came with it. (Finely MD, G) Then years later only a third of the American population wanted to break free from the mother country. (U.S, 1996-2005) One of the many differences between the two countries revolt is that the Puritans or original Americans embraced their faith and the French made a point to separate the church from the state. (Finely MD, G)

The irony of the French Revolution was after the act of overthrowing their original dictatorship, coupled with their deteriorating faith; they put priority in their military force. So much in fact, that they handed over power to Napoleon Bonaparte, who had supreme rule and transformed all the French efforts towards liberty into a new dictatorship. Leading with an iron fist and the constant need to prove his power, he influenced his people to yet again take anarchistic actions. After his countless battles and squashing any resistance, such as Paris rioters the French’s newly installed Senate took it onto them to take the throne from Napoleon. Forcing him into exile for a hundred days, the throne was passed to by the senate, Louis XVIII. After the death of Louis XVIII Charles X was to take the thrown, only to be overthrown in 1830; he was the last monarch in the Bourbon Dynasty, France. It wasn’t until 1871 when Louis Adolphe Theirs declared that the Republic exist and will be maintained. (American Social History Productions Inc, 2001)

The similarities between the two countries were that the actual power of the people, was haughtily disregarded by their superiors, and critically underestimated. Due to corrupted clergy, poor rulings, embellished taxes and the over use of martial law procedures, the end to most was just the beginning of a long exhausting journey; towards a much needed life of liberty and a just government led by the foundation of these two lands, it’s people. 

References

1.      American Social History Productions Inc. (2001). Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution. Retrieved January 12, 2009, from French Revolution Timeline Web site: http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/browse/timeline/

2.      Finely, G., MD. (n.d.). French Revolution vs. American Revolution. Retrieved January 12, 2009, from Endtimepilgrim.org Web site: http://endtimepilgrim.org/puritans12.htm

3.      [U.S. (1996-2005). American Revolution Timeline. Retrieved January 12, 2009, from AmericanRevolution.com Web site: http://www.americanrevolution.com/Timeline.htm