A revolution, by definition, is the overthrow of one government followed by replacement with another. The American Revolution against the British during 1775 to 1783 and the French Revolution pitting the French people against their own government during 1789 to 1799 were both very important political and social turnovers. This movement towards the establishment of a constitutional government influenced political thought throughout the world. By closely examining three of the main causes of these revolutions, it is clear that although the two revolutions have their differences, the basis of cause for the revolutions have, overall, much stronger similarities.
One of the main causes for the revolution and essentially what started it was the inefficiency of both governments and the oppression they placed upon their nations. There is a strong similarity of how and what each government did to abuse their powers. Both governments lead their country into a bad state by forcing the peoples to fight for a cause that did not involve the, but was instead the major authorities problem. The French were driven into war to help America's revolution while the Americans were always forced to fighting Britain's battles, all of which suppressed the growth of their nation.
As said in Thomas Paine?s 50- page pamphlet ?Common Sense? written in those times as a successful attempt to convince many Americans that independence from Great Britain was the only course of action possible, some people would argue that British government over America protected and defended them but as Thomas Paine put it, it was only for the sake of trade and domination. The reality is that wars between foreign powers caused by the British would not have started in the first place if Britain wasn?t there. The British did not protect America from any enemies but their own and whenever a war broke out between Britain and any other foreign power, the trade, and therefore the allowance to grow economically was ruined because of America?s connection to the British. Similarly, the French were driven into war against England to help Americas revolt with no reason but that of that the king feared and hated England. Because of this war, France sank into complete bankruptcy. Although the specific ways that the two nations were suppressed are obviously different, in general, both nations were drawn into oppression by having to get involved with a matter not of their own, the last thing they needed.
People were getting angrier and angrier by the day from the oppression and this desire for more liberty grew into a determination to be independent, another main cause of the revolution.
The people themselves wanted freedom but it was the influence of the philosophers at the time that drove them to believe they could get it, which resulted in the revolt.
Since both France and America had the same philosophers to influence them, they were ?enlightened? with the same ideas,...
