Comparing the American and French Revolutions

American - Government Not a country

British colony British Governor

England Monarch

George III Parliamentary Rule

Colonies had the right to assemble Continental

Congress

American - Reasons

England Wanted a return on

their investment Needed America’s

raw materials Needed America’s

cash (taxes)

Colonies Enlightenment

ideas Wanted equality

before the law Wanted more power

to rule and make their own decisions

American - People Social Divisions

More by job than class

Education Independent

Minded Used to self

government

American – Events British passed a

series of new taxes on the colonies Sugar, Stamp,

Townsend, Tea and others

Quartering Act Boston Massacre Boston Tea Party Common Sense

American RevolutionDeclaration of Independence

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America”

American RevolutionThe Constitution

In 1787, Americans drafted the Constitution of the United States which created a federal government based on popular sovereignty

French - Government Absolute Monarchy

Louis XVI

Before After

French - Reasons Economic

Low wages High taxes Inflation

Enlightenment Ideals Philosophes

Monarchy’s lavish spending

French - People Social Order

1st Estate (Aristocracy)

2nd Estate (Clergy)

3rd Estate (Everybody else)

97% of the population

French - Events Heavy taxes on the

3rd Estate Tennis Court Oath National Assembly Storming the

Bastille

French Revolution: Declaration In 1789, the National Assembly issued

the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen Influenced by the Declaration of

Independence Proclaimed the equality of all men Declared that sovereignty resided in the

people Asserted individual rights to:

Liberty Prosperity Security

Reforms of the National Assembly

Reconfigured French society Abolished the first estate Defined clergy as civilians Made the king the chief

executive but deprived him of legislative authority

Constitutional Monarchy Men with property could

vote

Primary Difference

The Americans sought independence from British imperial rule, but they kept British law and much of the British social and cultural heritage

The French revolutionaries sought to replace the ancien regime (“the old order”) with new political, social, and cultural structures