Comparing the American and French Revolutions

American - Government Not a country Not a country British colony British colony British Governor British Governor England England Monarch Monarch George III George III Parliamentary Rule Parliamentary Rule Colonies had the right to assemble Colonies had the right to assemble Continental Congress Continental Congress

American - Reasons England Wanted a return on their investment Wanted a return on their investment Needed America’s raw materials Needed America’s raw materials Needed America’s cash (taxes) Needed America’s cash (taxes)Colonies Enlightenment ideas Enlightenment ideas Wanted equality before the law Wanted equality before the law Wanted more power to rule and make their own decisions Wanted more power to rule and make their own decisions

American - People Social Divisions Social Divisions More by job than class More by job than class Education Education Independent Minded Independent Minded Used to self government Used to self government

American – Events British passed a series of new taxes on the colonies British passed a series of new taxes on the colonies Sugar, Stamp, Townsend, Tea and others Sugar, Stamp, Townsend, Tea and others Quartering Act Quartering Act Boston Massacre Boston Massacre Boston Tea Party Boston Tea Party Common Sense Common Sense

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

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

French - Government Absolute Monarchy Absolute Monarchy Louis XVI Louis XVI BeforeAfter

French - Reasons Economic Economic Low wages Low wages High taxes High taxes Inflation Inflation Enlightenment Ideals Enlightenment Ideals Philosophes Philosophes Monarchy’s lavish spending Monarchy’s lavish spending

French - People Social Order Social Order 1 st Estate (Aristocracy) 1 st Estate (Aristocracy) 2 nd Estate (Clergy) 2 nd Estate (Clergy) 3 rd Estate (Everybody else) 3 rd Estate (Everybody else) 97% of the population 97% of the population

French - Events Heavy taxes on the 3 rd Estate Heavy taxes on the 3 rd Estate Tennis Court Oath Tennis Court Oath National Assembly National Assembly Storming the Bastille Storming the Bastille

French Revolution: Declaration In 1789, the National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen In 1789, the National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen Influenced by the Declaration of Independence Influenced by the Declaration of Independence Proclaimed the equality of all men Proclaimed the equality of all men Declared that sovereignty resided in the people Declared that sovereignty resided in the people Asserted individual rights to: Asserted individual rights to: Liberty Liberty Prosperity Prosperity Security Security

Reforms of the National Assembly Reconfigured French society Reconfigured French society Abolished the first estate Abolished the first estate Defined clergy as civilians Defined clergy as civilians Made the king the chief executive but deprived him of legislative authority Made the king the chief executive but deprived him of legislative authority Constitutional Monarchy Constitutional Monarchy Men with property could vote 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 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 The French revolutionaries sought to replace the ancien regime (“the old order”) with new political, social, and cultural structures