Compare AND contrast the American and French revolutions.

Comparing and Contrasting the American and French Revolutions
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Comparing and Contrasting the American and French Revolutions
Introduction
The relationship that exists between the people and the government plays a significant role in the political rule of that government. A revolution involves overthrowing or repudiation through substitution of a political system or government, by the subjects or people that it governs. The constitutions, protection of power, promotion of common good and the characteristics of shared power should be enhanced at all times in any given leadership. Both the French and American revolutions were triggered by the spirit of Enlightenment that stipulated these rights. The French revolution was activated by the success of the American Revolution. The premise behind Enlightenment was the knowledge of new beliefs regarding authority and the role of individuals in governance. This paper seeks to provide a comparison and contrast to the French and American revolutions with the express aim of showing how they impact the modern society.
The role of bourgeoisie/capitalist middle class
By 1750, France was Europe’s most populous and richest state. This had to change later when the France lost in the Seven Years’ War (1758-1763). France lost all their North America territories mostly in Asia and India, leading to a financial conflict in the kingdom. France developed a good rapport with America during the American Revolution whereby they provided munitions and one million dollars in acquisition of guns. The war strained the economy of France leading to a raise in the taxes to the Bourgeoisie and the general public.
The French social estates as of 1789, comprised three classes. The First Estate belonged to the clergy who held high ranks and were drawn from Nobility. 10% of arable and the best land in France was a preserve of the First Estate who never paid any form of Direct Tax. The Second Estate belonged to Nobility who were approximately 400,000 in population, owning, 20% of the best land in France. They were never subjected to the payment of direct tax. The final Third Estate belonged to all the others. They included the Capitalist Class (Bourgeoisie), urban workers, clerks, peasants and the other unclassified minority. They were subjected to heavy taxation.
The Bourgeoisie were responsible or the formation of a National Assembly in which they expected the attendance of the two other Estates. This act infuriated the King who promised to act using military power. The ordinary French people were tired of the French monarchy whereas the lower classes advocated for equality instead of having the nobles ruling over them under the leadership of King Louis XV1. The commoners had a commanding population of 97% and were poor and illiterate. In 1788, poor weather (hailstones) had also damaged the grain in the farms and the bread was highly taxed risking starvation. This scenario made the French to lose confidence in their King. The lower class attacked the Bastille killing the governor and as such, this was an indication of the commencement of the revolution. The only difference in the outcome of the two revolutions was the fact that the American Revolution stopped when they attained independence, but as for the French, they were still governed by their King.
The ideology behind the French revolution set precedence to socialism, nationalism and finally communism, which has had a bearing on the way some countries are governed to date. Americans had something to offer to the French Declaration about citizens and their rights, as adopted from the bill of rights. It is, therefore, accurate to state that the contents of the Declaration have their origin from the great philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and additional Enlightenment thinkers. Nevertheless, the French Declaration is at least partially motivated by the declaration of Human Rights enshrined in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4, 1776, and on the Virginia Declaration of Rights, as established by American, George Mason in June 1776, which was a reflection of the English 1689 Bill of Rights.
Difference in geography and Contrasting facts
The two revolutions, however, contrast in the sense that, the French Revolution took place within France itself, threatening the actual survival of the then existence of the monarchy, whereas the American Revolution took place in a colony that was an ocean away from the master colonizers, the Great Britain. Secondly, as earlier stated, the American Revolution was aimed at establishing a new country and not putting in place a new system of government like the French revolution. The third contrasting factor...