American and French revolutions: influence and interconnectivity

¶ … American Revolution contribute to the outbreak of the French revolution?

The American and the French revolutions are two important moments in the history of Western civilization. They are part of a wider movement which characterized the 19th century worldwide. However, it can be said that the French revolution, as opposed to the American one, was the emerging element for the development of revolutionary strives around the world. Even so, it is important to consider the two important moments in history, the American and the French revolutions by comparison and interconnectivity.

The thesis of the research paper focuses on these two particular moments in time. More precisely, the thesis revolves around the question concerning the extent to which the U.S. revolution influenced the French one. Given their historical closeness, and the fact that the American Revolution happened before the French one, it is important to answer such a question.

Due to the historical issues and constant debates, it is rather difficult to find a right or wrong answer on the matter. Mostly, the resolution of these aspects depends on the perspective adopted for tackling the issue. In this sense, it can be said on the one hand that the American Revolution, by its historical placement, was the one to influence the French one. On the other hand however, there is evidence that the French revolution had a widespread effect, whereas the events in the U.S. did not reverberate as much.

The results of the research point out the fact that, indeed the American Revolution contributed to the outbreak of the French revolution through the values it promoted on the democratic ideals and on the rights of man. A comparison between the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen with the American Declaration of Independence is presented to point out these issues. At the same time, it is the French revolution that influenced the European continent through these manifests, ideals, and principles of nationality. This is explained by the proximity of the French revolution and the magnitude of the movement. The American Revolution exported only its guiding values and not the principles which stood at the basis of the creation of the American nation. France however, influenced the revolutionary movements through the widespread influence it had on other European countries.

It is important to consider these aspects related to past history because it offers perhaps a better perspective of what happened in the 20th century and beyond. In order to understand the present and look to the future, it is crucial that the past is understood. From this perspective, the issue of the role of the American Revolution in the outbreak of the French one is important because it offers a source for the values and ideals which would be known throughout Europe in the revolutionary century.

Introduction

The thesis of the research paper refers to the role the American Revolution played in the outbreak of the French revolution. Although there are views which argue that the American revolution influenced to a great extent the rise of the revolutionary forces in France, the paper describes the historical backgrounds of the two entities in order to prove that, despite the fact that the American revolution has some common points with the later French revolution, the way in which the Europeans adopted those points is different from the way in which the Americans used them in their revolutionary purposes.

The implications for such a question are important because they offer a different perspective on the past and on the history of the European continent. At the same time, it may give different perspective on the role the French revolution had on other rebellions around the world, even later actions, such as the 1917 Russian revolt.

Methods

The methods used for the research include the historical approach to the events. In this sense, primary sources were consulted, such as speeches from Thomas Paine, among the others.

Another research method used for the paper is the analytical one. Given the use of primary sources, the information is interpreted and analyzed against the historical background and secondary sources such as scholar articles or history compendiums.

Results

The analysis focuses on the American Revolution as seen from the perspective of its main reasons and the way in which these elements were found in the French revolution.

The historical background: the American Revolution and its defining elements

There is little doubt that the main reasons for the rebellion that marked the 18th century North American colonies revolved around the burdening fiscal system imposed by the British following the French war. Still, it can also be argued that, aside from this, there were additional underlying factors that determined the colonies to revolt against the political order established by the British. These elements include the new cultural trends that influenced the American thinkers into considering a different set of rules to be established, one that would govern the relations with the Empire. Thus, the political and economic issues were indeed of major interest for the society but at the same time, they unleashed a new sort of questions revolving around more profound issues such as the human condition and the democratic process, elements that eventually determined the society to revolt against the British rule.

Therefore, the American Revolution benefited from political and economic factors as well as ideological and cultural changes that influenced the resurrection of the common conscience against the imperial power.

The political causes of the revolution were rather significant for the outbreak of the revolution. The historical background is important for the overall image of the era. Thus, 18th century Britain was a strong colonial power that had just defeated the French in war and was determined to follow on the path of reconstruction. In so doing, the British decision was to increase the tax pressure on the colonies in America. The main argument in support of this action was the colonial unity the Americans were required to have. This solidarity with the need of the British Empire to recapture its financial strengths was, in the British view, a proof of America's belonging to the empire. This political adherence was one of the main elements that triggered the disapproval of the colonies and in the end gave birth to the desire of separation and ultimately independence from the crown. Consequently, a political action taken by the British determined an ideological response from the Americans.

Indeed, Great Britain was well-known for the support it demanded from its subjects in the spirit of the higher good, that of the empire. It may be that such a practice applied to the realities of the early 18th century, when the trade and the international relations among states and colonies were not marked by the pressures of independent commercial exchanges, but, towards the end of the century, more and more activities were conducted between the colonies as free merchants and the colonial powers

. Thus, it was only natural that such a control over the commercial relations between the American colonies and other parts of the world be in disagreement with these emerging trade freedoms. Therefore, the British Empire strengthen its grip on the American trade policy through legislative acts which, although had been applied for a long period of time was now old fashioned and did not manage to adapt to change. This in turn triggered a change in the mentality in the American colonies, which slowly drifted towards a more relaxed and even independent relationship with the British.

Thomas Paine is considered to this day one of the most representative figures of the American Revolution and a source of inspiration for the drafters of the Constitution. In his famous pamphlet, "Common sense" of 1776, he addressed among others issues the problem of the democratic rule and its need for reformation in the British monarchic system. He argued that "England since the conquest hath known some few good monarchs, but groaned beneath a much larger number of bad ones, thus stating his opinion in connection to the actual rule of the empire, an opinion based on personal perceptions and unrelated to economic or political conditions. He continues his critic by pointing out the failure and old-fashioned nature of the monarchic political system that is flawed and which fails to represent the people or its will

. Thus, Paine, at least in this part of his argumentation, sets the background of his ideas in the historical reality of his time only to underline the mistakes of the British system and the need for a revolutionary path towards erasing the English influence from the new American set of values.

The birth of a nation is rarely a peaceful process, and there have been numerous examples offered by history in which the only means used to conquer were those provided by bloody wars. The American state was no exception. It is the result of the competition between the colonial powers that have attempted to gain control over the vast territories from different regions. Whether it was the Spanish that fought to conquer lands in the south, or the Dutch that engaged in stiff competition with the British, or the French that were ultimately defeated in 1763, the American soil was one clearly marked by violent clashes between foreign powers. This is why it was considered that the cry for independence from the British was also a cry for a peaceful and secure future for the next generations. Thomas Paine argued that the time had indeed come for the colonies to be excluded from the continuous clashes that had defined their past. Thus, because of the British's traditional inclination towards war, such an objective was hard to reach under the Empire's constant control. Consequently, the time had come for the colonies to break apart and search their peace as an independent state.

Looking at the historical development of the events, it is easy to see that aside from any political or economic altercations, a fundamental issue that marked the relationship between the British and the Americans was the intrinsic system of moral values. It may be that the Americans develop a different set of values as a reaction to the negative practices of the British. Even so, they create a set of values that contrasted with the ideas on which the English relied. This contradiction was presented by different thinkers of the time. On the one hand, the American colonies considered the authority of God as being above any other distant ruler and recognized only the divine will as being decisive for the destiny of a nation. Thus, Patrick Henry's idea comes in contradiction with the British perception of the omnipotent rule of the king. In addition, people such as John Adams, who advocated compromise, put a high price on the need for independence outside the range of the British in regulating internal politics

. Thus, as the Englishmen tried to exercise stronger control over American affairs, the colonists, both the radicals and the moderate, supported an independent position. From this point-of-view, the revolutionary outcome was inevitable.

The major taxes imposed by the British Empire in fact represented the peak of a constantly restrictive economic policy practiced by England in its relation with the American colonies. In this sense there were a series of acts which targeted certain practical issues such as stamps, navigation, or trade.

In 1765, the Stamp Act imposed taxes on legal documents, papers, pamphlets, playing cards and dice. The official motivation for the imposition of these taxes was the "granting and applying (of) certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several acts of parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the said colonies and plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned"

. The response of the population invoked their legal right to be represented in the British Parliament in order to be willing to pay the tax. Indeed, the "no taxation without representation" idea was considered, thus refusing to abide by a rule related to an economic element not so much from the perspective of what it meant in financial terms, but rather out of political considerations.

The colonists responded that such decisions cannot be imposed to them because they were not represented in the House of Commons and invoking the liberal beliefs "it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people and the undoubted right of the Englishmen that no taxes be imposed on them but with their own consent given personally or by their representatives (…)the only representatives of the people of these colonies are persons chosen therein by themselves and no taxes have ever been or can be constitutionally imposed on them but by their respective legislature"

. Such perceptions of the political importance of the parliamentary power and the need for a democratic legitimacy for the decisions made played an essential role in the establishment of a common idea about the way in which the American political system must function and placed in deed contrast with the British one

The Townshend Act was also essential for considering the relationship between the British and the Colonies. This Act was designed for "granting certain duties in the British colonies and plantations in America; for allowing a drawback of the duties of customs upon the exportation, from this kingdom, of coffee and cocoa nuts of the produce of the said colonies or plantations; for discontinuing the drawbacks payable on china earthen ware exported to America; and for more effectually preventing the clandestine running of goods in the colonies and plantations"

. The Act in itself represented yet another British initiative meant to increase the control ever the trade in which the Americans were involved outside of Europe. At the same time however, it was also a political message which could hinted to the idea that the British Empire manifests its control over the entire range of affairs conducted by its subjects. This perspective though came in contrast with the independence views of most Americans.

As a corollary to the rest of the legal acts imposed by the British, the Act of Trade and Navigation of 1769 also limited American activities with the rest of the British colonies. It stated that "no goods and commodities can be imported into or exported from any of the British plantations, but in vessels built in and owned by people of Great Britain, Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the said plantations"

. Moreover, "no good or commodities whatsoever, of the growth, produce, manufacture of any part of Europe or the East Indies, can be imported into the British colonies but from Great Britain under forfeiture thereof." A collective answer clearly expressed the general view on the matter as it was considered that "the Act of Navigation is a good Act, so are all that exclude foreign manufacturers from the plantations, and any honest man will readily subscribe to them. Right as to Europe; but for God's sake, must we have no trade with the other colonies?"

The almost violent attitude expressed a general opinion related to the legislation imposed by the Parliament upon the Colonies. Again, despite the pressure such Acts imposed on the economic situation of the colonies, it betrayed the British interest in maintaining its control over the internal affairs and regulation of the soon to be independent state.

The French Revolution and its defining moments

The second part of the 18th century represented a time of crisis for the old regimes and for their economic systems. Given the wars in which France, Britain, and other European countries were engaged in, the economic systems of those countries suffered immensely. As seen in the case of the American colonies, the idea of the old empires was for the colonies to offer the economic means for the empires to recover. However, for the French part, this aspect was more difficult to achieve largely because France did not have the political and economic power of the British crown.

Still, the era was sometimes considered to be the grand era of the democratic revolutions

Even more, regardless of the political context, historians such as R. Palmer consider the revolution to have been an inevitable action. More precisely, "this struggle had in it something universal; as Burke said, there had been nothing like it since the Protestant Reformation had thrown all Europe into a commotion that overran all political boundaries (…)Revolution broke out in Ireland in 1798. Dutch historians speak of revolution in the Netherlands in 1795, when the Batavian Republic was founded, and of a more radical movement of 1798. The Swiss feel that they were revolutionized in the Helvetic Republic of 1798. Italian writers speak of revolution at Milan in 1796, at Rome in 1797, at Naples in 1798. The Cisalpine, Roman, and Parthenopean republics were the outcome. In the German Rhineland there were some who demanded annexation to France, or, that failing, the establishment of a revolutionary "Cisrhenane," or Rhineland Republic"

The French revolution had different causes for its commencement. On the one hand, there was the disastrous economic situation of the monarchy. More precisely, given the resolution of the war against the British in the American colonies, France was experiencing one of the most severe crises of its history

. As Britain tried to impose the American colonies severe pressures in terms of taxes and revenue collection, the French monarchy was unable to support the bourgeois without increasing the taxes imposed on the common people and on the small craftsmen. In this sense, one of the most important elements of the French revolution was the one related to the oppressions suffered by the common people, and the peasants.

As compared to the American colonies it can be said that the situation resembles only in theory and not in practice. Indeed, the American colonies, as presented above, fought against the taxes imposed by the British but from the consideration that the American colonies were not represented in the British parliament. Moreover, Thomas Paine discusses these issues while underlining that reliance on British trade is no longer an option, seeing that a nation must foster its own destiny and commercial relations. Moreover, he adds that the British motivations for imposing such taxes, the need for additional revenues and the colonies' obligation to provide it, are not viable because the American colonies cannot consider themselves intimately connected to London after the disastrous situation the empire had made on the American soil during the war with the French

. Thus, no "mother country" would subject its offspring to such war prone environment. He concludes thus that revolution and a break from the British must be achieved

The French revolution started as a rebellion of the French bourgeoisie supported by the small peasantry against the monarchy. However, unlike modern revolutions where the political parties were important elements of the organization of the rebellion, in revolutionary France, the leading positions were taken by the so called "clubs" which took a leading role in the organization of the revolution. In a sense, it resembles the American revolution as in that case as well, there were several voices organized around a nucleus that would later become the important political parties. In the French case, this organization was not perfect and these "clubs" did not last to transform into political parties. The violent actions that took place in France at the moment of the revolution point out the presence of these clubs. More precisely, "The appearance of these clubs in provincial towns roughly coincided with the formation of the Club monarchique in Paris and with the publication of a flurry of pamphlets and newspaper articles debating both the legitimacy of political clubs generally and the rights and responsibilities of particular clubs and their members"

. Even if their presence is not very explicit in the history of the French revolution, they offered the first political polarization in modern history.

The origins of the French revolution lie in the great financial difficulties during the monarchy of Louis XVI, as pointed out before. However, a reform which would include the payment of taxes by everybody was indeed envisaged

. This would have resulted in the execution of an equal form of tax collection. For the nobles, this was unacceptable, given the fact that their status allowed them all sorts of exemptions. At this moment the small bourgeoisie and the peasants united to revolt against the system. It is rather hard to say that the French revolution was triggered by any moral values or need for equal rights and political representation. Therefore, in this matter, the American Revolution was not the one to influence the way in which the French revolution emerged.

The influence of the American Revolution on the French revolution- distinctive elements

The backgrounds of the two revolutions are hardly the same. In the case of the first one, the aim was not to change the entire system, but rather to legitimate the relation with the British crown. The grievances were more related to the lack of justice in terms of taxes and costs, as well as to the role of the American colonies in the economy of the British Empire. In this sense one explanation of the revolution was based on its inevitability, as "During a hundred plus years of inattention the colonists developed institutions and a concept of their place in the British Empire that naturally resisted redirection from London after 1763. Therefore, much mutual understanding was required to reintegrate the colonists into the Empire, but the divergent pasts which made such understanding necessary precluded its occurrence

In the case of the second revolution, which was ten years after, the aim of the rebellion was the precise change of the system, in the sense of transformation of the totalitarian monarchy into a constitutional one

. This is one of the main points separating the two cases.

Also, the actual construction of the revolution differs. In this sense, while the American revolution was fought in terms of ideological beliefs, given the influences of the Enlightenment Movement, the second one was at the beginning a mere peasantry rebellion. The example of Paine's argument is relevant in this sense. Thus, Paine excelled in this attempt as he dedicated part of his pamphlet to criticizing the monarchic rule. He points out that "There is something exceedingly ridiculous in the composition of Monarchy; it first excludes a man from the means of information, yet empowers him to act in cases where the highest judgment is required."

This argument points to a rally for revolution against a power that refuses to offer the basic rights of democracy to its own subjects. The democracy of the revolutionary American colonies would be, in his view, different. For the French revolutionaries, the issue of economics and that of the rule of the monarch was much simpler. Thus, "there is general agreement that the Crown's fiscal crisis ignited the Revolution, enabling bourgeois, townspeople, and peasants to seek redress for their grievances"

. They found such redress through a typical rebellion.

Influences of the French Revolution

The French Revolution influenced to a great extent the revolutionary movements in the rest of Europe. It represented an important legacy for other nations which felt oppressed. This happened as a result of the principles of nationality, of freedom, and equality among men which were advocated throughout the French Revolution. However, through a logical exercise, given that these principles are extensions from the American ones it can be said that indeed, even the American Revolution contributed to the burst of other revolutions around the world.

The French revolution was the cornerstone of the modern system of political governance. In this sense, "the French revolution has been regarded by subsequent generations as the emergence of the modern political world. It comprised a paradigm shift that irrevocably change the way in which we think about, speak about, and therefore conduct our politics"

. As opposed to the American Revolution which created a political distress inside the British system of government, the French revolution had reverberations throughout the world. It raised questions on the secularism of politics and the way in which the church would play its role in politics

. More precisely, "in the revolutionary debates and decisions on religious issues we can recognize the accomplishment of the classic Enlightenment critique of clerical religion. Secularization and a drastic reduction of the material and moral power of the clergy are, indeed, among the major political questions of the French Revolution"

One of its most important aspects of the Revolution was the fact that it encouraged other countries such as the ones in Spain (1820), Napoli (1820), and Greece (1821). These in turn influenced other revolutionary movements in Latin America and Asia

. A second wave of revolutions captured eastern Europe and Russia, in the 1830s which determines the rapture from the bourgeois power from Western Europe.

The French Revolution also implied a widespread discussion on the principles of democracy which would become serious issues for other European regimes across the continent. This in turn would lead to a negative attitude towards France given the possibility of the country to eventually export the revolutionary principles and induce chance elsewhere. In this sense, the English, given their monarchical tradition and their vulnerability in terms of revolutions were the most acerb critics of the French revolution. In this sense, "the consolidation of a national consciousness inevitably involved a discussion of the great questions of political liberty, ideological commitment, and betrayal. For the most part these questions were dealt with in concrete terms. Since part of the hostility to France had its source in a dislike of the abstract and doctrinaire quality of French thought, English commentators were obliged to refer their arguments to particular circumstances in order to avoid the errors for which they criticized the French"

Further discussions

The issue of the French revolution is essential for the way in which regimes can be changed and perspectives can be shifted. Indeed, the American Revolution was the one to set the tone for these democratic changes. However, the entire context was a favorable one given the Enlightenment movement and its principles. It can be said therefore that the American Revolution influenced the French revolution by providing the necessary principles, values, and norms to produce change. However, it is important to note that the French revolution represented the actual spark for the wave of revolutions across Europe and the globe. This is largely due to the increased impact it had on the mentalities of the Europeans.

Further discussions could be undergone on aspects such as the different outcomes of the American and the French revolutions. Despite the fact that both left from similar principles, the outcomes differ to a great extent. Such discussions are important because they could offer a better perspective on the way in which revolutions function and how they actually influence the nation. In a world which is filled with potential revolutionary nucleus, such an analysis could shed additional light on the mechanisms of the revolutionary act.