Democracy, briefly defined as a government by the people where the governed have shared power and incorporates new ideas such as the people’s rights and equality, was an important element to the American and French Revolutions, where both periods included the people fighting for their equality and liberty. However the evaluation of the successfulness of establishing a democratic government differs for the two countries; America resulted in the drafting of a Constitution putting democracy to practice, whereas France’s attempt to reform its government to a democratic one failed. When you look at the outcomes of both revolutions, the American Revolution was more successful in terms of establishing a democracy; the Americans had drafted a first ever constitution, which included Enlightenment ideas of liberty and rights. The French was less successful in terms of how democratic they have become, as they later turned to a dictatorship and the Congress of Vienna restored the monarchy (HRW, Human Legacy); the revolutionary idea of “the people of the state” was crushed.
Democracy is a government where the people are being represented and “make up the government”, the governed have a say in decision making and are able to vote thereby producing a fair and consent decision. It is also a very different government form because it incorporates new concepts such as natural rights, freedom, equality of the people, and enlightenment ideas such as reasoning (MOADOPH). Democracy derived from the enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke, believed that everyone is entitled to natural rights such as life, liberty and property. Other such as Rousseau believed in the Social Contract, where people are the ones that give the government power, therefore the government should represent the people. In other words, the people bestow power to the government, and the government in return is supposed to promote the interest of the people. Quoting Abraham Lincoln: a democracy is the “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” (U.S Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs). In a democracy, there is shared power between the people; for example, the United States has 3 branches: executive, legislative, and judicial, to avoid absolute rule and centralized power.
American Revolution was successful in becoming a democratic nation. After Revolutionary War, they drafted a Constitution to further exemplify the structure of their democratic government (HRW, Human Legacy). The American colonists has wanted independence and their own government because they had no representation in the British Parliament, which led to unfair taxation where the British found justified because they had just fought the French and Indian War. Enlightenment ideas of equality and liberty had also spread to these colonies, one of the most influential people was John Locke, who believed that all people were born equal with natural rights of life, liberty, and property; this idea would later on be written in the Constitution. Arguably, the Americans were most influenced by the idea that the people made up the state and represented the country. During the colonial period, the each colony had its own government, but officially they were still under British rule and this greatly upset them because they had no representation in the Parliament and therefore could not take part in decision-making (R. R. Palmer, The Age of Democratic Revolution). Taxations and regulations such as the Stamp Act, Tea, Act, and Intolerable Acts greatly upset the people and they demanded for independence. After the Revolutionary War, the result was a Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Constitution was critical as it put the practice of democracy in action, helped spread liberalism and the idea that “the people are the state” (Alec Ewald, The American Republic: 1760-1870), states the laws and conditions of the people’s rights to vote and participate, outlines who will represent the people and how (MOADOPH), and limits individual powers by evenly distributing it through the many branches and representatives—this all brings about equal say and participation. The Bill of Rights was crucial in spreading Enlightenment and “democratic” ideas; it outlined the people’s rights, which was important because at the time, equality and liberty were not commonly accepted ideas in the government.
The outcomes of the French Revolutions—when compared to that of the American one—were not quite so successful in establishing a democratic nation. France shifted back and forth from a monarchy [Louis XVI], to an unsuccessful republic [National Convention], to an empire [Napoleon], to once again a very suppressed monarchy (HRW, Human Legacy). Before the revolution, there was an extreme injustice in society, where the people at the top of society were living in luxury and the people at the bottom are burdened with hard labor, harsh taxes, and hunger. Enlightenment ideas such as natural rights and the “people are the state” soon spread and the success of the American Revolution inspired the people to revolt. Although the long term effects of Napoleon’s rule greatly benefitted, as he incorporated somewhat democratic ideas in the Napoleonic Code, he had brought France a dictatorship and had “ended the revolution”. In the end, the Congress of Vienna had restored the monarchy and surrounding countries grew stronger in order to prevent France from growing out of control.
Overall, the American Revolution was more successful in building a democratic nation; although they hadn’t implemented full equality to all races and people, they were a step closer than that of the French. The Constitution is proof that the American Revolution resulted in a somewhat democratic, new nation; while the French Revolution ended with France remaining a monarchy. America resulted in a somewhat liberal democracy, with ideas of equality and freedom included into the Constitution. France ended up having its monarchy restored and its power limited and contained by the neighboring countries, as a result of the Congress of Vienna. Napoleon had become a dictator, proving the revolution unsuccessful and the goals of becoming democratic declined after his rules. In the later part of the revolution, revolutionary and progressive ideas began to fall short. Although America didn’t result in a fully democratic nation, it followed most of the essential elements of a democracy; they started to include representation of the people in the government, and included new concepts such as natural rights, equality, freedom, and reasoning into their system to help make more fair decisions.
To sum it up, the American Revolution was more successful in the development of democracy and the spread of liberalism, while France would remain a monarchy for a long time after the remapping of Europe. The Congress of Vienna was created and later on suppressed France to prevent it from revolting again. Whereas America developed a more liberal democracy, the Congress of Vienna had made the decision to restore France to the conditions to the years before 1789; France soon became under the rule of people with reactionary ideas, and so any progression in democracy declined. In conclusion, when you evaluate the outcomes of both events, the American Revolution was more successful in progression and democracy, while France would take a longer route in becoming a liberal and democratic nation.
American Revolution was successful in becoming a democratic nation. After Revolutionary War, they drafted a Constitution to further exemplify the structure of their democratic government (HRW, Human Legacy). The American colonists has wanted independence and their own government because they had no representation in the British Parliament, which led to unfair taxation where the British found justified because they had just fought the French and Indian War. Enlightenment ideas of equality and liberty had also spread to these colonies, one of the most influential people was John Locke, who believed that all people were born equal with natural rights of life, liberty, and property; this idea would later on be written in the Constitution. Arguably, the Americans were most influenced by the idea that the people made up the state and represented the country. During the colonial period, the each colony had its own government, but officially they were still under British rule and this greatly upset them because they had no representation in the Parliament and therefore could not take part in decision-making (R. R. Palmer, The Age of Democratic Revolution). Taxations and regulations such as the Stamp Act, Tea, Act, and Intolerable Acts greatly upset the people and they demanded for independence. After the Revolutionary War, the result was a Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Constitution was critical as it put the practice of democracy in action, helped spread liberalism and the idea that “the people are the state” (Alec Ewald, The American Republic: 1760-1870), states the laws and conditions of the people’s rights to vote and participate, outlines who will represent the people and how (MOADOPH), and limits individual powers by evenly distributing it through the many branches and representatives—this all brings about equal say and participation. The Bill of Rights was crucial in spreading Enlightenment and “democratic” ideas; it outlined the people’s rights, which was important because at the time, equality and liberty were not commonly accepted ideas in the government.
The outcomes of the French Revolutions—when compared to that of the American one—were not quite so successful in establishing a democratic nation. France shifted back and forth from a monarchy [Louis XVI], to an unsuccessful republic [National Convention], to an empire [Napoleon], to once again a very suppressed monarchy (HRW, Human Legacy). Before the revolution, there was an extreme injustice in society, where the people at the top of society were living in luxury and the people at the bottom are burdened with hard labor, harsh taxes, and hunger. Enlightenment ideas such as natural rights and the “people are the state” soon spread and the success of the American Revolution inspired the people to revolt. Although the long term effects of Napoleon’s rule greatly benefitted, as he incorporated somewhat democratic ideas in the Napoleonic Code, he had brought France a dictatorship and had “ended the revolution”. In the end, the Congress of Vienna had restored the monarchy and surrounding countries grew stronger in order to prevent France from growing out of control.
Overall, the American Revolution was more successful in building a democratic nation; although they hadn’t implemented full equality to all races and people, they were a step closer than that of the French. The Constitution is proof that the American Revolution resulted in a somewhat democratic, new nation; while the French Revolution ended with France remaining a monarchy. America resulted in a somewhat liberal democracy, with ideas of equality and freedom included into the Constitution. France ended up having its monarchy restored and its power limited and contained by the neighboring countries, as a result of the Congress of Vienna. Napoleon had become a dictator, proving the revolution unsuccessful and the goals of becoming democratic declined after his rules. In the later part of the revolution, revolutionary and progressive ideas began to fall short. Although America didn’t result in a fully democratic nation, it followed most of the essential elements of a democracy; they started to include representation of the people in the government, and included new concepts such as natural rights, equality, freedom, and reasoning into their system to help make more fair decisions.
To sum it up, the American Revolution was more successful in the development of democracy and the spread of liberalism, while France would remain a monarchy for a long time after the remapping of Europe. The Congress of Vienna was created and later on suppressed France to prevent it from revolting again. Whereas America developed a more liberal democracy, the Congress of Vienna had made the decision to restore France to the conditions to the years before 1789; France soon became under the rule of people with reactionary ideas, and so any progression in democracy declined. In conclusion, when you evaluate the outcomes of both events, the American Revolution was more successful in progression and democracy, while France would take a longer route in becoming a liberal and democratic nation.
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