The American and French revolutions were arguably, the most important revolutions of their time. In both occasions, the people were angry at the government and didn’t like the way it was treating its citizens. People got angrier and angrier and eventually wanted reforms to change the way things were. At the time, there was an absolute monarch in both Britain and France. Because of that, people wanted the government to become more democratic. The revolutions started. However, the two revolutions had different outcomes. The American Revolution turned out to be somewhat democratic indeed, but the French Revolution went back to where it had started.
However, what exactly is democracy? The modern definition of democracy is a government that allows equality, freedom and the right to participate, directly or indirectly, in political decisions. Equality is the fact that no sex, race or type of people is superior or inferior to one another. That everyone has equal opportunities to success. Laws that apply to everyone also helps equality. Freedom is given to the people through rights. Under the charter of rights and freedoms of that country, the people’s rights and freedoms are protected. The right to political participation is usually given today through the form of elections and representatives. In elections, every citizen has a say. This again implies to equality, since it doesn’t matter whether you are a rich, poor, white or black. You get one vote. So according to the modern terms of democracy, how democratic were the two revolutions?
In the French Revolution, things became better in the Napoleonic Age, but it was not a democracy. There was peace within France, but Napoleon restricted some of the people’s rights to keep the peace. Also, there was absolutely no political participation, due to the fact that Napoleon was an emperor. A democracy is not supposed to have an emperor at all. And while there was an election on whether Napoleon would become emperor or not, there were various suspicions that he would’ve taken the throne even if he lost the election. In the end, when the French and Napoleon were defeated, an absolute monarchy was reestablished and the quest for democracy failed for the French people.
In the American Revolution, however, things turned out to be a lot more democratic than it was before. They succeeded from Great Britain and established their own government, and many people had voting rights. Despite that, however, not everyone had the right to vote. Women and black slaves couldn’t vote. There wasn’t any gender or racial equality. If you were a white man with property, you could vote. If you were otherwise, you couldn’t. Despite that, there were elections and freedoms. So according to modern times, America at the time was somewhat democratic.
In the end, according to the modern definition of democracy, which is freedom, equality and political participation, the French Revolution was not democratic and they went back to the absolute monarch that they wanted to escape from so badly. The American Revolution, however, was much more successful. They had succeeded from Great Britain and allowed some of its people to vote. Which allowed it to grow into the global power it is today. All in all, the American Revolution was more democratic than the French.
However, what exactly is democracy? The modern definition of democracy is a government that allows equality, freedom and the right to participate, directly or indirectly, in political decisions. Equality is the fact that no sex, race or type of people is superior or inferior to one another. That everyone has equal opportunities to success. Laws that apply to everyone also helps equality. Freedom is given to the people through rights. Under the charter of rights and freedoms of that country, the people’s rights and freedoms are protected. The right to political participation is usually given today through the form of elections and representatives. In elections, every citizen has a say. This again implies to equality, since it doesn’t matter whether you are a rich, poor, white or black. You get one vote. So according to the modern terms of democracy, how democratic were the two revolutions?
In the French Revolution, things became better in the Napoleonic Age, but it was not a democracy. There was peace within France, but Napoleon restricted some of the people’s rights to keep the peace. Also, there was absolutely no political participation, due to the fact that Napoleon was an emperor. A democracy is not supposed to have an emperor at all. And while there was an election on whether Napoleon would become emperor or not, there were various suspicions that he would’ve taken the throne even if he lost the election. In the end, when the French and Napoleon were defeated, an absolute monarchy was reestablished and the quest for democracy failed for the French people.
In the American Revolution, however, things turned out to be a lot more democratic than it was before. They succeeded from Great Britain and established their own government, and many people had voting rights. Despite that, however, not everyone had the right to vote. Women and black slaves couldn’t vote. There wasn’t any gender or racial equality. If you were a white man with property, you could vote. If you were otherwise, you couldn’t. Despite that, there were elections and freedoms. So according to modern times, America at the time was somewhat democratic.
In the end, according to the modern definition of democracy, which is freedom, equality and political participation, the French Revolution was not democratic and they went back to the absolute monarch that they wanted to escape from so badly. The American Revolution, however, was much more successful. They had succeeded from Great Britain and allowed some of its people to vote. Which allowed it to grow into the global power it is today. All in all, the American Revolution was more democratic than the French.
Works Cited
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"Revolutionary War Timeline: Major Events and Battles of the American Revolution." Revolutionary War Timeline: Major Events and Battles of the American Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
"What Is Democracy?" What Is Democracy? N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
Swartz, L. R. "French History the Outcome of the French Revolution." French History the Outcome of the French Revolution. N.p., 6 July 2007. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
Cranston, Maurice. "The French Revolution: Ideas and Ideologies." History Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
Clark, John. "Why Was the American Revolution so Revolutionary? - HowStuffWorks." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
Kelly, Martin. "What Caused the American Revolution?" About. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
"Revolutionary War Timeline: Major Events and Battles of the American Revolution." Revolutionary War Timeline: Major Events and Battles of the American Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
"What Is Democracy?" What Is Democracy? N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
Swartz, L. R. "French History the Outcome of the French Revolution." French History the Outcome of the French Revolution. N.p., 6 July 2007. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
Cranston, Maurice. "The French Revolution: Ideas and Ideologies." History Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.