You Say You Want a Revolution?
Revolutions around the world occur when citizens are dissatisfied with their type of government, the people holding high power in office, or even for economic reasons. The two biggest, well-known revolutions in history that countries use as examples are the ones with the United States and France. They both occurred relatively simultaneous to another in the eighteenth century but still hold their differences in the violence present and whether they were fighting for a new country or just a new government. The strong outcomes of these revolutions led to the rest of the world to ponder how their governments were working against them.
Although violence is inevitable in war both revolutions differed in their tactics and how much force they used. America’s approach was organized military combat on the battlefront and less violent. Gary Wills, a professor of American Culture and Public Policy at Northwestern University, states in his article “Liberte Egalite Animosite,” “There had been no regicide involved in the American Revolution-not even any executions of Loyalists” (Wills 3). Though American colonists, being upset about high tax on tea, did revolt and caused a bit of chaos among the British with the Boston Tea Party. France’s civilians took a more violent approach, starting chaos and protests. In an encyclopedia article entitled “Revolution and National Unification,” it states “…Europeans watched in horror as the ruling mobs, acting with confused and savage displays, seemed to confirm…the inability of the lower classes to exercise mature judgment in government” (44). Wills confirms this statement as well by saying after the execution of Louis XVI, “Jefferson later wrote that he would have voted, if he were in the French government, for removing the king but not for killing him” (Wills 3).
Another key cause for both revolutions was oppressive governments. Both nations were discontented with monarchy and wanted to abolish tyranny.... [continues]
Revolutions around the world occur when citizens are dissatisfied with their type of government, the people holding high power in office, or even for economic reasons. The two biggest, well-known revolutions in history that countries use as examples are the ones with the United States and France. They both occurred relatively simultaneous to another in the eighteenth century but still hold their differences in the violence present and whether they were fighting for a new country or just a new government. The strong outcomes of these revolutions led to the rest of the world to ponder how their governments were working against them.
Although violence is inevitable in war both revolutions differed in their tactics and how much force they used. America’s approach was organized military combat on the battlefront and less violent. Gary Wills, a professor of American Culture and Public Policy at Northwestern University, states in his article “Liberte Egalite Animosite,” “There had been no regicide involved in the American Revolution-not even any executions of Loyalists” (Wills 3). Though American colonists, being upset about high tax on tea, did revolt and caused a bit of chaos among the British with the Boston Tea Party. France’s civilians took a more violent approach, starting chaos and protests. In an encyclopedia article entitled “Revolution and National Unification,” it states “…Europeans watched in horror as the ruling mobs, acting with confused and savage displays, seemed to confirm…the inability of the lower classes to exercise mature judgment in government” (44). Wills confirms this statement as well by saying after the execution of Louis XVI, “Jefferson later wrote that he would have voted, if he were in the French government, for removing the king but not for killing him” (Wills 3).
Another key cause for both revolutions was oppressive governments. Both nations were discontented with monarchy and wanted to abolish tyranny.... [continues]
Cite This Essay
- APA
-
(2008, 11). You Say You Want a Revolution?. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 11, 2008, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/You-Say-You-Want-Revolution-183088.html
- MLA
-
"You Say You Want a Revolution?" StudyMode.com. 11 2008. 11 2008 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/You-Say-You-Want-Revolution-183088.html>.
- CHICAGO
-
"You Say You Want a Revolution?." StudyMode.com. 11, 2008. Accessed 11, 2008. http://www.studymode.com/essays/You-Say-You-Want-Revolution-183088.html.
