Preview

How Did The Enlightenment Contribute To The French Revolution

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
782 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did The Enlightenment Contribute To The French Revolution
This revolutionary event in history is most noted for the execution of thousands of citizens under the influence of other rebellious acts that grew popularity at the time. Famously, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were included under the list as these were important figures that were deeply involved in French revolutions. Despite this tragedy, this event is often times considered a momentous occasion in French history as it exemplifies the claim that this became the turning point for the outspoken France citizens. In order to acknowledge components of the French Revolution, it is essential to recognize the involvements of previous revolutionary acts, main causes, significant outcomes, recovery or possible solutions, and impacts on modern society.
The American Revolution as well as the Enlightenment majorly influenced or inspired the revolution of the french because they alike, demonstrated unity within people who seeked change or serendipity. The
…show more content…
Through this system, people with lower social standings were expected to satisfy taxes, while wealthy upperclassmen were not. Additionally, by 1789, France grew deeply in debt after their involvement in the American Revolution. However, natural complications that took place includes hailstorms that affected harvest and consequently led to hunger. With that being said, the King Louis XVI failure to cope with these complexities resulted in people from the third estate beginning to consider a newly formed national assembly as they wanted independence. These people began to question authority, as they reconsidered teachings of the Catholic church, traditions, as well as logic and science. They established unity within a indoor Tennis court where citizens famously swore to the Tennis Court Oath and agreed not to surrender until a French Constitution was

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The French revolution and the American Revolution both have some similar qualities about them. Part of the reason is that they were both planned by Marquis de Lafayette. But they are also really different in other ways, because they are two different countries with different cultures and stuff. The American Revolution had a lot of help from the country France. They helped us economically and help with military. Once the American Revolution was over they became a republic and then went to Paris to sign the treaty. When the French return to their home country they realized that they didn't have the freedoms that we had and that they helped fight for. So France started to plan a revolution of their own.…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Secondly, the American Enlightenment greatly inspired the people of France. Numerous French citizens, including many nobles, were deeply inspired by the Enlightenment and were impressed by the Americans' approach to human society, rationalism, science, and progress. France's assistance proved to be a turning point in the American Revolution, and without it, the outcome of the war could have been severely different. The choices and considerations that France went through were crucial in the history of the American…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme”(Mark Twain). The Enlightenment was a period of time during the 18th century where thinkers applied the principles of reason and scientific method that helped influence society today. A wide variety of books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars, and revolutions were inspired and created by the Enlightenment (history.com).There were hundreds of different philosophers who helped spread the new ideas but only two really helped ignite the American Democracy and French Revolution. The American Democracy is pretty much the rule of the people that Americans have their inputs on.…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American and French Revolution are the two most important revolutions to ever happen in history. Both revolutions began due to the common people need to obtain independence and liberty from an oppressive government. The American Revolution was first started the American colonists who wanted financial independence from Great Britain. The French Revolution was a struggle to gain social equality among the masses. Though both revolutions are glorious, they have different and similar characteristics among them. The American and French had several similarities as well as differences in military, politics, and society.…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The heavy involvement of the government in commoners lives lead the third estate to want a less government controlled society. According to document 5, France's debt tripled when they supported the Americans in the American Revolution. With the country in a horrible crisis, they were in need money. Taxing their people was their solution. The Clergy and the Nobles, being the two richest classes, refused to pay even more taxes then they already did. King Louis the XVI lacked…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The American Revolution was combined on the Englishmen and Great Awakening. This inspired and united people into colonies. The leading American colonists were influenced by Enlightenment ideas. One of the causes of the American Revolution was the European war which was independent in the colonies to take change of world history. Another was, French and Indian war fought in Europe.…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The French Revolution was brought on, almost directly, by the American Revolution. After hearing of the war from returning soldiers, French citizens thought that they too could stand up against their tyrannical leaders to gain their own liberty and equality. Thanks to the success that Washington, Adams and Jefferson had in securing independence after the American Revolution, the French knew that it was possible to stand up against their leaders. They also saw that starting a rebellion could help them achieve the success and freedom they so desired.…

    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    AP Essay

    • 561 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The French and American Revolution had lasting influences throughout history. Both resulted in the creation of important historical documents. The American Revolution made the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the U.S. Constitution. The French Revolution produced the Constitution of 1791 and the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The American Revolution was the first revolution…

    • 561 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American and French RevolutionsThe French Revolution had many causes. The main causes were due to political, social, and economic conditions in France that contributed to the discontent felt by many French people-especially those in the third estate. The ideas of the intellectuals of the Enlightenment brought new views to government and society. The American Revolution also influenced the coming of the French Revolution. The philosophies planted the seeds for the French Revolution. Their goals were to expose and destroy the inequalities of an ancient regime and both revolutions did just that. The American and French Revolutions were caused by political, social, and economic factors.…

    • 976 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American and French revolutions introduced similar ideas in fixing society, but different methods of implementing ideas. The American Revolution was created by the American colonists need for financial independence from the overpowering nation of Great Britain, while the French revolution was a struggle to gain social equality among the masses. People claim that the French had a greater impact on a lot of things than the American Revolution, and I agree on it being true. Therefore, the French revolution had a greater impact on everything because it improved human rights, social equality, and being free from oppressive government. I will nextly explain the comparisons of ideas.…

    • 912 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The French Revolution, one of the most popular revolutions in history, is one that resembles the American Revolution in many ways. In the French Revolution, King Louis XVI was overthrown and replaced with a new constitution, as was King George III in the American Revolution. Both of the new constitutions established an up to date government that was different than the previous one. The French Revolution and the American Revolution both involved a change in power but also both resisted a powerful monarchical government who was controlling them at the time. Both revolutions were a struggle for independence and the nation's identity, but the French were not forced to rebel against their own government as the Americans were and there revolution was very different as the fighting was not as prolonged. Since the American Revolution and the French Revolution were very much the same, with America having the tougher time, it can be concluded that the American Revolution was infact a…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hundreds of French soldiers who fought for America were inspired by the experience. The educated French wanted the same type of change the Americans fought for. The American Revolution was fantasized about because intellectuals were unsatisfied with their countries social order. Europeans were under the same tyrannical stress as were the Americans. The Americans instilled confidence and bravery into the Europeans. Therefore, the French thought they could escape the oppression just like their counterparts did. To break out of the control of the monarchy, it started with government. The revolution opened the modern era in politics.…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The ideas of the Enlightenment influenced the American Revolution and the formation of the American Government because our government is based off the ideas of the first political thinkers, like Thomas Hobbs, John Locke, Voltaire, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Cesare Beccaria. All of these philosophers believed in different ideas, and somehow the American government was able to figure out a way to make all of these ideas work in one government. These men formed the idea of our government, natural rights, separation of powers, checks and balances, the social contract, freedom of speech and religion, individual freedom, and the justice system. These are all things that…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before the French Revolution was sparked, poverty plagued the streets of France. Families starved while Louis XVI and his flighty wife Marie Antoinette spent lavishly. The ineffective rulers gambled and partied frequently and freely, and by 1789 France was out of money and faced a serious financial crisis. France’s unequal social hierarchy made of three classes-the First, Second, and Third Estate- was extremely unfair to the Third Estate which was ninety seven percent of the population and included the poor peasants, but also the middle class; the group paid fifty percent of their income in taxes. After the success of the American Revolution the Third Estate began demanding democracy, equality, and liberty. The Third Estate formed the National…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before the Revolution, France was divided socially in a structure known as the Old Regime. It consisted of three estates. The First Estate was the clergy, who owned ten percent of the land but comprised of only one percent of the population. The Second Estate, with nobility, included two percent of the population but owned thirty-five percent of the land. The largest was the Third Estate, which was made up of the middle class, peasants, and city workers, owned only fifty-five percent of the land but made up ninety-seven percent of the population (Doc. 2). The Third Estate was taxed in extreme proportions so much so that bread, which was a necessity and the base of all meals, became very difficult to pay and obtain. It was becoming increasingly difficult to survive on so little (Doc 1). However, the first two Estates lived easily with no taxes. Even the bourgeoisie, the middle class, became as wealthy as the preceding Estate, but because of where they were born, they were still burdened by taxes. This led to restlessness in the Third Estate. Since they comprised most of France, they joined together and planned a revolt.…

    • 656 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays