Why Do the French Hate Americans so Much?

Question

The french loathe americans that is well known. But why, didnt we liberate them from nazi hell? Dont we send thousands and thousands of tourists every year to support their economy? Dont we buy tons of cheeses, wines and other french tasty treats every year? So why do they hate us?

Answer 1

The French hate everything. It has nothing to do with America.

Answer 2

French Hate Americans

Answer 3

I think the reason the French dislike Americans is because of the past and now we have some bad blood with the French (with the war and all).But come on that was over a hunded years ago. Another reason the French dislike us might because some people don t even want to learn French (unless there moveing there). And the last thing we French do things a little nicer then we do an example MC.DONALDS. And there could be more I just don t know what I hope that answerd that question.

Answer 4

The supposition that America is free because of France is somewhat erroneous. France's intent was to A) supplant the British in terms of economic gain. B) The French sought the grandiloquence of besting Britain at something... anything. While the French did provide cap, ball and powder in modest sums (lets not forget that after the defeat of Britain the French via the priviations of Comte de Vergennes were intent on controlling America for economic benefit) Their "Great Fleet" sailed aimlessly about the Atlantic until showing up at Yorktown. The British under siege from September 28 to October 19, 1781 by American forces augmented by a small number of French troops, capitulated when forced to recognize they were caught in a pincer movement provided by the fleet of Count de Grasse. One might want to ask why would a monarchy provide support to revolutionairies attempting to overthrow a monarchy soley based upon the quest for freedom? The answer, simplified is they wouldn't. Bragging rights and wealth were the perpetuating reasons. And therin, the French hate Americans because they got neither.

Answer 5

Why do the French hate Americans so much? Simple. The reasons to that may be earlier than the 20th century, but let's start at the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1953-1954, where the arrogant but weak French were disgracefully defeated by the Viet-Minh, led by the greatest general of Vietnam named Vo Nguyen Giap. During that time, the French were desperately in need of American help, but they refused due to the refusals of the UK and other allies. With that resentment, combined with the one in 1945 when Allie forces invaded Normandy without involving the French, caused the French to feel inferior and ashamed. For those reasons and others, the French have been hating the Americans ever since.

As a Vietnamese-American, I only admire the French for having the most beautiful language in the world, but that's about it. I hate them for their brutality and atrocities in Vietnam. I despise them for their inferiority, relative to other European powers. If Vietnam was modernized as early as Japan was in the 19th century, the weak-*** French would have never able to invade her. Indicative of that argument was verified when they were defeated by the Viet-Minh in 1954, which damaged their economy terribly as colonialism was their primary source of income.

Answer 6

People are people. The French are exactly like us in the U.S. Differences are perhaps cultural, but insignificant. I am in Paris right now...had my wallet lifted on the Metro. I Ve met wonderful and detestable French folks, but then again, this is exactly the same in the U.S. Remember the French are 80% Catholic. Catholics (I m a convert) can be very self righteous...are there any self- righteous Americans, you know? Take a breath...we are all connected. Woodzrat

Answer 7

A good friend of ours just returned from a European vacation and said she wishes that they had skipped France altogether. They were treated well everywhere they went, which included the UK, Amsterdam and Italy, but the 3 days they spent in France was hell (their words). They were ridiculed, mimicked, laughed at, pushed and were just generally treated very badly. We had a conversation about "why do they hate Americans so much"? and that is how I found this blog. I guess there is no one answer, but rather several. My gut feeling is that our cultures are so different that it is hard to find common ground. Also, I would suspect that Americans go to France and don't bother to learn even the basics of the French language and expect them to speak with us in English. I think it is the "expectation" that they need to accommodate us in their own country that pisses them off. And frankly, I really can't blame them. It doesn't make me want to visit there anytime soon (or ever) but if I were them it would probably tick me off too. The funny thing though is that in Italy they are so eager to try and help, to translate, speak English (even broken English) and try to make you feel welcome. So, that's where I'll spend my American cash!

Answer 8

I am in France now and I noticed some things. First, the people are all shorter, in general (not always). No one has bad body oder that I have encountered. NO ONE looks you in the eye, which is strange for me as I am used to being stared at. There are few white people compared to other ethnicities. There is graffiti everywhere and the subways are horrible dirty and outdated (like most cities).

Answer 9

People have a tendency to fear and therefore hate what is new or different to them. I have to admit that until recently I held a prejudice against French people. The prejudice was held mostly due to things I had heard about their feelings of us and the way they treated American tourists.

What changed my opinion? I finally had personal contact with people from France. My daughter (children can be the best teachers when it comes to issues like this) befriended a young lady at her school that is from France, but her family resides in American during the school year. I of course had reservations when my daughter invited her over the first time, but I am trying to raise my kids to be better than me so I agreed. This girl (and her family) did not resemble the preconceived stereotype I held as truth prior to getting to know them. She is an absolutely wonderful young lady and quickly became one of my favorites of my daughter’s friends.

I think like any group of people, there are the good ones and the bad ones. Unfortunately, although less in number, the bad ones are the ones that are chosen to represent the whole.

Answer 10

Only a guess on my part but maybe they are still feeling the sting of humiliation because the Allies had to rescue France in WWII. Or maybe it's because the French have always had an elitist attitude and superiority complex. Could be that the only Americans they meet are rich, rude, arrogant, and condescending when visiting France, the Ugly American.

Answer 11

Very difficult question, but i Will try to answers (sorry for the errors by the way). As a french guys i'm surprising about this question.
first don't take it serously is not the real fealing of the people in france, it is the french bashing in the usa (i think), it is just a state propaganda about one policy, like the war in irak.
secondly, the french people are very pessimistic, like we always see ourselves as useless men in a useless country ( economie, military failure, worst school in all the werstern country,....) so to cheers up the population the gouvenement try to make some weird comparaison with the other country (as i said before it is just a propaganda).
well there also other reson but for me these are the most important ones