Which one is more justified?? American revolution or French revolution?

Question

By applying social contract philosophy (like Locke..) which revoltion - the American or the French was more justified? Which one had a greater cause for revolution???

Answer 1

I think they both did.

The French revolution was based on the imbalance of power between the elite class (bourgeiosie) and the proletariat (the hard-working class), which is a struggle that we see even today - inequality between the rich and the poor, etc.

The American revolution was obviously based on having our own rights and freedom from an oppressive empire. It was to guarantee life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.


It can be interpreted either way.

Answer 2

Thomas Jefferson set forth the justification for the American Revolution in the Declaration of Independence. He started by laying out the terms of the contract between government and people:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident:
"1. That all men are created equal,
"2. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,
"3. That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
"4. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed.

Jefferson goes on to show the particular ways in which "the present King of Great Britain" has violated the contract, and that therefore the colonies have the right to change their government.

The French adopted a similar document called The Rights of Man in 1789. Maybe it's in wikipedia. If you ever get to Paris, you can still find evidence of the ferocity of the French Revolution, showing how strongly people felt they had been abused.

Answer 3

Revolution does not have to be "justified" when the people have been oppressed and left without the existence of basic human rights by a totalitarian government. How could you possibly compare? Both were ruled by monarchies that denied good living conditions and independent rule to the majority of the population. Surely we discuss quality rather than quantity of life.

Answer 4

The American Revolution as it made America a country

Answer 5

well the french rev. achieved absolutley nothing, while the american rev. gained independence. but i think france was in greater need; the americans couldve put up with the british a little longer...

Answer 6

Violence is never justifiable.

Answer 7

Violence is never justifiable.