What was so revolutionary about the American Revolution?

Question

When compared to the French Revolution, what was so revolutionary about the American Revolution based on the results.

American: Independence, republic formed

French: King is executed, dictator exiled, aristocracy toppled, republic formed, slavery abolished

At the end of the American Revolution, the same people who were in charge before hand were in charge afterward, while the French revolution revamped the entirety of French society. The life of John Q. Public really did not change after America's Independence, while France looked nothing like the France of 1788 when the dust finally settled.Do we place to much importance while overestimating the influence of our own revolution?

Answer 1

In a historical context, the American Revolution was immense due to the Resurrection of Democratic ideology. But the American Revolution was a conservative movement. A rich man's war that became bigger and finally encompassed the whole of the colonies. Defeating the strongest military on earth is no laughing matter either. The French Revolution was a revolution in the more literal sense of the word: bloody, long, and full of chaos. More importantly it was civilly motivated. It could be that the word revolution as it pertains to the American version, is out of context. They fought for something bigger against a foreigner. The French fought for equality and essentially against themselves.

The biggest difference was the fact that Britain ruled over the colonies well. Had communications been better in 1775 there would have been no Lexington and concord or declaration of Independence a year later. Certainly, the French revolution was spurred by the American Revolution, it was coming eventually, and Louis XVI debt incurred from the AR only speed up the schedule.

Answer 2

Both Revolutions were, to some measure, inspired by the ideas of the Enlightenment. Concepts such as "freedom" and "equality" were part of the struggle. They took place within a few years of each other, and Frenchmen like the Marquis of Lafayette fought in both.

But you're right --there's where the similarities end. The American Revolution was about decolonization, or the rights of a colonial people to their independence from a colonial power. The White descendants of the colonizers led an elitist revolt, only to conduct a policy of domination and expansionism on the Native American and Mexican populations living beyond the territories of the thirteen colonies.

The French Revolution was anti-monarchical and anti-feudalism, and later granted equality for all citizens to its colonies, after a commission of the Gens de couleur libre from Haiti petitioned for racial equality at the National Assembly, and the abolition of slavery was added to the Declaration of the Rights of Man. This document is regarded as the first example or blueprint of international human rights.

In sum, the French Revolution was a more comprehensive and radical social revolution than the American. As a German professor of History, I believe I can say this objectively, since I'm not partial to either the American or the French point of view.

Answer 3

The two revolutions were closely tied but very different. The trick in a revolution is get it stopped before it begins to feed on itself. The American Revolution stopped short of a blood bath as it was with the French Revolution. The American Revolution was not a complete revolution. The leaders had no intention of creating a democracy. They were creating a republic, by definition a "representative government". The democracy of today has been created by legislation, the opinions of the court system, amending the Constitution and simple custom and practice (this is when the public simply changes the rules by doing something en masse). An example of the latter was when the Constitution was amended to ban alcohol. The public simply ignored the amendment and when it was removed in 1933 it was to simply recognize what the people had already decided.

As a consequence we now have a democratic republic.

Answer 4

Did someone just slap me with a stupid stick? I am trying to be Civil but what books have you been reading?

American Revolution// before, thirteen colonies all under Rule of the King of England & his Minister for the Colonies, whose primary duries were the Sugar Colonies of the Carribean the American Colonies were a nuisance...
Afer // A NATION one Nation under the rule of an elective assembly, at first a Cofederation and then several years later reformed as a Republic with an elective assembly and a President-- - ----
NO ! The same people who were in charge were booted out ;;;;; You may be thinking about America's leading families and yes many retained their power but many others were left bankrupt and forced into exile....

France // King & QUEEN executed, several botched experiments at government attempted, finally Napoleon takes control and declares himself Emperor. After Napoleon over stepped himself and was ousted, The MONARCHY was Restored - - - and France endured changes of leadership every now and then trading in Kings for Presidents, Presidents for Emperors, for a brief while a Commune ruled in France ..........

America // Despite nasty ugly elections every four years and a nasty not so Civil War stability for more than two hundred years and if you have ever read a history book you will realize that is Revolutionary.........

On one point you are correct, Slavery was abolished in France and not in America but that for more complicated reason - - - and in no way did the French freeing the Slaves improve the lives of blacks in French colonies in the Carribean or elsewhere...

Peace-----------------------------------------

Answer 5

We (the U.S.) were the first democratic republic in the world in 1787 when the U.S. Constitution was ratified. This was two years before the French Revolution began. Yes, it was the same bunch of guys running the country, BUT elections could topple leaders who were not doing what "the people" wanted. Unfortunately the people who could vote in America then were only WHITE, MALES, with Property. No women. No blacks. No Indians. So the vote was indeed restricted. Women could not vote in France after the Revolution. In fact,
France did not allow women to vote until 1944.
Think about it. In no other country of the world could elections decide the rulers in 1787. That was truly revolutionary.

Answer 6

Thats easy to say in retrospect, but at the time ANY country throwing off monarchy was revolutionary. The definition of a revolution has nothing to do with the common definition of revolutionary. A revolution is anytime the populace overthrows their leadership. It has nothing to do with how much change is enacted...

Answer 7

No, we do not place too much importance because of the result. Our forefathers created the greatest democracy. Our constitution was an experiment that has been challenged and still rules supreme.

It was the first time a colonial group was able to declare and secure independence from one of the greatest imperial nations of all time.

Answer 8

You seem to be implying that the French revolution was more successful than the American. Don't forget about the Reign of Terror

Answer 9

whats the point of making a comparison between the french revolution and the American revolution, i didn't know it was a competition man, it was a major pivotal point in American history.