The American and French Revolutions Comparison and Contrast Analysis Social Economic Political causes

Essay by connortistHigh School, 12th gradeA+, March 2009

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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.

The political discontent seen in France was one of the causes of the Revolution. In the 17th and 18th centuries, France was ruled by an absolute government. The king had all the political powers. Anyone who criticized the government could be arrested and put in prison without trial.

Louis XVI was king at the time of the French Revolution. He was more interested in hunting than governing France. He and his queen lived an extravagant life at the Palace of Versailles. They did not really care about the state of their country. The third was largely ignored when it came to political elections. The first two estates worked together to outvote the large third estate to keep them from becoming a threat to the power. American Independence sparks this French Revolution. The American Revolution also originated from political discontent. However, the America's discontent stemmed largely from misrepresentation and not over taxation. The Stamp Act was merely a way for the colonist's to pay for their own defense. Colonists simply felt that they had no voice in Parliament, which was no different from the rest of Britain's colonies.

The economic problems created by the...