A revolution is a violent uprising
A revolution is a violent uprising of people with the goal of bringing about structural changes by toppling the existing government and reshaping society from one historical era to the next. Both France and America have historically undergone revolutions, the ideological processes of which placed a strong emphasis on the concepts of human equality and liberties. (Markoff 379). In France, taxes were levied unfairly and there was no support for farmers in the legislature. The French revolt was brought on by this inequality. Tyranny and unfair treatment by British colonists existed in America; it was these injustices that sparked the American Revolution. Both the French and American revolutions aimed at setting up a republic that professed justice and liberty to all citizens. This paper highlights the revolutionary terror of both the French and American revolutions basing on their comparison in the war context, focusing on the reasons that justify the use of violence in the French Revolution.
Assignment 1
The American and French revolutions had the same grievances, even though they started out differently. The American Revolution started out without war and violence against the ruling government. The Americans did not want bloodshed. Therefore, they embarked on peaceful revolution. On the contrary, the French revolution started out with bloodshed and violence. The American Revolution become more successful than the French Revolution since it was not a rebellion against the ruling government, but against the existence of excessive government control (Dolye 1536). On the other hand, the French Revolution was less successful since it was a rebel against the government accompanied by bloodshed and deaths of numerous people in the country.
Also, the American Revolution stands out as the most revolutionary between the two revolutions
Also, the American Revolution stands out as the most revolutionary between the two revolutions because of the outcome of the revolution process. The American Revolution brought a newly formed independent government characterized by justice and liberty to all. On the other hand, the French Revolution had a disastrous outcome when the government was overthrown and the king killed. This violence resulted in the establishment of dictatorship that lasted for an extended period before France achieved equality and liberty (Doyle 1538).
Assignment 2
Violence is an unlawful behavior that involves physical force exercised towards people, community, and property causing injury, destructions, and deaths. According to A chronicle of the French Revolution by Schama (2004), the use of violence in the French revolution was necessary since it was the source of collective energy to accomplish the political end of the ancient regime. Violence arose due to the hostility of the people towards modernization. The revolutionaries used violence as the divine force to enhance the political change in France. In my opinion, violence was justified and necessary in the French revolution for it to be successful.
The French revolution was a symbol of unity and liberty among the people of France, and it enhanced the power of the state. The revolution greatly influenced the modern world and shaped France into a fair and a respected nation. This achievement could not be possible if violence was not used during the revolution.
Violence in the French revolution put to an end the ruling classes such as emperors, kings, and queens, giving way to a new government. To accomplish this change in ruling, the reign of terror was a necessary condition in the revolution. According to Violence, emancipation, and democracy by Markoff (1995), violence was a fundamental requirement in the French Revolution since without violence the military would have defeated the revolutionary government.
Although there were much bloodshed and killings due to the violence in French revolution, it changed the life of the people of France through principles of equality, liberty, and democracy.
Works Cited
Doyle, William. "A Companion to the French Revolution, ed. Peter McPhee Experiencing the French Revolution, ed. David Andress The Oxford Handbook of the French Revolution, ed. David Andress The Routledge Companion to the French Revolution in World History, ed. Alan Forrest and Matthias Middell." (2016): 1535-1539.
Markoff, John. "Violence, emancipation, and democracy: The Countryside and the French Revolution." The American Historical Review 100.2 (1995): 360-386.
Schama, Simon. Citizens: A chronicle of the French Revolution. Penguin UK, 2004.
