AMERICAN AND FRENCH REVOLUTION

AMERICAN AND FRENCH REVOLUTION

Introduction

The paper discusses the American Revolution and French revolution. It also entails one real character that is a time traveller and is presumed to be present in both the revolutionary wars. For most of the seventeenth and eighteenth century, the association between Britain and the United States colonies was robust, healthy and amiable.

American Revolution

The character who was an observer of the two revolutions was a Soldier by the name Major Blue. According to Major Blue, both the colonies experienced an era of salutary negligence, and the colonial governments were capable of governing themselves without the involvement of the parliament. This strategy enabled the colonies to develop financially and was profitable for the home countries. This era which was flourishing with tranquillity and prosperity did not last for quite a period (Bonwick, 2017).  Britain had accumulated massive debts which resulted from the French Indian conflicts and as a way to help reduce the deficits; they were expecting the United States to assist them.

Early in the 1763, Britain implemented a series of parliamentary acts which enabled them to tax United States colonies. When the British had defended the colonies during the French revolution and Indian war, several colonials were incensed to imposing taxes. During 1736 to 1776, the colonists, parliament, royal governors and King George the third had collided over principles of trade, taxation, and representation. Furthermore, there was increasing unrest, several Americans including myself and Major Blue supposed war and independence as the last option.

In 1775, the tension had escalated to boiling point; both the parties started preparing for war as the negotiation efforts faltered. Major Blue was busy training and grooming his platoon to get ready for any outcome possibly war. The soldiers were attending training sessions which sharpened their skills for attacking and defence. Hell broke loose outskirts of Boston, and the British raided us to seize ammunitions located at Lexington and Concord. In the morning, April 19 the British regulars reached Lexington where they discovered that the town’s military was waiting for their arrival (Bonwick, 2017). Major Blue had positioned his soldiers at the town’s key locations. Minutemen intended to stage a show of force and disseminated when a gunshot was fired.

The aforementioned event marked to the official beginning of United States war for independence. The significant blue platoon was able to harass the British soldiers all the way starting from Concord towards Boston, and they eventually circled the city. British soldiers made an effort to chase away the United States army men including significant Blue’s platoon which was attacked at Breeds Hill and the event resulted in many casualties. George Washington was able to arrive in July of the same year and assumed control of the United States soldiers and prepared a continental army (Plant, R., 2017). Even significant Blue’s platoon was absorbed into the big army which drove away British soldiers out of Boston in March of the following year.

Henry Knox was able to successfully lead twelve weaponry pieces from Ticonderoga all the way to Dorchester superintending the city below. In early 1776, the war extended to other regions and the United States soldiers was capable of halting British attacks. After the successful capture of Ticonderoga, the American attack of Canada mired a failed. The British gathered their soldiers quickly in New York plus Canada to fight back (Bonwick, C., 2017). The American soldiers faced five consecutive defeats at Fort Washington, long island, fort lee, Harlem Heights and White Plains hence eventually capturing New York. The British were able to drive the American army including principal Blue’s men across New Jersey and winning in several extra battles along their advancement. In the winter of 1776, Washington was able to reinforce his army and to ignite the American course by attaining victories at New Jersey, Trenton, and Princeton.

In September 1777, the British engaged in a battle which enable them to capture Philadelphia and notwithstanding the losses, the continental army was able to perform positively and acquired substantial confidence in the belief that they will defeat the British. In October, John Burgoyne, a British general was able to invade New York’s upstate through Canada and won gained several victories (Plant, R., 2017). However, the general’s army was bogged down by the American soldiers situated at Bennington, Oriskany and Fort Stanwix. Later on in open battle, the general surrendered his whole field soldiers at Saratoga in New York. The defeat of the British at Saratoga became a turning point of the battle since it influenced the French colony that Americans could emerge victorious over the British.

This resulted into official formation of military collaboration which was signed between the United States government and French side in 1778 which led in the expanded military and monetary support. The coalition brought about positive implications for the American army since it mandated the parliament to channel resources and manpower to fight the French colony across the world instead of distributing them to the United States. In 1778 the British were able to amalgamate their armies present in New York plus Canada and got ready to launch an attack on the south (Bonwick, C., 2017). The American forces that were commanded by George R, Clark was able to capture British strongholds leading victories in Indiana and Vincennes which resulted in surrendering of British bigger army.

British evacuated Philadelphia and proceeded to New York meeting at New Jersey where the fighting intensified. When the British soldier reached New York, they never went further to set a base, however, continued to fight in various places. The American soldiers were able to drive British troops out of Carolina and eventually Virginia. The continental army under the command of Washington and French counterparts forcing the British to surrender. In Yorktown both the armies gathered their soldiers waiting for peace agreements to be made in Paris (Bonwick, C., 2017). The treaty of Paris was authenticated in 1783 which brought an end to the war favoring the American colonists. The battle of independence is engraved in American identity and gives the Americans sense of belonging. The character such as primary blue fought for liberation, republican principles, and freedom which had not been realized before.

French revolution

The Frenchmen were not the leading cause of the French revolution but were the final catalysts. The class system in France positioned clergymen and nobility above other citizen clusters even though many citizens had possessions exceeding then. The exclusive titles placed their holders to be above the law and were entitled to tax exemption (Doyle, W., 2018). In 1789 the estates general restarted, and it was clear that the high-rank class declined to abandon their privileges to consider saving the country which resulted in frustrations of the bourgeoisie to escalate to boiling point. The French revolution was considered a war to attain equality and eradicate oppression. The revolution was concerned with deep-rooted aspects and global concerns instead of the immediate financial turbulence the nation was facing at that time. Superficially it seems that immediate results of the revolutions were negligible.

The next revolution leader who was named Napoleon was implementing dictatorship and soiling the sovereign democracy that was mandated to the revolution (Doyle, W., 2018). The French revolution was able to win other victories which were tangible and intangible associated with the public. No other French leader was able to reverse the assets and right acquired during the revolution. The individuals who had purchased land were allowed to keep them, and the new tax system was devoid of the impact of privilege, therefore, every person paid for their shares concerning personal assets. The breaking down of church and government contracts enabled the citizens to be free from paying tithes and other related fees.

The French industry sector struggled for several years post the revolution to regain stability. Many European governments and leaders were not pleased with the French post the revolution (Doyle, W., 2018). They were aware that citizens had experienced the influence of power and other governments were now feeling insecure. The French revolution which is also referred to as the revolution of 1789 in books of history occurred from 1787 to 1799, and it experienced its climax in 1789. The revolution marked the end of the ancient regime, and its cause was similar to other revolutions occurred in the west in the eighteenth century.

The French revolution was regarded as the most violent and having high universal significance. The initial general causes were associated with the social structure that existed in the west. The feudal government was weakened and started disseminating in other parts of Europe. The increasing number of well-off elite commoners including professionals, merchants, and manufacturers that were collectively referred to as ‘bourgeoisie’ (Doyle, W., 2018). They aspired to the power of politics in countries which were not having them. Many peasants who have land portions were able to achieve improved standards of living and also substantial education which made them eliminate last remnants of feudalism to acquire full land ownership and associated rights. They wanted the freedom to expand their holding. As from 1730, the standards for living which were high was able to reduce the mortality rate significantly.

Conclusion

The America revolution was focused on liberating Americans, and its end led to the dependence of the country. The French revolution was against the wealthier and elite taking advantage of their wealth to oppress other citizens. Therefore the citizens staged a revolution to free them and enable their rights acknowledged leading to various positive results. The paper also has a character called significant Blue who is used to account for the happenings during the revolution. Both the two revolutions brought about positive results which changed the life of American people and Frenchmen. The two revolutions are closely related since the French collaborated with the Americans to defeat British troops which eventually led to liberation in the United States. Other parts of Europe felt threatened after the French revolution, and the cartels which were mainly favorable to rich and elite were terminated, and ordinary citizens were given privileges that enable them to improve their living standards and achieve democracy..

Reference

Bonwick, C. (2017). English radicals and the American revolution. UNC Press Books.

Plant, R. (2017). Boy Soldiers of the American Revolution by Caroline Cox, and: Becoming Men of Some Consequence: Youth and Military Service in the Revolutionary War by John A. Ruddiman. The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, 10(2).

Doyle, W. (2018). The Oxford history of the French revolution. Oxford University Press.