Why did they produce different results from the same philosophy?
THE US REVOLUTION AND THE
FRENCH REVOLUTION AND THE
STATE.
The Question
 Since they happened at the same time, and
quoting much of the same philosophy, why
did the two revolutions produce such
different results?
 The US Revolution produced the US
Constitution, and institutions that are still
with us.
 France is on the 5th Republic and 8th
constitution. Why?
The Time Period.
 US Constitution and the French Revolution
both took place in the same year.
The Context.
 This was a time of many historic processes.
1. The rise of Humanism: Voltaire, Locke,
Thomas Paine etc. The “Rights of Man”
2. The Democratic Process had advanced from
Cromwell in the UK; the spread of
Protestantism challenged the old order.
3. The rise of Capitalism, Trade and a wealthy
class that had not secured recognition.
The American Dilemma
 The colonies were run by the British and had
an easy time—little to no taxation, plenty of
land etc.
 The French-Indian Wars (The 7-years war)
gained the British all of Canada, but they
wanted the Americans to pay some of the
costs.
 So they imposed taxes on the Americans,
who were not represented in the Parliament.
Confrontation
 The British lifted many of the taxes, but not
all, such as the tax on tea.
 The Americans dumped the tea in Boston
harbor.
 Argued that there should be “No taxation
without representation.”
 British resisted the American protests and
responded with increased troop presence.
The Break
 Eventually, this led to violent conflict.
 The Americans considered the British action
“tyranny.”
 The British failed to take this uprising
seriously.
 However, the Americans had learned much
from the French-Indian War; what we would
call guerilla warfare now.
The Outcome
 The British, rather amazingly, were defeated
and surrendered.
 Those opposed to the Revolution left with the
British or went to the British territory of
Canada.
 This left the Americans with a “clean slate”
upon which to create a state.
 Actually, they created a Confederation of 15
states.
The Confederation
 Did not work. There were barriers to trade
across the borders of the 17 colonies.
 The currencies began to lose value.
 A Continental Constitutional Congress was
called to discuss the problems and it was
decided to abandon the Confederation and
create a Federal System.
 It was for this that the Constitution was
created between 1787 and 1789.
Characteristics
 The “opposition” disappeared such as the
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British and the “Loyalist.”
The Church was separated from the State.
There was no aristocracy with privileges.
History was abolished.
The leadership was largely practical men.
Liberty was established, but not universal
democracy.
Later…
 The vote was extended under the regime of
President Jackson.
 Slavery persisted and almost destroyed the
state in 1862
Results…
 Great persistence of instruments and
institutions.
 Constant reinterpretations of the role of the
government in the context of Liberty.
The French Revolution
 First of all, France was a country, not a
colony.
 Secondly, the French nation had hundreds of
years of history.
 There were institutions representing different
interests, beliefs, and positions within France.
 Even though the ideas of the time were the
same, the outcome was different in France.
Structure
 Monarchy, Priesthood, Aristocracy had well-
defined positions and privileges.
 The problem was with the “Third Estate,” the
rising bourgeoisie, merchants etc., who had
no status, even though they had wealth.
 Capitalism was working against the privileges
of the past.
 Plus, France had not reformed under the
Protestant reforms.
The Revolution
 Creation of the National Assembly in 1789,
gave power to the Bourgeoisie.
 But, the other power centers remained,
unlike in America.
Conditions
 There was a food crisis, and a profound
economic crisis and this required reforms that
were resisted by those who were doing well
out of the old system.
 The Monarchy was reluctant to see its power
challenged and was getting bad advice.
 There were many emerging competing
interests.
 Not really a revolution of common people.
Philosophy
 There was a declaration of the Rights of Man
and a Constitution, but no general
agreement.
 The debate became very partisan and
philosophical and, eventually, violent.
 Eventually, the different philosophies created
different models of the state and conflicting
leadership, leading to the Terror of 1793.
Chaos, Terror and Collapse.
 By 1799, the country was in political chaos
among competing political groups and ideas.
 Napoleon staged a coup d’etat in 1799 and
power moved to an executive.
Dictatorship.
 Napoleon becomes increasingly dictatorial
and is running a war government as the
Revolution sets out to conquer Europe.
 Crowns himself Emperor in 1805, and the
concepts of the Revolution seem to have
died.
 Glory and Power replace Liberty.
The fall of the Empire.
 Napoleon is focused on conquering Europe in
the name of the Revolution, but maybe in the
name of France.
 He eventually makes a serious tactical
mistake by invading Russia and is destroyed
by the Winter.
The End of the Revolution.
 Eventually, Napoleon is exiled and then
returns to France.
 Eventually, finally defeated at the Battle of
Waterloo, and exiled to the British island of
St. Helena.
France returns to the Old Order
 The monarchy is restored under Louis XVIII.
 But, the tensions remain from the unfulfilled
revolution.
 Results in revolution of 1830, change of
monarchs.
 Revolution of 1848 results in military
dictatorship of Louis Napoleon.
 Transformed into Empire in 1852, collapses in
Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71.
Consequences
 There was never a “once-and-for-all”
transformation of society, social values etc.
 The revolution continued through conflict
and changes of regime.
 Dictatorship keeps coming back, and
examples of this would be under Petain and
Vichy, and Charles de Gaulle who changed
the Constitution to strengthen his power in
the context of the Algerian war.