Throughout the course of history, all types of people have been subjected to unfair treatment or subjugation at one point. To answer the detrimental situation they are in, they retaliated with physical violence, which later became a distinguishing way, and an inspiration for further upcoming fights for freedom. The American and French Revolution were such examples of aggressive battles in the name of liberty and equality. Both the American and French societies were taxed unfairly and were neglected by their rulers. As a result, they strived to replace the current rulers with what they called a “democracy”. Their vision of a democracy was one that was fair and just, one that would alleviate the sufferings of the common people in their current situation of despair and poverty. However, did everything go as planned?
A democracy, according to modern times, is a form of government that enforces freedom, equality, and political participation. To enforce freedom, the democracy contrives laws to protect our natural, human rights by restricting illegal activities and punishing those who break the law, therefore intimidating criminals. Equality is also included because no one will be judged differently under the law, further implying that no matter who you are, or how powerful you are, your status under law is the same as everyone else’s. Finally, political participation is achieved through elected representatives. Common people vote for representatives that can best fulfill their interests. This allows the common citizens to have a say in political matters, in other words, they have indirect involvement with political affairs. In essence, it banishes oppression and subjugation through fair laws. Looking back, did the American and French revolution achieve all this?
After American victory, a democracy was soon established in place of the British Parliament. With this, some people began to receive their natural, human rights, and were no longer subjected to unfair treatment. Regrettably, the key word here is “some people”. Black people and females were not granted the rights of, for example, a young white male. Black people had no freedom because they were slaves, no equality because they were not protected by the law, and no political participation because they weren’t allowed to vote or influence politics without utilizing force. Instead, black people were more treated like property, instead of proper human beings. Similarly, women had no equality because they didn’t have rights to vote like men did, which also implies that they had no political participation. Consequently, the government established after the American Revolution wasn’t really a “democracy” at all; they were racist and sexist.
Like the American Revolution, a French “democracy” was established following their victory over the absolute monarch, King Louis XVI. Though the new form of government lasted an incredibly short time before Napoleon rose to power, one was built nonetheless. Unfortunately, and like the American Revolution, the new French government was not at all a democracy. Governed by the Jacobins, anyone who dared speak out directly against the Jacobins were to receive capital punishment: execution on the guillotine. Also, there were no such things as “representatives” in the new government, implying that public opinion/interest were not present in political affairs. Consequently, the French people had their natural, human rights of thinking, speech, and press limited because speaking out against the Jacobins would kill you, literally. In addition, they had no political participation whatsoever because of the lack of representatives to speak on behalf of public interest. Simply put, along with the government established from the American Revolution, the French government was not a democracy.
Now, to what extent were the revolutions in America and France successful democratic revolutions? Both were successful to the extent of being pseudo-democracies. After all, the only real “democratic” thing they did was laying the foundation of our modern democracies; we learned from their mistakes. A democracy, in concise terms (and as stated previously), is a form of government that enforces freedom, equality, and political participation. The American government literally failed in all three of the main principles of a democracy. Black people were slaves, and were treated like property instead of proper human beings. Women could not share rights men had, like voting. Though better than their predecessor, the American government was nonetheless not a “democracy”. Regrettably, the same goes for the French government as they limited the natural, human rights of thinking, speech, and press to favoring the Jacobins, or selecting capital punishment. Consequently, and to be concise, both the American and French revolution’s ensuing government were not democracies.
A democracy, according to modern times, is a form of government that enforces freedom, equality, and political participation. To enforce freedom, the democracy contrives laws to protect our natural, human rights by restricting illegal activities and punishing those who break the law, therefore intimidating criminals. Equality is also included because no one will be judged differently under the law, further implying that no matter who you are, or how powerful you are, your status under law is the same as everyone else’s. Finally, political participation is achieved through elected representatives. Common people vote for representatives that can best fulfill their interests. This allows the common citizens to have a say in political matters, in other words, they have indirect involvement with political affairs. In essence, it banishes oppression and subjugation through fair laws. Looking back, did the American and French revolution achieve all this?
After American victory, a democracy was soon established in place of the British Parliament. With this, some people began to receive their natural, human rights, and were no longer subjected to unfair treatment. Regrettably, the key word here is “some people”. Black people and females were not granted the rights of, for example, a young white male. Black people had no freedom because they were slaves, no equality because they were not protected by the law, and no political participation because they weren’t allowed to vote or influence politics without utilizing force. Instead, black people were more treated like property, instead of proper human beings. Similarly, women had no equality because they didn’t have rights to vote like men did, which also implies that they had no political participation. Consequently, the government established after the American Revolution wasn’t really a “democracy” at all; they were racist and sexist.
Like the American Revolution, a French “democracy” was established following their victory over the absolute monarch, King Louis XVI. Though the new form of government lasted an incredibly short time before Napoleon rose to power, one was built nonetheless. Unfortunately, and like the American Revolution, the new French government was not at all a democracy. Governed by the Jacobins, anyone who dared speak out directly against the Jacobins were to receive capital punishment: execution on the guillotine. Also, there were no such things as “representatives” in the new government, implying that public opinion/interest were not present in political affairs. Consequently, the French people had their natural, human rights of thinking, speech, and press limited because speaking out against the Jacobins would kill you, literally. In addition, they had no political participation whatsoever because of the lack of representatives to speak on behalf of public interest. Simply put, along with the government established from the American Revolution, the French government was not a democracy.
Now, to what extent were the revolutions in America and France successful democratic revolutions? Both were successful to the extent of being pseudo-democracies. After all, the only real “democratic” thing they did was laying the foundation of our modern democracies; we learned from their mistakes. A democracy, in concise terms (and as stated previously), is a form of government that enforces freedom, equality, and political participation. The American government literally failed in all three of the main principles of a democracy. Black people were slaves, and were treated like property instead of proper human beings. Women could not share rights men had, like voting. Though better than their predecessor, the American government was nonetheless not a “democracy”. Regrettably, the same goes for the French government as they limited the natural, human rights of thinking, speech, and press to favoring the Jacobins, or selecting capital punishment. Consequently, and to be concise, both the American and French revolution’s ensuing government were not democracies.
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