Modern Democracy (1775–1793)

American Revolution or American War of Independence (1775–83)

Introduction

The American Revolution is the name given to the struggle by which the 13 colonies of England in North America declared their independence from England and fought a war to make it a reality.

Background

By the middle of the 18th century, differences in thought and interests had developed between the colonies on the one hand and the mother country (England) on the other.

Taxation Without Representation

Attempts to collect new taxes, such as the Stamps Act (1765) and Tax on Tea (1767), angered the colonists, who maintained that the British government was imposing ‘taxation without representation’ and that only the colonial representative assemblies could rightfully tax the Americans.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

The tax on tea led to trouble. In 1773, several colonies refused to unload the tea coming in English ships. In Boston, when the governor ordered a ship to be unloaded, a group of citizens dressed as American Indians boarded the ship and dumped the crates of tea into the water. This incident is known as the ‘Boston Tea Party’.

Start of the Revolution (1775)

The American Revolution started in 1775 and lasted until 1781.

Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was issued. Its author was Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration stated that all men are created equal; that they have a natural and inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and that they are justified in revolting when these rights are violated by any government.

Victory and Recognition

The colonies won the war against England. The American Revolution made possible the establishment of a new nation, the United States of America (U.S.A.).

Treaty of Paris (1783)

In 1783, England acknowledged American independence in the Treaty of Paris, and George Washington was elected the first President of USA.

French Revolution (1789–93)

Introduction

The French Revolution was a great event in the history not only of France & Europe but of mankind as a whole. It gave humanity new ideas of ‘Liberty, Equality & Fraternity’.

What Was the French Revolution?

The French Revolution is the name given to the struggle that swept away the Old Regime in France and brought about fundamental changes in the sociopolitical set-up.

Beginning of Political Upheaval

This political upheaval began in 1789. King Louis XIV and his successors had brought divine-right absolutism to its peak. The French king, in the 18th century, had unlimited powers. Opponents were put in prison without trial.

The Three Estates

The French society consisted of three estates or classes:

• The First Estate: Clergy

• The Second Estate: Nobility

• The Third Estate: Commoners (middle class, workers & peasants)

They made up 90% of the population. Almost the entire tax burden fell on the third estate, while the privileged classes were exempted from these taxes.

Role of Enlightenment Thinkers

These undemocratic features were sharply criticized by:

• Montesquieu (1689–1775)

• Voltaire (1694–1778)

• Rousseau (1712–1778)

Immediate Cause

The immediate cause of the revolution was the bankrupt condition of the French treasury, brought about in part by the extravagant expenditure and inefficiency of Louis XV & Louis XVI.

Fall of the Bastille (July 14, 1789)

The French Revolution started with the Fall of the Bastille. On July 14, 1789, mobs in Paris attacked the Bastille, killed its governor, and freed the prisoners.
This fortress symbolized tyranny. Its capture aroused the whole nation. Peasants in the provinces plundered and burnt castles.

‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’ became the watchword.

Collapse of Royal Authority

The government broke down as royal officials fled, and people stopped paying taxes.

National Assembly (1789–1791)

The National Assembly governed France from 1789 to 1791. It drafted a constitution that created a limited monarchy.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Its preamble was the Declaration of the Rights of Man.

Major Reforms by the National Assembly

• Feudal rights abolished

• Local government reorganized

• Old provinces replaced by 83 departments

• Church lands were confiscated and sold to peasants

• Special Church privileges abolished

Proclamation of the First Republic (1792)

The First Republic was proclaimed on September 21, 1792.

Execution of the King and Queen

• King Louis XVI was beheaded on January 21, 1793

• Queen Marie Antoinette was beheaded on October 16, 1793, on charges of treason.

Rise of Napoleon

Napoleon soon emerged as the strong man of France.

Significance of the French Revolution

The French Revolution was of fundamental importance not only to France but for the whole of Europe and the entire world.

• In France, it established the political supremacy of the middle class and transferred land to the peasantry.

• For Europe and the world, it represented the ideals of popular sovereignty and equality before the law.

Final Thoughts

The American and French Revolutions marked turning points in world history, signaling the end of absolute monarchies and the rise of democratic ideals. They introduced powerful concepts like liberty, equality, popular sovereignty, and human rights, which have since influenced political systems across the globe.

While the American Revolution led to the birth of a new nation, the French Revolution transformed French society and inspired future revolutions. Both movements empowered common people to demand representation, justice, and freedom.

These historic shifts laid the groundwork for the modern world, encouraging nations to question tyranny and fight for self-governance and equality. Their legacy continues to shape contemporary global values and institutions.