American & French Revolutions: Impact on Modern Politics

The American Revolution: Birth of a Nation

The creation of the United States broke radically with monarchical traditions. It began with the rebellion of the 13 colonies against taxes imposed by Great Britain. GB sent troops, initiating a war between the colonies and the metropolis (1775). In 1776, the colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. The war, with support from France and Spain, ended in 1783 with American independence.

The new nation, called the United States of America, had several novelties:

• The Declaration of Rights, adopted by the State of Virginia, affirmed natural rights inherent in every person.
• It established a fundamental law, or Constitution (1787), mandating that all political positions be elected periodically.
• The political system was a federal republic.
• It featured a division of powers: legislative, executive, and judicial.
• It enshrined political and national sovereignty, and the equality of citizens before the law.

The French Revolution: Rise of the Third Estate

During the Estates-General, the Third Estate requested that each representative have one vote. This request was ignored, leading members of the Third Estate to create the National Constituent Assembly. They claimed to represent the nation, aiming to develop a constitution and declaring themselves the legitimate source of power and sovereignty, above the king and monarchy. The nobility led an army to destroy the Assembly at Versailles. A new element joined the revolution: the people of Paris. Threatened, the bourgeoisie and soldiers stormed the Bastille.

Constitutional Monarchy

The king yielded, accepting that the National Assembly would enact a series of measures (1789-1791):

• Abolition of feudal rights and privileges, establishing equality in taxes and laws.
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789).
• Approval of the 1791 Constitution, ending absolute monarchy and establishing the division of powers.
• Economic reforms inspired by Physiocratic and liberal ideas.
• Administrative and judicial reforms, creating a single administration and judicial system.
• Reform of the Catholic Church.

The Government of Napoleon (1799-1815)

Internal Politics: Napoleon created a new political system with revolutionary ideas, but with a personal and authoritarian style, eventually proclaiming himself Emperor. His achievements included:

• Creation of new institutions like the Bank of France.
• Introduction of a single currency.
• Unification of legislation through the Civil Code.
• Establishment of a professionalized government administration.

The Restoration

After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, a return to a conservative ideology was decided, based on the principles of tradition, authority, and religion. The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) redrew the map of Europe, applying four basic principles:

• Legitimacy
• International Liability
• Balance
• Right of Intervention