The American Revolution of 1776-1783 mostly got it right. The French Revolution of 1789-1799 largely got it wrong. The Americans believed in and fought for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, and in deference to “inalienable rights”. The French believed in and fought for “liberty, equality, fraternity”, and in deference to “the general will”.
The Americans, and their Declaration of Independence, were mostly individualist; the French, and their Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, were largely collectivist. The American revolutionaries essentially thought that sovereignty lay with the individual, and eventually ended up with leaders like Jefferson and Madison. The French revolutionaries essentially thought that sovereignty lay with the nation, and eventually ended up with a leader like Napoleon.
The Americans had a high regard for true reason -- whose leaders were mostly deist. The French established a Cult of Reason -- whose leaders were mostly executed. The Americans overthrew a foreign and tyrannical rule by relatively-virtuous Britain. The French overthrew a local and tyrannical rule by a largely-vicious hereditary monarchy and established church.
But, ultimately, both Enlightenment-based revolutions did believe in, and advance, the cause of individual freedom; and of equal justice and liberty for all.
Funny that you're completely negative about the French Revolution and then conclude that it advanced the cause of individual freedom.
ReplyDeleteDarrell -- I'm MOSTLY or LARGELY negative about the ideas and ideals of the French Revolution -- not completely. And, yes, I'm surprised that I now hold that opinion. But I recently revisited the issue, and came up with new conclusions.
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