Premium Essay

Comparing Two Revolutions

Submitted By
Words 476
Pages 2
They were different. That is true. However, ironically, these two revolutions were inspired by the same ideas: liberty, equality, and the rights of the people.
Thomas Jefferson no less than Maximilien Robespierre was a fierce lover of liberty. Patrick Henry no less than Abbé Sieyès believed the people were sovereign and had a right to govern themselves. George Washington believed as Saint-Just did that virtue was a republican value upon which the safety of liberty depended. However, they meant very different things by these ideas.
I believe the best way to understand the difference between these two revolutions is to understand the difference between these ideas. They are like windows into the souls of the revolutions—spotlights on their hopes …show more content…
For Americans, the state of nature was very real. It was where individuals were endowed by the Creator with natural rights like life and liberty. Looking largely to John Locke, they believed governments should be instituted to protect those rights.
Freedom already existed naturally, but it had to be protected from potential sources of coercion, mainly from governments or from majorities who would deny people their individual rights. For some, the state of nature was a benign place. For others, like English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, it was where life was “nasty, brutish and short.”
It was an uneasy balance of Enlightenment optimism, with its faith in Reason, mixed in with an old-fashioned Protestant distrust of human nature. Freedom was largely a negative thing, and rights existed in nature to be discovered by Reason, not to be created by philosophers or government committees.
For the French, it was completely different. They imagined a new order in which everyone naturally loved and cared for one another, but only if all the bad laws and customs of the past were completely

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Compatible Essay

...least two (possibly more) items. These items will differ depending on the assignment. You might be asked to compare • positions on an issue (e.g., responses to healthcare in Canada and the United States) • theories (e.g., capitalism and communism) • figures (e.g., Auto production in the United States and Britain) • texts (e.g., Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Macbeth) • events (e.g., the Great Depression and the global financial crisis of 2008–9) Although the assignment may say “compare,” the assumption is that you will consider both the similarities and differences; in other words, you will compare and contrast. Make sure you know the basis for comparison The assignment sheet may say exactly what you need to compare, or it may ask you to come up with a basis for comparison yourself. • Provided by the question: The question may ask that you consider the gradual loss of morals by major characters in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The basis for comparison will be the loss of morals by central figures in each text. • Developed by you: The question may simply ask that you compare the two novels. If so, you will need to develop a basis for comparison, that is, a theme, concern, or device common to both works from which you can draw similarities and differences. Develop a list of similarities and differences Once you know your basis for comparison, think critically about the similarities and differences between the items you are comparing, and...

Words: 1578 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Nanotechnology In Technology

...Abstract Nanotechnology has become major emerging technologies by creating a wide impact to the today’s society. It has created the world in to a different place with the innovations which are introduced. Today nanotechnology has become one of the dominating sector in many industries such as medicine, food, agriculture, ICT etc. When comparing with other industries nanotechnology plays a major role in ICT industry. This paper is an attempt to explore an overview of nanotechnology, the importance of this technology, how nanotechnology has made an impact to the IT and communication industries, its application areas and how the computers and other electronic devices improved their performance. I. INTRODUCTION There are many industrial revolutions...

Words: 813 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Similarities Between French Revolution And American Revolution

...The French and American Revolution had a lot of similarities and differences. Some examples are comparing and contrasting the leaders, people life's, and successes and failures. The American Revolution had came first before the French Revolution. Napoleon Bonaparte was a leader during the end of the French Revolution and after. George Washington was the best military leader in American Revolution. One cause of the American revolution was The Stamp Act of 1765. This was a big cause because they would put taxes on their colonist cause of the wars. Another cause is the Boston Massacre because the soldiers had killed the people from their colonist. One cause for the French Revolution is Deficit Spending and that’s because the king Louis...

Words: 687 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Neoliberalism

...To what extent does the term ‘American exceptionalism’ necessarily imply U.S. superiority? Red Reference Blue Title Purple reword to be better Come back to with evidence or etc ( real example) (also a scholar arguing for and one against with my opining in the end little conculsion) “American Execptionalism” is theoretically classified as America being qualitatively different () from other countries. Therefore in terms of America’s identity historically, politically, economically and socially, these should be understood differently because America was created differently. Hence why the idea of American exceptionalism’ stems from the principle of America being unique. Furthermore, In addition to this the idea that “American exceptionalism” implies superiority is a key concept to embrace and identify through out America history, contemporary politics, foreign policy and social culture. However, due to the essay title I will be analyzing and examining to what extent is “American exceptionalism’ identified as U.S superiority. Although due to the wide context of the theoretical term ‘American exceptionalism’’ and word limit. I will focus on the significant impacts that has led to the idea of ‘American exceptionalism’ to be implied as U.S superiority such as American history, foreign policy, economic and social culture. History Explaination The significant impact of America’s revolutionary history sparked an inspirational movement of independency to pervious...

Words: 1276 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Persepolis Compare And Contrast

...When comparing and contrasting these two stories you can see more differences then similarities,There aren't many similarities,these stories only have three,the author,the subject,starting with the subject,both have to do with Iran,Persepolis’ subject is life during the Iranian Revolution which was located in Iran and “I Must Go Home to Iran Again” talks about the little things that make Iran great.The author and speaker for both is Marjane Satrapi,she mixes up both first person and third person point-of-viewThe occasions for Persepolis is the Iranian Revolution and for “I Must Go Home to Iran Again” is in a cafe in paris.The audience for Persepolis is more in the teenager area,the reason for this is because its a graphic novel which attracts...

Words: 337 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

French Revolution

...Writing Assignment The French Revolution in 1789 came as a surprise to many people during that time. For a country with such absolute Monarchy and was advanced in every single way comparing to other European countries, revolution is something that no one would expect. However, some Primary Sources clearly shows evidence of the need for revolution among the commoners in France. Some factors that had caused the idea of rebellion include a king that’s completely incompetent, the bankruptcy in the country and hope of liberty after seeing the success of American Revolution. In the end it is the eager for freedom and anger towards high taxes in the third estate that finally led France into the great revolution. In Arthur Young’s travel diaries, he stressed a few key circumstances that led to the outbreak of French Revolution. In his opinion, the French Revolution was not so much a surprise and the seeds of revolution had been spread and deeply ingrained in the French long ago. First, he pointed out the long unsolved financial problem that had been bothering the nation. However, the king in throne does not have the knowledge to solve such crisis nor do the court that immersed themselves in pleasure. On top of the financial crisis, the commoners wanted for some immediate change but do not know what to look up to and hope for. I think what Young is trying telling us is that the root to the revolution is the mass bankruptcy in the country. The king could have solved this primary crisis...

Words: 935 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Time

...just because time is intangible doesn't mean that it is not valuable. I want to teach you about the background of time management, the different styles and how to use them, and how it will change your life. Background Time management today is not as it was in the past. It has grown with time. Stephen R. Covey places time management into four generations. He feels it has evolved the same way society has. Each generation grows on the one before it. For example, the agriculture revolution was followed by the industrial revolution, which was then followed by the informational revolution. The first wave or generation is basically notes and checklist. Which really only identifies the demands placed on our time and energy. Calendars and appointment books characterize the second generation. This reflects an attempt to look ahead. The third generation is current time management field. It's the last two generations with the ideas of prioritization, clarifying values, and comparing the worth of...

Words: 317 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Industrial Revolution Research Paper

...these problems existed around the world, “before 1800 income per person —the food, clothing, heat, light, and housing available per head—varied across societies,” creating a gap before industries came to widen it. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, Britain did not have as much income as China did. Britain’s land made it difficult to farm, exposing the difficulties of what an ever growing population did to society. In his book, The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy, Kenneth Pomeranz demonstrates how Britain’s, like the rest of Europe’s, “disadvantages were concentrated in areas of agriculture, land management, and the inefficient use of certain land intensive products.” Without the ability to provide enough resources for a population to survive, there is no way for a population, let alone an economy, to...

Words: 2137 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Case Application

...never-dying voice, opining in an authoritative fashion only to disown its own judgment afterwards. It does so through sources - textual, visual, plastic, etc. - which lend themselves to constant interpretations and reinterpretations, acting as an inexhaustible trove of disputes and possibilities. For this assignment you will be asked to read and analyze two literary (or quasi-literary) testimonies, both tackling Russian Revolution and the subsequent Civil War. This is, however, where the affinity between them ends - or does it? Otherwise, they seem to contradict each other in almost everything, to the point where one starts wondering if they are truly inspired by the same event. Your task as a historian is to reconcile divergent perspectives by determining the extent of their credibility, by describing the way they complement each other or by explaining the meaning of apparent contradictions. In other words, when comparing these two accounts (that of Reed and of Bunin), your major question shall be: what do I learn about the event in question? As aforementioned, the authors provide us with conflicting stories of the Russian Revolution, but it is not because one of them lies and the other is speaking the truth. Why then? You need to focus on authors themselves first, their origins, their attitudes, motives, interests, audiences they targeted, etc. Then you need to look at the type of the document itself. Are we dealing with a propaganda pamphlet, a work destined for the few, a journal...

Words: 492 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Difference Between the Two Theories of Karl Marx and Max Weber. Which One Best Describes Class Today?

...unique dynamic that power possesses in its own right, apart from economic interests. Moreover, he wanted to highlight the irrational features of power by making it clear that the rational interests of a class are not sufficient to explain the dynamics of society, particularly when comparing one society to another. (Humanities). Marx has a much more optimistic view of conflict theory than Weber. Where Marx would say the proletariat have revolution as an ultimate recourse, Weber says we're screwed pretty much regardless. Marx does not consider inequality to be inevitable (not the natural product of human interaction, so man is not naturally flawed) and the major tenants of Marxism are towards a Better, more Just society (prescriptive goal of social science). Weber, on the other hand, distrusted human nature and saw inequality as inevitable. Our analysis of human interaction, in his opinion, should be value-free and non-prescriptive given such a nature In today's sociology, we tend to see the same three factors, although Marxist sociologists still emphasize the relations to the means of production (including now the production of ideas and information). Weber saw society as having several layers, not only two, and that factors other than the material were important. Today, there is still a tension between owners and workers, but there are greater proportions of people in other situations, dealers in information, managers, civil servants, which...

Words: 526 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Research Paper

...Cross Cultural Management (BUS6060) Professor Dr. Wendy Chung San Diego Campus Research Paper - Great Britain - Cross Cultural Management Alliant International University Author Note Arturo Morales Student ID: 516395 Jeremy Liu (Fangming Liu) Student ID: 617063 Maria Röttgers Student ID: 617666 Historical Overview England itself is actually not a country, but part of Great Britain, which again is part of the United Kingdom. Great Britain consists of the three regions England, Scotland and Wales. Besides Great Britain, Northern Ireland is also part of the United Kingdom. The history of England goes back to thousands years before Christ. Therefore, this historical overview will outline some major events in British history and will concentrate more on the last century. Major events in British history were The Hundred Years War against France during the 14th century and the civil war that was also known as the War of Roses: the House of York was fighting against the House of Lancaster for the English throne, which weakened the power of the English aristocracy. (Strasbourg l’europénne: 2014) Another aspect of the British history is that England, Scotland and Ireland are very different countries with different histories. Each kingdom favored a different form of religion. The English favored a moderate form of Protestantism, the Scottish were Calvinist and the Irish were stouthearted Catholics. But each kingdom also had strong minorities of other religions...

Words: 3768 - Pages: 16

Free Essay

Do You Agree That Trotsky Was the Strongest Candidate to Run the Communist Party After the Death of Lenin?

...and charisma. This means that he was similar or even smarter than Lenin, meaning he could easily take over the power as he had the same capabilities as Lenin. Another benefit about Trotsky was that he was a great orator, also he was very popular with youth and committed communists meaning he was already allies with the party, and he could easily take it over it. Also with Trotsky he controlled and restructured the red army to lead them to victory. Comparing Trotsky with Zinoviev, there are a quite a few differences between the two to see which one was the strongest candidate to run the communist party. Zinoviev compared to Trotsky was seen to be a coward. Zinoviev remained in his hotel far away from the fighting when the revolution was happening. This shows that Zinoviev did not have the mental capability to go out and fight and lead the men which are fighting for you. Whereas Trotsky was a warrior who wasn't afraid to go out and lead his men, if Trotsky didn't lead the red army, then I believe the party would of lost the revolution. Also Zinoviev was seen to be the least appealing in the party, and Lenin's testament said he was disloyal and lack vision. This means that Zinoviev wouldn't change the system, and he could even stab the communists in the back and betray them. Trotsky didn't have any of these bad words,...

Words: 822 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Comparison of Revolutions

...Why and What Do We Compare? The Story of Revolution and Democratization Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Syracuse University Introduction The field of comparative politics starts with the assumption that knowledge in the social sciences must proceed by way of the search for comparisons, or what has been called "suggestive contrasts." Scholars of comparative politics compare in order to discover similarities and explain differences. As infrequent and highly complex events, revolutions have attracted a great deal of attention from comparativists. In this article, we will address the following topics: • The Concept of Revolution • Why Revolutions Happen? • Can Revolutions be Predicted? • What Do Revolutions Accomplish? • What Are some of the Failures of Revolutions? • Comparing Characteristics and Outcomes of Some Revolutions • Questions The Concept of Revolution: According to the American philosopher Richard Rorty "revolution," like such other words as "reason," "democracy," and "socialism" is a "thick word" which can be contrasted with such "thin words" as truth, dialogue, and justice. How do we define a "revolution?" How are revolutions distinct from other forms of political change such as Coup d'état, rebellion, mutiny, insurrection, or uprising? All of the above nouns may denote acts of violence aimed at changing or overthrowing an existing order or authority. However, there are important legal and political differences among them as well. ...

Words: 3593 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

History: The Industrial Revolution

...The industrial revolution was crucial to creating a growing world and economy. Great Britain ignited the fire and was the first among all nations to take part in the industrial revolution. A mix of different factors made the industrial revolution possible; available wealth, increasing population, more available labor, and availability of cheap materials (Duiker, 2009). The steam engine was a popular invention during the eighteenth century and was easy to utilize since society wasn’t worried about a depleting non-renewable energy supply. This only continued to create more jobs for individuals and contribute to a growing economy. The use of the steam engine and consumption of coal paved a path to the production of the railroad, which was also...

Words: 996 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Information on Fox Butterfields Story of Lihua

...accounts of this experience in his book titled, China, Alive in the bitter sea. This is where he had published the account of Lihua and her Family. This could not have happened without Richard Nixon’s trip to China in 1972 that ended more than two decades of Cold war hostility. This trip allowed journalist’s access to china for the first time in two decades, and created an appetite for China. This appetite was insatiable after many of American top journalists describe it as like “going to the moon.”, and therefore when US – Chinese relations were reopened in 1979. Many top Journalists jumped on this, including Fox Butterfield. This was historically important because it gave firsthand knowledge of the struggles that occurred within Chinese society especially with the destruction of intellectuals in Mao’s Cultural Revolution, and allowed for the first time in 30 years the ability for Americans to understand what was occurring overseas in China. Relevant Events background The Chinese revolution of 1949 was based on the majority of the Chinese against imperialism, feudalism, and capitalism. This was displayed quite well in the previous presenters by Mao in “the foolish old man“, speech in which Mao explains that the Chinese people hold two large mountains on their shoulders and one being imperialism, and “the other is feudalism.” However, afterwards much of the economic surplus was placed in the hands of the state for industrialization and in turn allowed elites the power to control...

Words: 1200 - Pages: 5