Dared to be Great
One battle or nine, a revolution is started for one reason whether it fills its purpose or not, it is intended to reshape the country for the good of the people and bring equality rights and radical change to the society for those who are willing to fight for it. Some of these revolutions are based on similar principles because countries tended to influence each other. The American Revolution and the French Revolution were greatly impacted be the Enlightenment principles. When the French philosophy came to the Americas, where the thirteen colonies were growing more and more frustrated with the British they found the light to their darkness as the enlightening ideas came around. The American Revolution, if considered a revolution at all, began in 1775 after a revolt from being overruled and given little freedom and rights by Britain. Also, it was the time when Europe brought literacy and had very influential philosophers to other countries. Some of these philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, Montesquieu and Voltaire were the Enlightenment behind the founding fathers decisions to shaping their country. The founding fathers preferred Voltaire’s philosophy since he was more hopeful and his ideas were rather more positive than other philosophers with the concept of government and life. Locke believed that people had natural rights of life, liberty and property, and if these rights were violated, it gave the people a right to rebel against the government. The people of both Revolutions utilized his ideas to explain the reason for rebelling. France and America’s destinies were interwoven and without each other they would not have shaped each other’s countries and made it what it is today.
France’s Support and Involvement
One of the actions that demonstrate this formation of interwoven was when having the French support the American colonies during their rebellion known as the American Revolution. However, the conditions of the French government from the rule of King Louis XIV to their current King, Louis XVI, were in debt due to the fact that their involvement in war was constant and they gained nothing from them but more debt. The current king in France at the time, king Louis XVI, owed about 1,250 millions of francs since 1776 to 1777(Doyle, 42-44). This debt angered the people greatly since many were suffering in poverty. When the opportunity to rise to power presented itself, the French were pleased to tag along in the American Revolution against their rival, Britain. The French and the British had a combat back in the Seven Year War leaving the French to kiss goodbye their territory. Marquis de Lafayette, also known as Gilbert du Motier, was a private funder and supporter of the American colonies and fought alongside them as a general. Growing up he detested the British and so when the American colonies were trying to free themselves from Britain, he and several others sailed west of the Atlantic Ocean to supply them and offering assistance in any way he could. Besides, he had plenty of money to spend since his parents were of noble blood and when his mother and grandfather had died leaving Lafayette with all of their riches. When Lafayette and his crew of men came along with him to the Americas he noticed right away that the men were wearing filthy rags and so he gave them one hundred uniforms. He was considered the United States of America’s hero when he volunteered to participated in the Battle of Brandywine. Also, Lafayette devotedly aided the Americans since he had grown a very stable bond with George Washington. He supplied them with men, ships, money, supplies when he would make voyages to France (Brandt 3). The Americans had a lot of aid from the French and if they had not, because they were empty-handed especially in being such a small number of rebels fighting against a stable monarchy, they probably would not have been able to gain triumph of the American Revolution on their own. They had no government besides the one they were trying to apart themselves from.
Success and Influence
The success the American Revolution impacted France by encouraging the peasants to revolt because of the unimaginable scene of having thirteen colonies defeat the most powerful monarch Britain. Of course, they had allies alongside them during their revolution. The fact that the American colonists had defeated the most powerful monarch was a miracle. Now the French brought to pass the American Revolution, they were having financial problems in their monarch who was not in effect as mighty as the British because of its selfish and careless rulers. The French, as well as most Europeans, paid admiration to the leaders of the American Revolution such as, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin (Jaffe 23). The French had formed an alliance of convenience which turned to a strong friendship. Also, the influence the colonists had was, even though the French had volunteered to help the Americans when they were in need they were so deep in debt that the people were desperate for a new governing system that would provide for them and not take from them. The country was at its weakest point where there was unemployment, famine and crime. The worst part is the people of poverty especially, had to keep their mouth shut, or be exiled or even be persecuted. Like Montesquieu said, “In a true state of nature, indeed, all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the laws (Montesquieu).” That is why they executed their king, Louis XVI and queen, Marie Antoinette. The French Revolution began in 1789 and lasted until 1799. Everyone hoped it to be a mild war but turned to the opposite. The King Louis XVI even claimed war with Britain and their association in the bloodshed brought about. The worst factor of the bloodshed was the date established as “The Reign of Terror,” which occurred after the death of King Louis XVI in 1793 when Marie Antoinette was killed (French Revolution). She was the first victim. Anyone would get persecuted for speaking tyrannically of the government. At least 30,000 people were executed in all of France. It was even educational, for women were encouraged to watch the executions and trail as they knit. The Reign of Terror was so frightening that when they called for the Americans help, they did not receive it for fear of involvement and the safety of their country. “The Reign of Terror” lasted a full year but it was enough to traumatize a lost country. Even after the war in 1799, nothing seemed to have really changed. They no longer had a monarchy but had a dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte. The impact to start the French Revolution of 1789-1799 was hopeful due to the fact that the Americans have done it so successfully. It could be possible that if the influence the Americans had on France had not been there, the French would not have had the courage to revolt again against their monarchy since change never seemed to have much hope.
An Everlasting Friendship?
The relationship between France and the United States has taken a turn. Before it did, in an act of kindness the French gave the Americans a gift in respect of their friendship during the American Revolution, which was the Statue of Liberty. It was completed on October 28, 1884 and it symbolizes freedom, liberty, democracy and friendship (History of the Statue of Liberty). One of the elements that acquired antagonism between France and the United States now a days was the fact that the French were sensitive on not receiving aid during the time of their revolution, which was caused partly for supporting the Americans during their revolution. It was personal, they were allies, had bonded and made a friendship. Later came when the United States needed help during the Iraq war and the French rejected to help them. A little friction was caused but things have improved and only stereotypes, envious, jealous, greedy and prejudiced people that stayed with that resentment of not letting the past stay in the past is a minority. The majority is fine and the countries still trade, tour each other’s country and have moved on from the past.
Two Countries, One Destiny
In a time when each one was fighting for the right change for their society they were either griping on to their roots to prosper through the fight and others “walked on untrodden ground (Jaffe 22).” Both the French and the Americans were courageous for their bravery to stand up to their government and fight. Before the American Revolution there was nothing to unite them until the American war came that the French began their support and a friendship grew. As a result it benefited both of them. One gave the other the support and supplies to battle for liberty, while the other gave the one hope, strength, courage and a voice to fight for victory. One could not have prospered without the other which is why their destinies have interwoven together to form a never ending thread, unbreakable and everlasting.






Bibliography
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ARTIST'S STATEMENT

C'est La Vie

By: Adriel Cordova, Andrea Herrera, ClaireAnne McCaskill, and Ervin Paraoan
Photography and edited with Photoshop

Our photograph comes from an event described in French author Victor Hugo’s epic novel Les Misérables. The June Rebellion was an uprising of revolutionaries (including students and the poor) that sought to eliminate the July Monarchy. We wanted to show the conflict of power between the two social classes in our portrait. We have one group, the royalty (purple) and the established and conservative (blue), trying to defend their power from the peasantry (earthly tones) and the liberals (red). As the uprising took place in the city of Paris, we chose to represent that by having our models stand on top of a representation of the Parisian flag – red and blue. Also scattered around the portrait are artifacts of French culture such as a beret and the July Monarchy Coat of Arms. The June Rebellion was initiated on June 5th and 6th, 1832. However, the issues of classism are universal and timeless. We have an analog clock displaying the 11:59 of yesterday and a digital clock displaying the 12:01 of tomorrow. Also present is a map centered on France – just one little corner of the world. Looking back on what spurred many revolutions and what happens when we try to eliminate classism, what can we say other than…c’est la vie (that’s life)!