From U.S. to Us: How America Affected the French

1. From U.S. to Us How America Affected the French

2. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life… • Great Britain was in control • The height of their power • Radiant, stunningly beautiful • The Union Jack waving in the wind…

3. And Then We Hit ‘Em With a Dose of Reality (Or the reality only the colonists thought was possible) • Boom! Outta here! • U.S. wins the war for independence behind the Enlightenment ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” • Upon the ignition of war with King George III, the colonists declared they were “free and independent states absolve[d] from all allegiance to the British crown” • The victory was stunning: the Brits were a European military power with enormous financial resources…the U.S. had a Southerner running a war with short-term, undisciplined amateurs whose newly-formed government was normally dominated by Northeasterners • Also, the internal debate within the colonies meant Washington was leading a less-than-united effort • The fact that 15%-30% of the population were also loyal to the British crown was a significant hurdle as well • Basically, there was no way the colonists could win—except they did

4. Apathy Leads to Self-Governance • Because those who identified themselves as Patriots were a minority during the war, all Patriots banded together, regardless of social class • George Washington was a wealthy plantation owner, yet his coalition included farmers and artisans (craftsmen) • Patriots were able to win over much of the uncommitted populace either by persuasion or force • The widespread nature of the movement, across land and social class, had a direct impact on the representative nature of governance in states after the war • The right to vote was often broadened • In fact, Pennsylvania dropped all property qualifications for voting after the war

5. Foreign Aid • France helped the colonists tremendously in their fight, though the aid was selfishly-motivated • They had their tails kicked by the British just a few years earlier (shocking!) so they were looking for revenge • The French initially supplied arms and money to the rebels from the beginning of the war • French officers and soldiers also served in Washington’s Continental Army • When the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 (they surrendered in 1781), the American colonies were officially granted independence by Britain and gave the U.S. control of the western territory of the U.S. from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River • Look at the maps on p. 576

6. The Bare Minimum • U.S. Gov’t (Checks and Balances—Montesquieu) • Executive—President + Cabinet • Legislative—Senate and House of Representatives • Judicial—Court system, including Supreme Court • U.S. Constitution • Articles of Confederation—1st and Bad • Constitution—2nd and Good

7. Connection of U.S. to France • By 1789, the U.S. was on its current Constitution after the Bill of Rights was passed • At the same time, turmoil in France was erupting • Where is the impact of the American Revolution seen? • Books, newspapers, and magazines provided the newly developing reading public with numerous accounts of American events • Remember, the French are furious with their government and see the successes of the U.S. • The American Revolution proved to many Europeans that the liberal political ideas of the Enlightenment were not the bland utterances of intellectuals, but rather realistic • The rights of man, ideas of liberty and equality, popular sovereignty, the separation of powers, and freedom of religion, thought, and press were not just utopian ideals • The premise of the Enlightenment had been confirmed: a new age and a better world could be achieved! • One Swiss philosophe said, “I am tempted to believe that North American is the country where reason and humanity will develop more rapidly than anywhere else.” • This is why the philosophical aspects of the American Revolution had such a long-lasting impact on Europe, more than any governmental agencies or systems; the French Revolution changed Europe forever