Influence on French Revolution

The United States is an influential country, even in its creation. The day the American Revolution started, it was a major shift in the geopolitical landscape as a sizable country had just been formed with a representative government. The new ideals of self governance were based off of the Enlightenment and the American Revolutionary War became a base of inspiration amongst many other events from Revolutions in Haiti, to massacres in Spain. The U.S. government, a successful government, which had not only overthrown a monarchy to establish itself, but also was promising with new lands, resources, and freedoms that were stable. The success suggested a possible success for others, in different countries, to take the government into their own hands, so people took that example and revolted, petitioned, and reformed their own governments.

Introduction

French Revolution Timeline:

American Revolution Background

The French Revolution is also another major turning point in history as it acts as a continuation to the fall of monarchies and rise of individual power. This comes from The French Revolution as the start of the overturning of monarchies even if unsuccessful this time (Ottinger & Rosenberger, 2023). The American Revolution inspired the French Revolution in some ways. On April 19, 1775, according to the National Parks Services, the Americans officially started their rebellion against the British (Department of the Interior). The goal was not initially independence, but representation and fairness. This came from the Enlightenment as people started focusing on more individual rights and free thinking which at this point the colonists believed the British were currently ignoring with their unfair policies. As the fighting went on, the colonists became increasingly radical until the war became about freedom and somewhere in this time, the colonists sent a delegation to the French. After continued success, well at least not abject failure, the French were finally convinced to join the fight, helping the Americans in the war effort at their own cost helping to establish the current American government.

Financial Stress

The French Revolution is also another major turning point in history as it acts as a continuation to the fall of monarchies and rise of individual power. This comes from The French Revolution as the start of the overturning of monarchies even if unsuccessful this time (Velde, 2024). The American Revolution inspired the French Revolution in some ways. On April 19, 1775, according to the National Parks Services, the Americans officially started their rebellion against the British. The goal was not initially independence, but representation and fairness. This came from the Enlightenment as people started focusing on more individual rights and free thinking which at this point the colonists believed the British were currently ignoring with their unfair policies. As the fighting went on, the colonists became increasingly radical until the war became about freedom and somewhere in this time, the colonists sent a delegation to the French. After continued success, well at least not abject failure, the French were finally convinced to join the fight, helping the Americans in the war effort at their own cost helping to establish the current American government.

American Cultural Influence

What the American revolution did directly influence however were some of the inspiration for the French Revolution. People saw how a revolution against monarchies could be successful and lasting and decided that they could take up arms themselves (Marks, 2025). With the Americans outing the British, it served as an example of what the population could do. As the French people continued to suffer, combined with the Enlightenment beliefs, they were being driven towards a breaking point as their monarchy continued to prove useless and with the continued envy for the success of the U.S. WIth that, the idea that people should be allowed to vote for themselves as well as the empowerment of the “general population,” (White Men). There was also the increase in individuality as people began to communicate more among themselves which is what actually leads to changes and actions instead of just the elite acting (Ottinger & Rosenberger, 2023). These ideas were taken by the French people and only further radicalized. People like Montisque, someone who majorly influenced the Enlightenment, that had previously been more moderate continued to grow more extreme as they began to blame their government for all their problems. After the government continued to fail, the people finally had enough and stormed the bastille.

Something else that is important to mention is the parliament that formed after the takeover of the government. It was more of less inspired by the U.S. government but it is so dynamic, interesting, and important that it would require its own page for how it functioned. For more, check out the learn more sources. Just know that the American government majorly inspired the parliament created with people being elected to talk and represent the people in said parliament. However, it is unclear how much of this came from actual American beliefs, and not just the general enlightenment.

France's Manifest Destiny

France had a territorial expansion too following their revolution. However, this is not officially understood what drove the French to do so. It was a takeover of "tainted" and "freedom-less" land and giving them "freedom". However, this would prove to be unsuccessful but does sound somewhat similar to the U.S.'s own Manifest Destiny.

Bonus: American Views on French Revolution

Thomas Jefferson was still in France during the start of the French Revolution and he had a few things to say on it. Initially, he viewed the French Revolution as positive and spreading American ideals of freedom and self governance, but quickly was shocked by the brutality of even just the Storming of Bastille. However, he quickly shifted his views and defended the French people’s actions. Throughout this time, Jefferson connects American ideas to what the French do during the revolution. Eventually he would serve as a mediator within the revolution though not getting directly involved. Jefferson would return to America and be appointed as Secretary of State under George Washington and Jefferson’s views would only take a bit more time afterwards for his views to change. But not everyone in the U.S. was in favor of the French Revolution and as the French continued to get more radical, the Americans eventually, informally declared neutrality (Verell, 2024).

Back tracking a bit, the more general view at the start of the French Revolution was to support more independence in France.. After several events including “the Terror,” where foreigners were arrested, the general view started shifting further to neutrality. After increasing tensions with continued French involvement in the U.S. The U.S. responded with a law that was considered too extreme by the swing voters and caused Thomas Jefferson to be elected as president. However, instead of supporting the French Revolution, he would opt for neutrality (The Office of the Historian).

Conclusion

The American Revolution and the subsequent United States government had many impacts on the French Revolution, the creation of a government that did not rely on a king to function. The French Revolution was not the only event inspired by the Americans, but it was one of the most majorly impactful that resulted from the American Revolution. The success of the Americans proved to the rest of the world that there could be such a thing as a successful, stable democratic government during that time. The Americans would only continue to inspire more people across the world. The belief of taking the government into the people’s hands seems to have always been something that the citizens of all countries want.

Learn More

Enlightenment Influence

Fun Game

U.S. and Napoleon

French Revolution Context

French Parliament

References

U.S. Department of State. (n.d.). The United States and the French Revolution, 1789–1799. U.S. Department of State. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/french-rev

Marks, J. (2025, February 18). How did the american revolution influence the French Revolution?. History.com. https://www.history.com/articles/how-did-the-american-revolution-influence-the-french-revolution

Velde, F. (2024, April). The French Public Debt in the Nineteenth Century. The French public debt in the nineteenth century - Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/economic- perspectives/2024/2

Ottinger, S., & Rosenberger, L. (2023, February). The American origin of the French Revolution. Discussion Paper Series. https://docs.iza.org/dp15974.pdf

Verell, N. (2024, November 7). French revolution. Monticello. https://www.monticello.org/research- education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/french-revolution/

U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Timeline of the revolution. National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/americanrevolution/timeline.htm#:~:text=April%2019%2C%201775,Lexington %20and%20Concord%20in%20Massachusetts.

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