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The Enlightenment, its writers, and its ideas are considered to have had influenced both the American and French revolutions in the late 18th century. These revolutions were unlike their predecessors. Both countries shed their ruling monarchies in favor of republican system. Both were also revolutions by and for the people, not a military coup d’etat, invasion, or reformist movement. Both countries established Constitutions, recognized equality under the law, and recognized a number of liberties afforded to all individuals. These Enlightened revolutions are thought to have changed the definition of revolution because of means and goals of both the American and French peoples.

The Enlightenment, its writers, and its ideas are considered to have had influenced both the American and French revolutions in the late 18th century. These revolutions were unlike their predecessors. Both countries shed their ruling monarchies in favor of republican system. Both were also revolutions by and for the people, not a military coup d’etat, invasion, or reformist movement. Both countries established Constitutions, recognized equality under the law, and recognized a number of liberties afforded to all individuals. These Enlightened revolutions are thought to have changed the definition of revolution because of means and goals of both the American and French peoples.

[[The American Revolution]] began over general discontent of British economic and military policy in the new world. In 1776, Jefferson’s [[Declaration of Independence]] stated the rights of the people to “throw off such Government,” the British government, in the event that their laws overstepped the natural rights and liberties of its subjects. This rhetoric stems directly from John Locke’s treatise on social contracts and the role of government in the lives of its subjects.

The [[American Revolution]] began over general discontent of British economic and military policy in the new world. In 1776, Jefferson’s [[Declaration of Independence]] stated the rights of the people to “throw off such Government,” the British government, in the event that their laws overstepped the natural rights and liberties of its subjects. This rhetoric stems directly from John Locke’s treatise on social contracts and the role of government in the lives of its subjects.

[[The French Revolution]] began as a movement of the [[Third Estate]] for representation by numbers of individuals rather than a single vote per Estate (Of the three Estates-General, the Third Estate, French commoners, represented over 90% of the population). The 1789 meeting of the Estates-General deteriorated when the demands for democratic representation were not met. The Third Estate quickly formed itself into the [[French General Assembly|General Assembly]] and established the French Republic. The French adopted a vision more closely associated with Rousseau’s work ''[[The Social Contract]]''. This vision of French republicanism dictated that the participation of all citizens in the government would create a “general will” which would dictate policy and law.

The [[French Revolution]] began as a movement of the [[Third Estate]] for representation by numbers of individuals rather than a single vote per Estate (Of the three Estates-General, the Third Estate, French commoners, represented over 90% of the population). The 1789 meeting of the Estates-General deteriorated when the demands for democratic representation were not met. The Third Estate quickly formed itself into the [[French General Assembly|General Assembly]] and established the French Republic. The French adopted a vision more closely associated with Rousseau’s work ''[[The Social Contract]]''. This vision of French republicanism dictated that the participation of all citizens in the government would create a “general will” which would dictate policy and law.

Unfortunately, the French Revolution deteriorated after 1793 with the execution of [[King Louis XVI]] and the emergence of [[Maximilien Robespierre]] and other hardliners in the French Assembly. Rousseau’s famous lines in his work state that “whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be compelled to do so by the whole body. This means nothing less than that he will be forced to be free.”<ref>''Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract'' </ref> Robespierre took this quite literally to build a homogeneous state and restore order to the nation. There were many dissenters who only joined the revolutionary cause to lower taxes and were unhappy with radical social reform. Thus the [[Reign of Terror]] began and the French Republic deteriorated into arguably the world’s first [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime. The ascension of [[Napoleon]] to power marked a restoration of order and a more conservative movement.

Unfortunately, the French Revolution deteriorated after 1793 with the execution of [[King Louis XVI]] and the emergence of [[Maximilien Robespierre]] and other hardliners in the French Assembly. Rousseau’s famous lines in his work state that “whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be compelled to do so by the whole body. This means nothing less than that he will be forced to be free.”<ref>''Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract'' </ref> Robespierre took this quite literally to build a homogeneous state and restore order to the nation. There were many dissenters who only joined the revolutionary cause to lower taxes and were unhappy with radical social reform. Thus the [[Reign of Terror]] began and the French Republic deteriorated into arguably the world’s first [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime. The ascension of [[Napoleon]] to power marked a restoration of order and a more conservative movement.