Both France and the United States went through revolutions that tore their nations apart. The United States sought to separate from the tyrannical hand of British rule, while France wanted to overthrow a government where the rich plundered the poor, and the privileged church grew wealthier at the expense of spiritual impoverishment. Even though the revolutions seemed to have the similar common objectives, i.e., ridding themselves of tyranny, the two revolutions differed greatly in the causes. This was largely because the men leading the revolutions had very different values. One group stood for a Biblical mode of government, while the other group wanted to become the new aristocracy, their hate fueling their desire for a new government.

The French system of government had been created during a time when a man’s wealth was determined by how much land he owned. In this situation the ones who owned the land would run a “farm.” Those too poor to own the land would work for the rich people. But soon everyone was able to own some sort of land, so the system should have been discarded. Instead, it continued. The ones who “owned the land,” the royalty and their lords and ladies, began to demand higher and higher taxes from the working class. They did this without any consent from the people, and while the people worked, the royalty frittered away the people’s money on elaborate, beautiful castles and bloody foreign wars. Meanwhile, the people lived in squalor. Slowly a middle class began to emerge which changed the dynamic of the French system of government. As the middle class became stronger, they started to rebel against the tyranny imposed on them by the upper classes.

America, on the other hand, had been colonized by English settlers starting in 1620. All types of classes from England came to the United States to make a new life for themselves. But as time progressed, England seemed to forget that the colonists in America were just as much British citizens as themselves. The English began to impose heavy taxes on the colonists, and the colonists protested, calling on the injustice of "No Taxation without Representation". The stage was set for a revolution.

When the French rebelled, they simply stormed the castle and began to fight, establishing a reign of terror. The United States first tried to negotiate with England, but England would have nothing to do with any negotiations. When that failed, they decided to declare their independence. When England would not allow the colonies to leave peaceably, the American Revolutionary War began.

Throughout the war, the colonist turned Americans constantly prayed for God’s guidance and help as they took steps to free themselves from the tyranny of England. On the other hand, France declared their revolution that of total godlessness. Voltaire, a popular philosopher of the day, declared that within one hundred years the Bible would be over and done with, a useless book of fairy tales. The French tried to establish a ten day week, so that they would not be following the God ordained order of a seven day week, all the while executing anyone who might possibly have any ties to the aristocracy.

Both of the revolutions stemmed from a reaction to tyranny that had been imposed in one case for centuries, and in another case, only a few decades. Both of these revolutions tried to change the course of history. But one nation, the United States, tried to exhaust all other options before fighting. The French decided to rebel, and began to execute and kill everyone right and left. Because one nation based their revolution on biblical principles, knowing man's evil desire, it succeeded in creating a government of checks and balances that is still in place today. The French, on the other hand, were decieved by vain intellectuals who blindly believed in man's innate goodness. They have seen horrible bloodshed and recurring war through the years. "Whoso taketh in hand to frame any state or government ought to presuppose that all men are evil, and at occasions will show themselves so to be."¹

Quick Quiz:

1. Voltaire said that the Bible would:
a. Flourish extensively
b. get five new books added every year
c. die out within one hundred years
d. be cut down to only ten books.

Correct answer: c

2. The United States first declared themselves _____ before the war began:
a. submissive
b. independent
c. split into thirteen different nations
d. full of marriageable young ladies

correct answer: b

3. The French revolution was fueled by:
a. love
b. quest for more Godly leaders
c. a fight over the last slice of pizza
d. bitterness and hate

correct answer: d

4. The French system of government had been created during a time when a man’s wealth was determined by :
a. his land
b. how beautiful his clothes were
c. his number of children
d. his lottery ticket.

Correct answer: a

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