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American Revolution: Influence of the American War of Independence
American Revolution: Influence of the American War of Independence (1776-1782 A.D.) And The Famine of 1788-89
The American War of Independence (1776-1782 A.D.) worked as a catalyst for the French Revolution of 1789. The French troops sent to America to help the colonies against England were deeply influenced by the struggle.
The victory of the colonies infused into the French people the feeling of getting liberated from the autocratic rule of Louis XVI. Through the example of Americans, they felt the feasibility of challenging an autocratic regime. Numerous young Frenchmen like Lafayette returned home with romantic enthusiasm about the strength of republican virtue.
They communicated their enthusiasm to other Frenchmen who had the deep resentment against the autocratic and corrupt old regime. Moreover, the economic condition of France became highly miserable and the country was faced with a serious economic crisis for participating in this war.
The Famine of 1788-89
The terrible famine of 1788-89 pushed the country rapidly towards the Revolution. There was a very bad harvest in 1788. The hungry masses came from the countryside and thronged the capital. They formed violent mob ready to revolt and indulged in violence. The most odious fact was that while on the one hand, the masses
were dying like insects for want of foodstuffs, the members of the royal family, nobles and the clergy, were spending money extravagantly on a life of luxury.