Introduction
The French and, later, American revolutions are often seen as major events that paved the way for democracy, human rights, and people’s freedoms. While it is hard to overestimate the meaning of these events for the social sphere of respective communities, it is worth remembering that the revolutions brought changes to many other aspects of people’s lives as well. Thus, the revolutions served to change the financial systems of the states, led to the destruction of the privileges of the nobility and clergy, and brought about the growth of patriotism.
Main body
The revolution abolished hereditary nobility, allowing many more people to take part in the governance of states irrespective of their birth. Natural abilities began to count more than hereditary titles, improving the systems of managing public affairs (Vallance, 2019). Moreover, while earlier corruption flourished at all levels of the monarchical system, the new arrangement allowed for making the system more transparent and less dependent on particular influential groups.
The revolutions served to change tax systems so that people no longer had to pay large sums of money to the king and could channel them into the development of their land and business. Obstacles to trade were removed which led to the flourishing of commerce. Moreover, the fight for the country’s independence united all layers of society, forming respectively French and American nations.
Conclusion
In the Middle Ages, a person was born either a master or a slave, and the French Revolution for the first time declared the equal rights of all people. Elected authorities have been created so that talented and capable people have received more opportunities to break through to the government of the country. Representatives of different layers of society began to participate in lawmaking. Finally, the adoption of constitutions outlined the equal rights of people before the law, transforming societies from status-driven communities into truly democratic states.
Reference
Vallance, E. (2019). Remembering Early Modern Revolutions. Routledge.