In some ways the American and French Revolutions seem alike. Both were influenced by ideas of the Enlightenment. Enlightenment is the term used to describe the trends of thinking and writing in Europe and America during the 18th century before the French Revolution. These ideas included the philosophical ideas of equality before the law; a centralized state governed by the middle classes, a government not in the absolute power of a King and rich landowners …showed first 75 words of 664 total…

…showed last 75 words of 664 total…militia made up of civilians, most of them farmers. They were not use to long campaigns or battles against trained armies. The ocean separating America from the British Empire lessened the threat to keep and maintain an active army. Once the war was over, the vast majority of the American militia returned to their farms and homes. The French however, maintained there militia under the ruling power which eventually came under the control of Napoleon.