American and French Revolution
            
             During the late 17th century two areas of the world started to make changes in the way they
             lived. These two areas were France and America which both had suffered from monarchs and their
             governments. The peasants who lived in these parts of the world were tired of the way they had spent their lives. Both nations show the power of what happens when too many people are abused for so long a time by starting a revolution that would change history. To start the revolution they drew up important documents in which their lives were to be regulated from. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was the first step in writing a constitution for France. It announced all men were born and remain free and equal in rights. They enjoyed natural rights to "Liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression." The Americans also had a constitution called the Declaration of Independence which was very similar to France's constitution because both took their ideas from the theories of John Locke. The Declaration of Independence stated "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It also stated the right to alter or abolish unjust governments.
             In the year 1789 France was divided into three estates. The first was made up of the clergy. The French clergy enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege. The second estate was composed of nobles who also enjoyed a good life style. The third estate, which composed of 98% of the population, was a diverse group of peasants, farmers, and the bourgeoisie. The peasants were burdened by heavy taxes on everything from land to soap to salt. Many owed fees and services that dated to medieval times. Peasants were also forbidden to kill rabbits that ate their crops. France was already suffering from defi...