Revolution! Revolution! The century in which we live has been a stepping stone of time which originated the automobile, the television and the computer—all innovations that have left an indelible stamp on societies around the globe. Yet despite the list of heady 20th century achievements destined as footnotes in history a millenium from now, the 17th and 19th centuries revolutionized societies around the globe from actual revolutions, revolutions that revolutionized governments, philosophies and peoples themselves. The Glorious Revolution (or English Revolution) during the 17th century and the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century are both significant to the American Revolution because the English Bill of Rights influenced government organization in other countries, especially America, and America’s subsequent Bill of Rights (and Declaration of Independence) was used as a model for the French Revolution’s document of principles known as the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The English and French Revolutions, as much as the American Revolution, were conflicts based on ideological differences as much as anything, ideological differences based on the nature of government, the nature of Kingship, the nature of religion and the role of the government and its people. Of course, economics was also woven into the conflict and a primary source of contention in the English and French Revolutions as well. In retrospect, the impact of the English and French Revolutions has been historically huge because the form of government the former inspired and the latter used as a model, American government, now stands as the primary form of government and society in countries around the world.
The English Revolution was given the title the Glorious Revolution by the Whigs responsible for it. The culmination of this effort was to drive James II from the throne and to replace him with William and Mary (James’ eldest daughter)....