The Origin and Principles of the American Revolution, Compared With the Origin and Principles of the French Revolution

by John Quincy Adams Former, Friedrich von Gentz

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Genres: History, Politics, American History, Nonfiction, School, American Revolution, Classics

74 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1800

Reviews

[Rick Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Von Gentz, writing in 1800, builds a strong case against America as a propositional nation.

The American Revolution was a fight by Englishmen for their ancestral rights, not an assertion of abstract principles.

Revolutionary France was a propositional nation. It was terrible.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every American should read this. This is the real history of what happened in our war for independence.

It is popular to paint the Revolution as a peasant revolt or popular uprising. It was anything but. In fact, the closest thing to the popular narrative that you could twist the truth into is that it was a tax revolt.

Our Revolution was an extremely controlled, legal, justified, well documented, unwanted separation of a people from the "mother country" after that government forced us into action by acting to create a lawless society. It was not the throwing off of colonial laws, but the preservation of those same laws against a monarchy and Parliament that ruthlessly pursued the object of tearing down the ancient laws, customs, and protections the colonists were used to and foisting upon them the condition of slaves.

This is why we fought, and we as a nation would do well to learn this.

[Amelia Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
I think it's fascinating that a German knew enough about both the American and French revolutions to write a book comparing them. Most American's don't know as much about their own country as Gentz did.
Before reading this, I didn't know the vast difference between these two revolutions; Their origins, their goals, and their ends. No longer. I found Gentz book both helpful and succinct.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enlightening historical perspective on the difference between the American and French revolutions. Probably the distinction I will remember best is that the American Revolution was a defensive revolution with definite ends, whereas the French Revolution was offensive in nature and had no definite end, and thus ended up becoming destructive.

[Clint Lum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, concise, and insightful. A masterful treatment of both revolutions which elucidates their (many) differences.

[Adah B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read whole book for IH 4.

This book fit so perfectly with the topic of a paper I was writing for US History! I devoured this book as quickly as I could because the paper was due that week, and I had an insane amount of highlights. If you ever find yourself writing an essay on the ethics of the American War for Independence, READ THIS BOOK. It’s short, and you won’t regret it.

[Charles Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrasts the principles, qualities, and outcomes of the American & French Revolutions, to demonstrate the immensity of difference between the two. TL;DR: French Revolution bad (very bad), American Revolution good. Highly recommend for any reader of American history or modern political thought.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I wanted more of from Burke's Reflections: straight-up informative comparison.

[Anneke Michaline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a balanced and thought-provoking evaluation of these two conflicts.

[Don Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic comparison of the French and American Revolutions written by a German intellectual in 1800. It was originally written as an article. It was translated into English by our sixth President, John Quincy Adams, the translation that suffices until today. Gentz acknowledged the legitimacy of the American Revolution, but also asserts at that it was not a revolution but a legitimate transition. He was converted to his conservative views of the French Revolution by Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France", which deserves to be read before Gentz's work. But by all means "The Origin and Principles of the American Revolution deserves reading. Gentz's views are in contrast to Thomas Jefferson who was infatuated by the French Revolution even after The Terror. He never renounced his views but seems to have left them behind when he was elected as President. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." Not sure I would vote for a man for President who seemed to be so callous to the devastation of the French Revolution. John Adams was right about Jefferson.

[Jon Delamarter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but heavy and serious read. Anyone who is serious about understanding the inexorable series of events leading to the formation of the USA and the folly of comparing the American Revolution to the French Revolution should read this book.

[Melissa]

Goodreads

[Neil Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful treatment and analysis of the difference between the American and the French revolutions.

[Samuel Kordik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Short and to the point.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though it was a little difficult to read, it gave a lot of interesting information about the American and French Revolutions, and showed that they are in no shape or form exactly alike. In a few instances they may be similar, but for the most part, they are completely different.