French and American Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

French and American Revolution - Essay Example Thomas Hobbes believed Man to be ruthless by nature and so people are driven by greed and selfishness because of the instinctive self-preservation of any human being. However, this bad situation can be mitigated somewhat when people agree to give some of their rights in favor of a government they had formed to rule over them in his social contract theory of governance to achieve a civilized society but under a strong central authority with a built-in security feature where people can reclaim the authority given to the State.Based on the above background information and discussion, it is obvious to anyone that absolute monarchies are thereby inherently unstable because the people who are oppressed can revolt at any time wherever their patience runs out.Similarities – both the French and American Revolutions were actually revolted against a monarch who was abusive because of his absolute powers and questioned the right of their kings to govern them without any law whatsoever. It can also be said that both revolutions were greatly influenced by the political thinking during the Enlightenment Period and especially by the writings of Thomas Hobbes and John Lock that had posted the overwhelming idea that authority and by extension, power to rule or govern, comes from the people and only the people can take back the authority they had given when warranted. The cause of the two major revolutions of the eighteenth century was a desire of the French and American people to be free.