Last Monday, France celebrated its 237th Bastille Day—or, as it’s more commonly known, le 14 juillet. Just over a week before, the United States celebrated its 250th Independence Day, on July 4th. But aside from taking place only 10 days and 13 years apart, the birthdays of America and France share several other commonalities, revealing how the histories of both countries have been intertwined since their individual revolutions. This look back will provide a brief glimpse into the long-standing relationship between America and France, and how it has persisted over the years.
What is July 4th?
July 4th is the celebration of America declaring independence from Great Britain. At first, the U.S. consisted of 13 colonies, the first British settlements in North America. However, on July 4th, 1776, the 13 colonies signed and adopted the Declaration of Independence, effectively transforming into the first 13 states.
The Declaration was drafted after over a year of fighting in the Revolutionary War. Distaste for the British empire in the colonies was sparked by British legislation which placed high taxes on everyday goods. One of the largest arguments for colonial independence was the insistence upon “no taxation without representation,” or the idea that a people should not be taxed unless they could govern themselves.
Independence Day became symbolic of America’s shift to democracy. By separating from the British empire, the U.S. abandoned its monarchy and established a new government using a system of “checks and balances,” ensuring that no one branch of government could have more power than the others.
What is le 14 juillet?
Le 14 juillet (Bastille Day) is the celebration of France’s liberation from the monarchy. Previously, the French population was divided by a social class system which sorted people into either the first estate (monarchs and religious figures), the second estate (wealthy citizens), or the third estate (the working class). The issue was that the third estate, despite being the least wealthy, was the only one issued taxes, while simultaneously being banned from assuming government positions.
Tensions between the third estate and the French monarchs continued to grow until July 14, 1789, when French citizens stormed the Bastille—a famous prison for political criminals—and seized weapons. The storming of the Bastille was the event that started the French Revolution, which would lead to the overthrowing of French monarchs such as King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, as well as the eventual establishment of multiple branches of government.
Exchanging Influences
Neither the liberation of America nor France would have been possible without the relationship between the two. During the American Revolutionary War, after the colonies had suffered several losses, France chose to join the fight against Britain during the Battle of Saratoga. French military and naval support proved to be pivotal to winning both the battle and the war itself, given that the success in Saratoga ignited a newfound resilience in the colonial army.
Additionally, America’s founding fathers took inspiration from France when designing the U.S. government we are familiar with today. The idea behind establishing a system of “checks and balances” originated with the French philosopher Montesquieu, who believed in the separation of government powers; and French philosopher Voltaire was the first to propose the importance of freedom of speech—a concept which now defines the first amendment to the U. S. Constitution. Moreover, the argument which first sparked the Revolutionary War, “no taxation without representation,” was stolen from Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “The Social Contract.” In many ways, France was necessary to building America into the nation it is today—whether through the transfer of materials, manpower, or moral perspectives.
The same can also be said of America. Many historians believe that the French Revolution was largely inspired by the American Revolution, especially given that both primarily fought to dismantle the monarchies in place, and began as a struggle to lower taxes. Although largely different in their approaches, both revolutions resulted in more balanced, representative governments, each defined by executive, legislative, and judicial systems.
Similarly, the same way that France aided the American colonies, America aided France in later historical conflicts. When France fell into debt during World War 1, American banker and philanthropist J.P. Morgan Jr. donated more than $500 million to France and Britain in loans, hoping to aid the nations in funding the production of more weapons. Likewise, during World War 2, America was responsible for initiating the Normandy landings—more commonly known as the D-Day invasion. Aside from being the largest amphibious invasion in history, D-Day forced German troops to retreat, successfully liberating France from German takeover.
These influences also weren’t confined to just America and France. Historians have cited the French Revolution as inspiring Latin-American revolutions, including the Haitian Revolution, which was the first and only successful slave revolt in global history.
All of this culminates with this year’s ceremonies for July 4th and 14 juillet—the days that America and France earned the freedoms we enjoy today. As we wrap up the week with our final celebrations for Independence Day and Bastille Day, I’d like to take a moment to appreciate one last exchange between America and France: the Statue of Liberty. A gift from France to the U.S., the Statue of Liberty not only celebrates American independence, but also American interdependence—the alliance between the United States and France, immortalized with the image of freedom for all.
Sources:
Bastille Day – 14th July
Fourth of July – Independence Day
French Revolution
World War II: D-Day, The Invasion of Normandy
