Reflect on the role of religion in the American Revolution as described. How did it differ from its role in the French Revolution?
In the American Revolution, religion played a significant role in shaping the beliefs and motivations of the colonists who sought independence from British rule. Many American revolutionaries viewed their struggle as a divine mission, drawing inspiration from religious principles such as freedom, justice, and equality. Religious leaders played a prominent role in mobilizing support for the revolution and framing the conflict as a moral imperative.
On the other hand, in the French Revolution, religion was viewed with suspicion and often seen as a tool of oppression by the ruling monarchy and aristocracy. The revolutionaries sought to establish a secular state and actively worked to diminish the influence of the Catholic Church in French society. This led to the de-Christianization of France and the implementation of policies such as the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which sought to bring the church under state control.
Overall, the role of religion in the American Revolution was more positive and supportive of the revolutionary cause, while in the French Revolution, religion was viewed more negatively and was actively suppressed in favor of secularism.