Compare and Contrast Essay

In this essay we will be sharing the similarities and differences between the French revolution and
the Industrial revolution. Major important changes happened throughout both these revolutions
and many developments completely changed and impacted peoples lives completely. Learning
about both the French and Industrial revolutions helped us learn about our past, our history and
background and as well as the ways these revolutions improved our lives positively. Learning
about the similarities and differences between the two revolutions helped me learn about how
these revolutions improved our lives in similar and different ways. The Industrial revolution started
around the 19th Century and lasted almost hundred years while the French revolution started
around 18th Century and lasted almost fifteen years. Despite the revolutions being different in
duration, they happened during the same era therefore they both have multiple similarities and
differences. This essay will compare the positive and negative effects the Industrial and French
revolutions which both impacted the majority of peoples lives.
The French and Industrial revolutions started due to different reasons and the overall outcomes
were different as well. The Industrial revolution started because of the population growth. It took
place during the 18th to 19th Century and was a period in time where agrarian and rural societies
became industrial and urban. Before the revolution, manufacturing was done in homes and were
made using different simple tools and basic machines. Industrialization was a big change as it
brought an increased volume and variety of manufactured goods and employment for the
peasants.
Whereas, the French revolution started in the late 1790s. During this time, the French citizens
redesigned their political system after the government demanded to tax the Third Estate more
money as the country was in debt. After the revolution, the monarchy was abolished and everyone
has a say in the way the country was ran.
The revolutions started because of different reasons and the outcomes were different as well.
Nonetheless, both revolutions improved the lives of the majority of the population.
One of the similarities between the Industrial and French revolution was that both had hierarchy
systems. Both systems eventually gave equal rights to everyone by the time the revolution ended.
Before, the French revolution there was an obvious gap between the three classes of people
which had been growing wider for many years. These three classes consisted of the First Estate
who were people that worked for the church. This was divided into an upper clergy of bishops,
archbishops and the lower clergy such as priests and monks. The Second Estate were the rich
and nobility and the Third Estate was the rest of the population. The people were either peasants,
craftspeople or laborers. While the Third Estate did the majority of the work they didnt have a say
in how France was run. The third Estate also had to pay more taxes than the other Estates despite
them being poorer than the other Estates. After the French Revolution, the Estate System was
abolished and everyone were treated equally, meaning everyone had to pay the same amount of
tax.
Before the Industrial revolution, the people were born into their social position. This meant that
the population was divided into two categories such as the Nobles and the Peasants depending
on the amount of money they inherit from their family. After the revolution, two more classes
evolved and were later name the middle class and the working class. The Nobles became richer

as they owner majority of businesses and with the sudden change in technology goods could be
sold at a cheaper price and at a quicker speed. The amount of money collected by the revolution
eventually made the Nobles richer than before. The middle class gained enormous benefits from
this revolution as the businesses created jobs therefore the middle class grew in size and they
were also able to earn more money. The peasants lives didnt improve enormously and the
benefits were limited. The peasants now have to work in factories instead of doing agricultural
jobs, the wages were low although the factory jobs were easier to work in than the fields therefore
majority of peasants joined this particular workforce.
Overall, both revolutions were similar and after the revolution, the people were treated equally
and they were allowed to move to higher social strata and this benefitted the lives of the majority
of the peoples lives in a positive way.
One of the similarities between the Industrial revolution and French revolution was that both
offered similar jobs to the people of their country. Before the Industrial revolution, people worked
on open-field farms and villagers would only produce enough food to satisfy their community.
After the revolution, factories started to produce different types of goods such as cotton, wool,
flax, silk and lace. Before the French revolution, the nobility took advantage of the peasants as
peasants had to pay feudal dues. This meant that peasants were forced to work on public work
projects including working on the roads and bridge throughout Britain. Popular jobs to have before
the French revolution included textiles and paper making as well as construction. Eventually, most
industrial workers were later laid off as the country became economically stagnate. In conclusion,
both revolutions offered jobs in the textile industry or jobs that took place in factories which was
similarities to the French revolution.
Another difference between the two revolutions was one of the revolutions, the French revolution
was one of the bloodiest period in modern civilization while the other revolution, Industrial
revolution wasnt violent in nature.
During the French revolution, the fall of the monarch took place after the King demanded more
money for the government as it was in debt. The Third Estate held riots as well as executed the
king. Later the Terror took place where the Third Estate fought enemies who tried to prevent the
counter-revolution from taking place. Not only nobility was executed but also anyone who said
anything critical about the revolutionary government and Watch Committees would arrest anyone
who was suspected either by who they were related to or anyone who wrote anything critical
about the revolution.
The Industrial revolution avoided a violent revolution as the government made changes to the
way they ran the country to keep the people of the country satisfied. The government reacted
sharply even when ordinary people held rallies or mass meetings.
The difference between the two revolutions was the French revolution was violent as the
government didnt listen to the people of the country whilst the British government made changes
and reacted to the peoples requests therefore keeping the people satisfied.

In conclusion, both revolutions had some similarities as both had hierarchy systems which were
later abolished and people were treated equally. Another similarity was both revolutions happened
during the same era therefore both offered similar jobs that benefitted the country positively.
Despite having similarities both revolutions had differences including the reasons the revolutions
started as they started for very different reasons and one of the revolutions was very violent while
the other wasnt. Both revolutions impacted the majority of peoples lives positively as they both
had positive impacts on the peoples living during the era as well as our generation as we are still
going through the Industrial revolution today. If these revolutions hadnt happened, we wouldnt
be where we are today.