Where do the rules and norms for organizing societies come from? Conceptually, from two directions. They either emerge organically, by trial and error over time, or they come from the minds and hands of a small group of people who think them up and write them down at a particular moment in history.
In a sense, one could say that we have had two republics in the United States- the republic until 1865, and then the post civil war republic with the post civil war amendments changing our system somewhat.
I would even argue we are on our third iteration of a republic with the evolution of the imperial executive.
Of course, these are less dramatic changes to our Republic than going through an entire new Republic as the French did. But I think they are as impacting
One reason I believe that the American revolution was more successful and longer lasting than the French was that the American rebels began with the end in mind. They decided what sort of government they wanted before they rebelled. The French rebellion was driven by the immediacy of rage. They were angry and hungry and stormed the Bastille without knowing what would happen after.
And, after the American Revolution, most of the Tories left to go back to England or to another British colony closer by. There were fewer left who had been in favor of the overthrown regime for the former American rebels to manage post-revolution. In France, the rise and fall of the four Republics prior to present Fifth largely took place in the streets of Paris. As long as the revolutions and new governments did not much affect those in the countryside, those countrymen took them in stride.
In a sense, one could say that we have had two republics in the United States- the republic until 1865, and then the post civil war republic with the post civil war amendments changing our system somewhat.
I would even argue we are on our third iteration of a republic with the evolution of the imperial executive.
Of course, these are less dramatic changes to our Republic than going through an entire new Republic as the French did. But I think they are as impacting
One reason I believe that the American revolution was more successful and longer lasting than the French was that the American rebels began with the end in mind. They decided what sort of government they wanted before they rebelled. The French rebellion was driven by the immediacy of rage. They were angry and hungry and stormed the Bastille without knowing what would happen after.
And, after the American Revolution, most of the Tories left to go back to England or to another British colony closer by. There were fewer left who had been in favor of the overthrown regime for the former American rebels to manage post-revolution. In France, the rise and fall of the four Republics prior to present Fifth largely took place in the streets of Paris. As long as the revolutions and new governments did not much affect those in the countryside, those countrymen took them in stride.