We all learned in history that the American revolution started because
of excessive taxation and the like... well I'm doing a major research
project on the democractic revolutions of the 1700's and 1800's
(primarily American and French revolution, as well as the English
civil war) and I'm interested in digging into some of the more
philosophic reasons for democratic revolution and what components
needed to be in place for such revolutions to occur (i.e. what
parallels were there?). I know this is priced rather cheaply but then
I'm a completely broke college student. I thank anyone who helps.

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Request for Question Clarification by brettquest-ga on 22 Apr 2004 14:25 PDT

Krhale:

Do you want an answer drawing on the historical examples you mentioned
as a means of generally suggesting where certain conditions exist
democracy can exist or emerge, with a revolutionary genesis simply
being incidental to that emergence?

OR

Do you want an answer drawing on the historical examples you mentioned
as a means of specifically suggesting commonalities for  successful
democratic revolution?

Regards,

Brettquest

Please waive any idea of payment.

I don't know how much time you've got to study but do try and get hold
of John A Hall's 'Powers and Liberties'. You can wolf it down you in a
day and it crystallises the issues well in nicely digestible gobbets.

As for causes, a newly aspirant class, by definition middle, is always
thwarted in its progress by an old order trying to retain its
privileges in the teeth of financial reality. This leads to the
condition of genteel impoverishment which nourishes those with enough
leisure to form seedbeds of dissension and eventually allying despite
their primary loyalty to their class. Then watch as their pinpricks
become irritants upon the body politic until the ancien regime's
responses provoke full scale sympathy within the nation state. Then
sit back and watch for any historical flashpoint (although these can
be overstated. The Glorious Revolution did not so much burn as gently
bubble in the corner). The corollary to this is always to beware the
role of the military in such circumstances:- but they do tend to side
with the insurrectionists if they judge their cause to be democratic.

In my opinion, and I am willing to develop it even more and support it
with documentation as an answer, the economic and philosophical
developments went hand-in-hand. The development of the middle class
was a result of the Enlightenment, and vice versa - because of
economic developments, more people read and were aware of details that
inspired them politically.

"Need ideas about why democractic revolutions occur"

Because people like President Bush and Vice President Cheney abuse
their power and betray the peoples' trust.  Revolution!!!!!!!!