Marquis de Lafayette
Marie de Lafayette was born in 1957 in France, in a noble family. Although the noble class had more power to control the society and the government, Gilbert's family treated the richest and the poorest equally (Collins, 4). After the death of his father in the Battle of Minden, Gilbert’s mother moved to Paris when Gilbert was 11. Therefore, Gilbert stayed with his paternal grandmother. Following the death of his father, the government in France granted Gilbert's family money that helped Gilbert to continue with education. At school, he was very intelligent (Christine, 1763). He was good at reading and writing, and he learned values. He was passionate about the military while he was young, and therefore attended training to become an officer in the future. He even had a dream of werewolf terrorizing the people and he used his power to fight the werewolf and defend the people (Christine, 1763). This means that he had a helping heart for the poor. Note that he did not only want to succeed in life but he also wanted to become a war hero.
He entered in the battlefield at 19 years and acted as the major general. After the Revolutionary War, he went back to France and became a common political figure. While in the American Revolution, Lafayette wanted America to win the war but the victory could not be achieved without money, troops, and supplies. Thus, he requested France to provide the resources (Christine, 1764). Although America had few supplies, they fought the British through inspiration. Lafayette believed in word and actions and his common saying was "why not?". In all his life, he believed that all things are possible and he was committed to change society and especially the oppressed. He sacrificed himself in the American Revolution and France revolution to end the political turmoil and create a better government.
At the age of 14, Lafayette joined the Royal Army. In 1777, the North American colonies in the American Revolutionary wanted to create the United States. However, it was hard to find the support to fight the mighty British military. Nevertheless, Lafayette from France volunteered to support the Americans fight Great Britain (Christine, 1764). Even though he was a France native, he was willing to help America gain freedom from tyranny. In 1777, he entered the battlefield and joined the America soldiers. Lafayette also requested the French military to join the war and help Americans. However, some French people were not willing to offer help. For example, King Louis XVI did not support the Frenchman (Lafayette) but instead, he ordered the French military not to help America in the war with Great Britain (Christine, 1765). Despite all these barriers, Lafayette did not lose hope but he continued to show his willingness to make a difference in America. Nothing could change his decision to help America. Since Lafayette came from the French nobility, he was chosen to be the major general. In America, he met George Washington who asked him to join the military camp where he received training (Christine, 1765). In the battle, Lafayette was in the front lines in the Battle of Brandywine. He was a strong and capable man. Even though he was shot in the leg, he led the soldiered in the terrain. Between 1777-1778, the soldiers experienced tough challenges such as tough winter, lack of money, lack of clothing, lack of shoes, starvation, and cold. During this period, Lafayette was requested to move to Canada for the expedition.
In 1778, he requested to return to France. Since he disobeyed the king and Travelled to America, the king punished him. Nevertheless, Lafayette had a purpose while returning to France. It was a strategic plan of gathering support since America had inadequate resources such as money, food, clothe, and more (Christine, 1767). While in France, he influenced people to help America. In 1780, he returned back to America with all the resources that America needed. Before Lafayette return to America, the colonists experienced the worst (Christine, 1767). However, Lafayette brought hope to Americans by supporting them. Remember he used to say that all is possible and his world and actions made America optimistic.
The final great war of the revolutionary occurred in Yorktown. Lafayette played a great role not only in being in the battle but also by providing the war fighters with troops. Note that in the battle, Lafayette was in the front line and the final battle, Lafayette ordered the American and French soldiers to blocks all paths of escape (Christine, 1768). The British surrendered and America gained the victory.
Lafayette was a great leader and a hero. He received a special award for the great service to Americans. Even though he went back to France after the victory, he could visit America to do other jobs such as writing letters (Christine, 1768). His leadership role was not only visible in America but he fought for liberty in France following the France and Australia war. This means that he won the American Revolution and later was involved in the French Revolution to end the chaos and make a difference in people's life. He loved his country France and America and ensured that the government served all people equally (Christine, 1768). He was loyal to both countries and when he died in 1834, the America and French soil was put in his grave.
Lafayette inspired Americans to believe in themselves despite the challenges they went through such as lack of supplies. Lafayette was a great man who devoted himself to bring change in America. He wanted Americans to achieve political freedom and peace, and end hostilities. He was known as an improbable leader who despite his wealth, had a bright future of helping America gain independence (Christine, 1768). He was influenced by the principles of quality and liberty. He was against the wealthy and privileged and focused on quality and individual freedoms. In French, the king from the royal family ruled and controlled the country, whereas the poor people were oppressed. Lafayette was against this type of government and he was willing to change the structure of the government (Christine, 1768). During the American Revolutionary, French citizens such as Lafayette were inspired to support equality and freedom in America and end the monarchical government. Thus, Lafayette was an important political figure who reformed the government and created a representative government that supports both the poor and the rich. He believed that it is possible to bring change through a reformation.
During the French Revolution, Lafayette, together with Jefferson believed that the American Revolution reformed France and therefore proposed that the National Assembly should issue a declaration (Forsythe, 405). Before the declaration, Lafayette and Jefferson reviewed the recommendations about the declaration and agreed that it should touch issues concerning taxes, laws, rights, freedom, and liberty. After discussion, the draft was sent to the French Assembly and it was approved. Lafayette heroism and leadership influenced the creation of the declaration (Forsythe, 405). Note that the French Declaration was rooted in the American Declaration. In other words, Lafayette became familiar with the American Bill of Rights and this means that there was a similarity in drafting the Declaration. However, the French Declaration and American Declaration differed in that France wanted a universal appeal whereas America wanted the rights of people (Forsythe, 406). The similarity was on freedom first and the difference was on equality, liberty, and social equality in France. In addition, there was a difference in terms of religious freedom. America wanted religious tolerance whereas French attitudes focused on ideological atheism. In general, French and Americans had a specific flavor that influenced the declaration. Thus, the French stated the Declaration of the Rights of Man of the Citizen, which emphasized the natural and inalienable rights of man.
Today, Lafayette is remembered for the friendship he created between America and France. He is considered a great person who was committed to bring social changes in both America and France. He is an important political figure for his heroic needs including providing support and helping America gain victory. Today, his name is memorialized in the U.S and this indicates that he helped America gain an ultimate victory (Christine, 1760). He restored civil rights in French and America and today, the countries enjoy equality, freedom, and liberty because of his great deeds. He is a nation national hero who despite the challenges he passed through, wanted to end slavery and ensure that all people achieve equality and the right to rule themselves.
Work cited
Christine Dugan. Marquis de Lafayette and the French. Teacher Created Materials, 2017
Collins, Kathleen. Marquis De Lafayette: French Hero of the American Revolution. New York:
Rosen Central Primary Source, 2004. Print.
Forsythe, David P. Encyclopedia of Human Rights. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Print.
