By the 1800s, the spirit of revolution against colonial rule was spreading across South America. France and the United States provided examples of successful revolutions for other countries to follow. Although both resulted in new governments, the French and American revolutions were very different. The French overthrew a king within their own country, while the Americans declared independence from an overseas king and parliament. The American Revolution created a new, independent country. The French Revolution resulted in a new government in the same country. What triggers a revolution? Is it one specific event? Is it a series of events over time? Or is it something else? Write down your thoughts in a short paragraph of four to five sentences.