Suppose a historian wanted to argue that the enlightenment had a more positive influence on the american revolution than on the french revolution. which statement below would be the strongest evidence for the historian's view? the french revolution overthrew a monarchy and a social system, while the american revolution only freed a group of colonies. the american revolution was led by men who admired enlightenment thought, such as thomas jefferson and benjamin franklin. the american revolution produced a declaration of independence, while the french revolution produced a declaration of the rights of man. in the french revolution, the will of the people turned away from justice and toward mob violence, fanaticism, and dictatorship.