Now he recognized that protection of national interests was the raison d'etre of all governments, whether born of revolution or not. Expansion of individual liberties had simply been a by-product of the American Revolution because it was essential for uniting the American people and, therefore, in the national interest. Tyranny--indeed, Napoleon--had been the by-product of the French Revolution, because it was essential for maintaining the unity of the French people and, therefore, essential to French national interests. Monroe