Well, the fact that you have freedom of speech (First Amendment) allows you to speak your emotions into action. By allowing a populous the ability to be informed and to spread information, you change the structure of its own interaction.
In France, there are no classes on government / political 'stuff', so their people don't understand the true impact of their decisions. Whereas in America we are made aware thanks to society, and directly change it to 'our' specifications.
