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French revolution changes to society and the individual
Introduction to french revolution
Introduction to french revolution
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Returning from the American Revolution with revolutionary and enlightened ideas, the French Citizens decided to revolt against the injustices of the monarchy as their rulers were not prepared to lead them towards a new era of hope and equality. Ideas set by revolutionaries would claim, “Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in fetters [chains],” as mentioned by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1762, which inspired people to create a better lifestyle at the cost of the government (Source ). Building a new foundation based on men’s rights to liberty, fraternity and equality were brought before the revolution due to the suffering of the estates to support the lives of the tyrannical monarchy. Westward outside the borders of Paris, France on May 5, 1789, …show more content…
However beforehand it was, “a standoff between Louis XVI and the parliaments” (Source ). To call for the assembly to intervene meant King Louis was losing his absolute power over France because the people were creating a solution to lessen the financial burden. Ultimately any decision would result in loss of more political power because “King Louis XVI needed more money but had failed to raise more taxes” especially since most of the population already struggling to cope with high pre-existing taxes (Source ). France was in a state of bankruptcy due to their participation in the American Revolution and the monarchy’s unwillingness to give up some aspects of their luxurious lives while most civilians were working and starving to death. After many years under a tyrannical government, the National Assembly formed through the Tennis Court Oath. The reformers declared it was the time for action making an oath to not disband until their constitution was …show more content…
During the beheadings “many voices were at the same time heard encouraging the executioners” believing they would reach their goals (Source ). Execution resulted from the culmination of paranoia, anger, and distrust towards the monarchy and their followers. Robespierre, a member of the Committee of Public Safety concluded “the secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant” empowering beliefs justifying the king’s execution in order to ensure the success of the country (Source ). After many decades of injustices, the French held trials decided to execute using the guillotine because it was the quickest way to avoid physical pain and instead were humiliated in front of everyone as a warning to those against the
The ideas of change in the French Revolution came from Jean- Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau, from his book, Discourse on the Moral Effect of the Arts and Sciences, had the idea that civilization corrupted people and had once said “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains”. His ideas were the beginning of socialism. He believed in the common good. More extremely, there was Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) who fueled ideas for the Russian Revolution. He was the Father of Communism, a more radical form of socialism. Those who followed Rousseau’s and Marx’s ideas felt that the...
The citizens of France, inspired by the enlightenment, desired a government run by the people. Marquis de Lafayette wrote, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights; social distinctions may be based only upon general usefulness” (de Lafayette 783). The French wanted to bring equality to all classes. The French revolution brought much more social change than the American revolution. Inspired by Lafayette’s declaration that, “no group, no individual may exercise authority not emanating expressly therefrom” (de Lafayette 783), the class system was destroyed. The revolutionaries were open to ending slavery, however women remained marginalized within the social structure of France. Similarly to the American revolution, the enlightenment ideas that drove the French revolution were not applied to society as a
Beginning in mid-1789, and lasting until late-1799, the French Revolution vastly changed the nation of France throughout its ten years. From the storming of the Bastille, the ousting of the royal family, the Reign of Terror, and all the way to the Napoleonic period, France changed vastly during this time. But, for the better part of the last 200 years, the effects that the French Revolution had on the nation, have been vigorously debated by historian and other experts. Aspects of debate have focused around how much change the revolution really caused, and the type of change, as well as whether the changes that it brought about should be looked at as positive or negative. Furthermore, many debate whether the Revolutions excesses and shortcomings can be justified by the gains that the revolution brought throughout the country. Over time, historians’ views on these questions have changed continually, leading many to question the different interpretations and theories behind the Revolutions effectiveness at shaping France and the rest of the world.
The Committee of Public Safety was very worried with the idea of a royalist rebellion. Those who believed that there should be a monarch were upset that the Committee of Public safety did not have one. To stop this rebellion the Committee of Public Safety decided to kill those who opposed the revolution. This time period in which they began to kill the rebels is now known as “the Terror”. Steven Otfinoski explains the reason behind the “Terror” “ The purpose was to protect the public safety from enemies both in and outside of France” (Doc 34). The biggest supporter of the “Terror” was Maximilien Robespierre. In his speech to the National Convention he said “We must smother the internal and external enemies of the republic or parish” (Doc 36). This shows that Robespierre wanted to be opposed by no one. This shows his motivation to become the only man who had power in the french government. Robespierre needed a new way to get rid of those who opposed him in a way to set an example to others. This way he found in the Guillotine. This use of the Guillotine betrayed the punishment ideas that were encouraged by Beccaria. In Beccaria's “Essay on Crimes and Punishments” he states “Such punishments,therefore,and such a mode of inflicting them,ought to be chosen, as will make the strongest and most
1. Why and how did the French Revolution take a radical turn entailing terror at home and war with European powers?
France had to declare bankruptcy after the American Revolution--war and debt helped bring down the monarchy. King, in 1787, called the Estates General, an assembly of noblemen buried since 1614. Thus the Revolution becan with an aristocratic attempt to recapture the state. "Men born and live free and equal under the law." Not democratic, but constitutional. The King was not King of France, but King of the French!!
The Revolution brought to its end an era where the French Catholic church was allowed to do as it wanted with little to no oversight. Ever since its establishment in France the church had amassed wealth and power by becoming the singular religion of the nation, however discontent grew and masses rose against the institution of the church. The revolution split the country in two, on one side those who supported the church as it always had been and on the other side those who supported the church as it had been redesigned by the new constitution.
The French Revolution evokes many different emotions and controversial issues in that some believe it was worth the cost and some don't. There is no doubt that the French Revolution did have major significance in history. Not only did the French gain their independence, but an industrial revolution also took place. One of the main issues of the Revolution was it's human costs. Two writers, the first, Peter Kropotkin who was a Russian prince, and the other Simon Schama, a history professor, both had very opposing views on whether the wars fought by France during the Revolution were worth it's human costs. Krapotkin believed that the French Revolution was the main turning point for not only France but for most other countries as well. On the other hand, Schama viewed the French Revolution as unproductive and excessively violent.
There are several horrific punishment methods and devices put in place during the revolution, though the most commonly known is the guillotine. History.com says, “Over some 200 years of use, the guillotine claimed the heads of tens of thousands of victims ranging from common criminals to revolutionaries, aristocrats and even kings and queens” (Andrews, Evan. "8 Things You May Not Know About the Guillotine." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 15 Sep. 2014. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.). The guillotine takes the lives of many, and affects the families of the one it takes. While the gullone was scary for the victim, it was also used as entertainment for many. Often people watched and cheered as the guillotine executed its next victim. History.com says, “Children often attended guillotine executions, and some may have even played with their own miniature guillotines at home” (Andrews, Evan. "8 Things You May Not Know About the Guillotine." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 15 Sep. 2014. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.). Often the gullone is used as entertainment as people and even children watch the victim lose their head. The guillotine is a major punishment for aristocrats, revolutionaries, and even normal
The French Revolution was a period of political upheaval that occurred in France during the latter half of the 18th century. This revolution marked an end to the system of feudalism and the monarchy in France and a rise to democracy and new Enlightenment ideas. By 1789, when the revolution began, France was in a deep financial crisis due to the debt they had obtained over many years of reckless spending and France was nearly bankrupt. These financial issues fell almost completely on the bottom social class or the Third Estate which made up a majority of the country. Because of this financial trouble the common people were heavily taxed leaving many of them in poverty. In addition to the economic issues, France also held an Estate System that led to heavy
A guillotine is a decapitation device that quickly chops off it’s victims head in the blink of an eye. According to document F, About 16,000 people were believed to have died at the hands of it. No matter how small or petty a crime was, people would have been executed for it. Even Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, the leaders of France before the Revolution, were decapitated by one, as was the leader of the Reign of Terror, Maximilien Robespierre. Another method to weed out the counter revolutionaries was a network of spies that watched out for anyone who spoke out against the government, “A careless word of criticism spoken against the government could put one in prison or worse” (Document E). The punishment for a crime as small as ththis was more often than not
The French Revolution began in 1789 and ended in the late 1790’s (staff). Just like the American Revolution the French Revolution started with new ideas of enlightenment. French citizens started to uproot everything that was considered normal, things such as absolute monarchy and the feudal system, they wanted to redesign everything (staff). Although a lot of the attempts failed people continued to try to make the change.
During the eighteenth century, France was one of the most richest and prosperous countries in Europe, but many of the peasants were not happy with the way France was being ruled. On July 14, 1789, peasants and soldiers stormed the Bastille and initiated the French Revolution. This essay will analyze the main causes of the French Revolution, specifically, the ineffectiveness of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, and the Enlightenment. It will also be argued that the most significant factor that caused the French Revolution is the ineffective leadership of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
...st powerful symbols of the French Revolution and killed an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 people during the Reign of Terror. (Doc F) The guillotine was a sharp, angled blade that killed quickly the most deadly and feared method of invoking fear during the revolution. (Doc F) These methods; however, became too extreme and the deaths of the incident was not justified.
The Reign of Terror was a time during the French Revolution hundreds of thousands of people were executed by various means: guillotine, shot, and drowned. The Committee of Public Safety, lead by Maximilien de Robespierre, were in charge of these executions, and with the job of finding anti-revolutionaries forces. Many thought that what Robespierre was doing would just lead to a greater anti-revolution movement, which would in turn increase the number of executions. Others did not take action against the terror; for fear that they themselves might be executed. Those who were still loyal to the revolution saw the terror as a noble cause; they saw it as a way to rid France of anti-revolutionary forces.