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the french revolution
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One issue that helps to shape the world socially and politically is the rise and overpowering of an oppressive force. Things such as corrupt or forceful governments, slavery or racism, and living conditions not suitable for living give reasons for such a rise against power. “Rebellion is important because you need to change the ways things are if they are inefficient or unfair” (Goldstone). This opposition to oppression allows reformation and advancement of society as a whole to occur. People who feel the need for change have gone into drastic actions to gain a freedom or change. Some of these efforts can be demonstrated through revolutions, battles, protesting, and even anarchy. The following paragraphs will attempt to exemplify how novels we discussed in class show textual evidence of rising over oppression as well as to explain and elaborate on real world revolutions.
The first topic that comes to mind when thinking of a rise over oppression is the French Revolution. The French Revolution lasted ten years from 1789-1799, and was a period of radical social and political controversy. The monarchy possessing total control over France for centuries, collapsed within three short years. This sudden change caused the French society to undergo a huge transformation as feudal, aristocratic and religious rights began to disappear. Change was coming from an effort started by many liberal political groups fed up with the treatment given to them by the upper class groups. Enlightenment began to be the new form of knowledge and thought processes. For the suppressed groups, the French Revolution was successful. A new middle class was influenced by Enlightenment theories and fought for freedom and equality among society. During the time bef...
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...r Called Henry, Waiting For the Barbarians, and Persepolis that have discussed the significance of opposition to evil and preventative forces. Each event in history and each novel that we have read exemplifies this fact. In my opinion, people should have the right to stand up for what they believe is correct and that should not cause any unfair treatment of anyone.
Works Cited
Coetzee, J. M. Waiting for the Barbarians. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England ; New York: Penguin Books, 1982. Print.
Domenach, J. -M. "Camus-Sartre Debate: Rebellion Vs. Revolution." Nation 176.10 (1953): 202-3. Print.
Doyle, Roddy. A Star Called Henry. London, UK.: Random House, 2000. Print.
Goldstone, Jack A. Revolution and Rebellion in Early Modern World. Univ of California Press, 1991. Print.
Satrapi, Marjane. The Complete Persepolis. New York: Pantheon Books, 2007. Print.
The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political upheaval, lead by the lower class of France, which began the decline of powerful monarchies in France and the rise of nationalism and democracy. In A Tale Of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, he highlights these aspects of the war between classes and makes them personal to the reader. Throughout the novel, Dickens’ establishes and develops several symbols in order to help the reader better understand the Revolution and the way people acted during this time. He shows that while emotion, desperation, and irrationality run high, humanity, justice, and morality are scarce. The blue flies, Madame Defarge’s knitting, and the sea are three of Dickens’ symbols that develop his theme of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man throughout the novel.
The French Revolution was a period in French history that brought forth many new ideas that changed the country and guided it to its modern state.The many governments that were put in place have given guidelines that will be examples for modern countries. While the National Assembly attempted to embrace the enlightenment ideas, the committee of public safety and the napoleonic period betrayed many of the ideas put forth by people such as John Locke,Beccaria,and even Montesquieu.
The French and American Revolutions were derived amongst similar motivations to better their governments. However, they differ on other levels based on their actions and outcomes. The American and French revolutions both wanted its citizens to be viewed as equals, just as well as allow them to have some natural rights. Sovereignty however is, viewed differently by the two parties. The core reason for each revolution differs, but they both have the same ending results of a declarations document. Both documents are composed based off enlightenment thinkers John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government and Jean Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract. The Declaration of Independence was mostly Locke’s theory. While the Declaration of the Rights of Man favored both theories.
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.
9) The effect of the “storming of the Bastille” on the revolutionary moment was it caused the king to pull back his troops and it saved the National Assembly. This caused a rebellious spirit to move across the county.
During the summer of 1793, the radical phase of the French Revolution was intensified by the Terror, created by The Committee of Public Safety. The Terror successfully preserved the Revolution by weeding out counter-revolutionaries to eliminate corruption within the government and giving equality to all social classes which untied France under one government. However, these successes were undermined by the many failures of the Terror due to the oppression of citizens which would lead to many executions and the paranoid slaughtering of citizens from all social classes which led to the changes in support of the Revolution.
Government, one of the greatest concepts of mankind since learning how to live together as a community. Government was designed to give order and to represent the people in their quest for happiness. When a government works well the majority of its citizens are satisfied with what the government is doing, but what happens when the government fall short of satisfying the basic needs of its citizens? When the current government fails a new one is the cry of its people. In many countries change is accomplished by a revolution. In France the National Assembly cried for revolution from its oppressive King and the Ancien Regime. They wanted to improve human rights. They wanted an improved economy and religious reform like the American Revolution. This is an argument that the French Revolution failed.
The later 18th century was a time of crisis for the old regimes of Europe and their economic systems and political agitation sometimes breaking out into revolts. English Industrial Revolution vaulted Britain to the fore. France was the most powerful and the most typical of the old aristocratic absolute monarchies of Europe. (lower taxes off backs of lower classes).
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.
The French Revolution was one of the most violent and chaotic events in history. It took place in France from 1789 to 1795. The end result was a good one, with France’s government being transformed from an oppressive monarchy, to a nationalist state that stood for freedom, equality, and unalienable rights. The process, however, is the interesting part.
The French Revolution Gradually after the American Revolution, France had its own Revolution in 1789. The French were very unhappy with their current status, jobs, and living conditions. They saw what the Americans did to achieve liberty, and how successful they were. Many of them had also read the writings of the philosophers and believed that change was necessary. Nevertheless, the main problems that led to the French Revolution were deep debt, competition between social classes, and the unlawful conduct of the king.
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.
“Society was cut in two: those who had nothing united in common envy; those who had anything united in common terror.” The French Revolution was a painful era that molded the lives of every citizen living in France and changed their ways of life forever. Beginning in 1789 and lasting ten years until 1799, the people of France lived in a monarch society under King Louis XVI’s rule. He was a very harsh ruler and had many restrictions placed on his people. They eventually overthrow him and become a monarch society. Among his deceptive ways, the people also experienced “The Reign of Terror,” which was a period where many lives were taken by the guillotine. Other revolutionary events included rebellions, constitutions, and groups. One of the popular groups that contributed greatly to the French Revolution were the Jacobins who were led by Maximilien Robespierre.
The French Revolution had many causes. According to the historian, French people revolted because they were, “intelligent, free, and prosperous to be critical of the existing conditions.” In other words, this historian is saying that the people of France knew what was going on in their country. I agree with this historian and this quote. There were conditions that existed in France the people were aware of. The ideas of the Enlightenment, social classes, and tax system contributed to the French Revolution. The French Revolution was based mostly on the Third Estate’s desire to obtain liberty and equality.
The French Revolution, which occurred from 1789 to 1799, was a time where the monarchy was overthrown, a republic was formed, and limits were put on the church. The French Revolution ended with the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The French Revolution created France’s legislative assembly, which is still in place today. Many would argue that the Enlightment was a cause of the French Revolution, but the Enlightment was not one of the main drivers for the Revolution. The bad living conditions, France’s monarchy, and the involvement in the American Revolution and other wars caused the French Revolution.