How Did The French Revolution Influence Political Change

Throughout the course of the French Revolution the citizens of France have influenced political change often through violent means, as well as many rulers showed the strongest and weakest points that have provoked the changes. The ideas from the French Revolution had an effect on the political situation of the country as the monarchy was abolished. This then led to a shift of focus from social classes to social equality. Finally with the fall of the old government, the people of the nation were given more rights, as well as power. The French Revolution stirred the politics of France in the right direction through positive change.

As the result of the French Revolution, the political system changed from an absolute monarchy to a more representative Republic. The monarchy in France was abolished, because the nation lost their belief in the king and the power of the government due to corruption, economic problems and weak leadership. For example when Louis XVI fled to Varennes, together with his wife - Marie Antoinette, this showed the nation that they could no longer trust Louis XVI and they way he led the government and the country.

The third estate declared itself the National Convention and swore to make a new Constitution in 1789. They met and voted to abolish the monarchy, immediately building a republic in 1791. A year later the Radicals took over with Maximilien Robespierre as their leader. Following the French Revolution, the First Republic in France was established in 1792 September 22 nd. The Radicals began the Reign of Terror, which lead to approximately 300,000 people were arrested and 10,000 deaths in the community. A year later, the convention proceeded to put Louis XVI on trial for treason. He was convicted for treachery and shortly after executed. This allowed the new leaders of the Republic to gain more authority and control, as they were the only leaders now. The execution of Louis XVI played an important part in the fall of the Monarchy in France. When the First Republic was formed and working efficiently, another dictatorial ruler, Napoleon, came along and crowned himself the Emperor. Some people might say that after the French Revolution, there was still a head of state similar to the king, the emperor. However, the new head of state, the emperor, was not an absolute ruler, as he had to consult the newly established parliament. It took people time to get used to the new form of government.
The nobility became more ordinary citizens, with less privileges. The lower and middle classes experienced many gains of social equality, which greatly increased the position of the lower and middle classes in the society. The people were no longer separated into social casts; there were no longer the three estates with different amounts of power. In France, the nobility’s power was completely terminated after the French Revolution, thus stopping them from abusing the other citizens. The government started to change its positions towards the Church. All the churchlands were nationalized and sold of to other people who could afford to buy them. In fact, the first estate was not the richest estate out of the three. The clergy became salaried officials of the state, which meant that they were paid a normal wage, and were now required to do work. The French Revolution also showed that Louis XVI was a an economic pushover because of the the fact that he tried to tax the 1st and 2nd but then the people started to fire back at him for doing that, the idea of his taxing the 1st and 2nd could have a positive effect on the finance state. After the execution of Louis XVI, the government actually made up their mind about taxing all three estates and that had a dramatic affect on the debt of the country.
The people of France received more rights after the King was executed and the monarchy was abolished. During the French Revolution the people were outraged by royal absolutism, the system of noble privilege, and an unequal and unfair taxation system, which led to many Enlightenment ideas. Later, the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen” was written in 1789, by Marquis de Lafayette, which was a part of the transition from monarchy to the republic government. The declaration was one of the main founding documents in the human rights portrayed many different Enlightenment principles, such as equal rights and equal opportunities. The declaration was a big step for France and a relief for the people, who previously were denied their human rights. When the declaration was written, it affected the power of the people and took away power from the people who did not use it well or abused it. For example, now the French citizens had the right for education, no matter what class they were in. After the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen” there were many other documents that have proved the French Revolution. When the people gained more rights, some started to abuse them, for example when Napoleon crowned himself the emperor even though France had a republican government.
In conclusion, France had its ups and downs in their politics after the French Revolution.

France wasn’t an exception, just like many other countries it changed its form of government in order to make the nation stronger and thus became more democratic. There are many reasons why the French Revolution have played a big role in the political change of France during the 1800’s. Firstly, the monarchy was abolished after the fall of the monarchy and the execution of Louis XVI has set the ground of the new more modern government. Secondly, the people started to change their positions in the government the nobility was liquidated and everybody was fighting for the power and rights. Finally, with the fall of the old dictatorial government, the people of France finally gained their human rights with the protection of the new modern

government.