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The french revolution
French revolution introduction
The french revolution
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In 1792, radical Parisian political groups organized a mob attack on the royal palace, took the king hostage, and forced the Legislative Assembly to suspend the monarchy. With this, the French Revolution entered a more radical stage as power passed from the Legislative Assembly to the new Paris Commune, which was made up of the sans-culottes. The sans-culottes, made up of many merchants and better-off artisans as well as working people and the poor, were anti-monarchy and wanted revenge on anyone who had helped the king or objected to the popular will of the French people. The decision made by the National Convention and the Committee of Public Safety to go to war with the European monarchs who were against the French Revolution allowed a more
In 1789, the French people began to stand up to their current monarchical government in order to obtain rights and laws that they felt they deserved. The Reign of Terror followed after the Revolution and seemed to stand for the complete opposite of what the people had previously stood up for. The Reign of Terror began in 1793 and ended in 1794 due to the decapitation of Maximilien Robespierre. The Reign of Terror can be explained as a time period in France when many counter revolutionaries were killed because of their traditional beliefs. Counter revolutionaries believed in preserving the ways of the monarchy, but since the majority of people thought otherwise, these opposing beliefs led to death. The French government did not have good reason to conduct such drastic measures against those who challenged the Revolution.
Another cause of the radical stage was the grow of a counter revolution. All those dissatisfied with the new reform wanted the grand catholic army to overthrow the new french government. The sans-culottes stood
As the Reign of Terror in France grew and invoked fear the internal threats became more radical and deadly. The French Revolution began in 1789 as an attempt to create a new and fair government. (Doc A) As year four of freedom lurched the thirst for power in Maximilien Robespierre stirred and the hunger for more blood provoked him urging him to create the Reign of Terror. 1793, the first year of the Reign of Terror, Robespierre grasped on to his new power and as the revolution spun out of control the Jacobins Club established a new way to “fight enemies” by constructing a Committee of Public Safety and a Tribunal Court. (Doc A) This new government was working swell it contained counterrevolutionaries in the Vendée Region, and it smothered and ferreted the internal threats. (Docs A, C, G) The counterrevolutionaries adopted a name that meant trouble – the rabble. (Doc D) In a letter written by a city official of the Town of Niort a...
It is tough to pin the Sans-Culottes as they are humongous group that represented the common people, but it is apparent that many if not most of the deaths that resulted were from the frequent arrests and accusations made by the Sans-Culottes. The Sans-Culottes started off with good intentions. They were described as hard working and loyal. Their main demands were not excessive. They desired caps on bread prices, laws against hoarders, and a levée en masse. As Colin Jones stated though the French Revolution and Terror was the shocking result of people with good intentions becoming bad. “What was both terrifying and sobering about the Terror of 1793-4 was the aura of randomness which hovered over the violence it visited out – even when it was being conducted by individuals of impeccable Latinate education and high moral principle.” Although the education of the sans-culotte was by no means the best, they prided themselves and their morals and considered themselves the opposites of the crooked and corrupt politicians. Slowly but surely the Sans-culottes became the tool that these politicians used to claim
The Sans-Culottes were a powerful driving force in the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror because of the massive impact their violence had on society. The peasant French women played a large role in the Revolution because of their aggression, zeal and participation in the Sans-Culottes’ protests. There was a riot police handled on February 25th 1973 where “there was a new crowd of citizens there… But we had brought along with us many armed citizens who dispersed this mob.
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.
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.
Their desperation led them to action. They overtook the largest fortress in France, the Bastille, in search of weapons. Members of the Bourgeoisie had formed the National Assembly three weeks prior to the storming of the Bastille to begin to address the grievances of the peasants (Dabney). On August 4, the National Assembly met in Paris, and, with one enthusiastic fell swoop, they agreed to abolish the feudal system forever, thus gaining the support of the mob. “The Decree of the National Assembly Abolishing the Feudal System” created equality between the nobility and citizens, ended the Church’s authority over the state, and pledged to work with King Louis XVI to rectify the injustices of the people.
During the 18th century one of the most important events in all of history occurred. This great event was the French Revolution, a battle between the citizens and the government. This revolution lead to a new democratic government and freed the French society of the terrible ruling of King Louis XVI. This amazing revolution lead to many long-term and short-term effects.
The French Revolution was a nightmare for the European political and government system. The French revolution happened because of bad decisions made by past monarch, high taxes, and inequality. Then Napoleon had gradually became a dictator of France and tried to take over all of Europe. After Russia had defeated Napoleon the Great powers wanted no more revolutions or war. The conclusion of my decision is the the revolutions of 1848 was not a turning point in European political and social history;monarchy stayed a primary government.
The French Revolution differed from previous revolutions in that it was started by those considered to be in the lower social class: the peasants and the sans-culottes who made up the 3rd Estate of the Estates General. These ordinary citizens were frustrated with high taxes, shortage of food and high cost of bread thus creating an inability for them to feed themselves and their families, as well as the social divisions of the privileged versus the underprivileged that existed in their country. They were extremely frustrated by the unjust ways in which the government treated them. So, they did something unheard of… the common people took matters into their own hands. This became a fight between the lower class and the French government.
Almost instantaneously after the death of Louis XVI in 1793, the Committee of Public Safety took over with Maximilien de Robespierre as head. Those in control believed that anyone blocking their path to liberty should be annihilated, and went to many extents to do so. From 1793 to 1794 France was in the midst of the Reign of Terror, which was characterized by mass executions. Those who supported the revolution thought of the executions as a step on the path to liberty; however, others stood firmly against the revolution as did many outside of France.
“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 revolution was a violent break from the previous order, its political system, culture, economy, and social structure. Since there was a clear opposition to the changes within France and the rest of Europe, the group that had more power in leadership decided to change strength by force. Aristocracy did not want to lose their historically established rights while the clergy were unwilling to be subject to government and swear. At the same time, the rural villages were happy only with the abolition of medieval rights, tithing and inequality before the law, but they did not have the same zeal to deconstruct France. Every faction within France tried to protect or continue their will by intimidation, murder, and fear. This leads to the destruction of public order and turns many people against the revolution and against each other. The result was a civil war that took place mainly in the west and south. With more violence, he feared if the Revolution
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.