Western Civilization: The French Revolution

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There are many cumulative events that have influenced Western Civilization reflective in today’s modern world, but the most impactful was the French Revolution. Western Civilization has many historic milestones building to the world as we know it, but none set such broad themes that are felt in our everyday life. Many of these themes have become so ingrained into the way we live that we can’t understand a world without them. For this reason, the effects of the French Revolution molded the westernized world more so than any other event. I consider the French Revolution the catalyst to how our world is shaped today. It’s ideas and events continue to echo through our lives century after century. To understand the effects of the French …show more content…

The Enlightenment itself ignited the changes in perspective that were needed to provoke improvement in society and set new standards for our future. These standards spread rather rapidly across Europe and eventually to America and challenged the old order. These ideas of rational thinking over religion and authority delivered a vast political change throughout the world which can still be felt today. These revolutionary thoughts of rationalism brought on freedom of speech and the demand for equality in society. This was not only the igniter to the French revolution but was also, how many governments including the United States based their modern …show more content…

A person can choose to work to better their station in life. Through education and job advancement along with desire, people are no longer subjected to a social class they can’t escape. A person’s place in this world can now be set by them when they desire more. There are no longer oppressive laws forbidding the change in status growth. State sponsored educations provided to all citizens give everyone the opportunity to grow and shape their future. Higher education is more accessible than any other period giving people the knowledge and skills to grow into better paying jobs and to find better markets for their skills.
One more long-lasting effect from the French Revolution is nationalism. They called fraternity at the time, but both words share the same meaning. The French people fighting for their right to survive and later to protect their borders from foreign powers seeking to restore tyrannical order, produced a sense of pride and brotherhood. No longer being forced to front lines by an unseen monarch hundreds of miles away, the French people started to find, close to heart and empowering reasons, to defend their

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