French Revolution Enlightenment
Jorgen Jeppesen
John Billett
History 106
March 15, 2017
Title
As the Enlightenment spread through the western world, people yearned for more and more freedom. They decided what church to join and how to worship God. Many pursued more education. The common man was taking power over their own lives. It was in this atmosphere that the French Revolution was first ignited. What started as commoners wanting a voice in how they were governed ended in one of the bloodiest times France would ever know. Although started with the intent to champion the ideas of enlightenment, the French Revolution peaked in a reign of terror that was the antitheses of the enlightenment. One of the philosophers from the enlightenment was Voltaire. When writing about the English political system, he showed admiration that in England every man had the right “to profess, unmolested, what religion he chooses.” (Sherman 2011 pg.43) Although a deist himself, Voltaire advocated the freedom of religion. Through the Reign of Terror, the Catholic Church was seen as a symbol of the old regime and came under attack. France was de-Christianized. “Robespierre tried in vain to institute his deistic Cult of the Supreme Being.” (Sherman Salisbury 2014 pg. 502) The Enlightenment was very much about the freedom to find truth. The Committee of Public Safety crushed that freedom.
One of the things that is associated with the Enlightenment is Diderot’s encyclopedia. It was a revolutionary idea. For the first time, people could find information on just about everything in one place. It was the free exchange of information and ideas that fueled the Enlightenment. As Robespierre gained power, the freedom to exchange ideas dwindled. The …show more content…
(2011). Western Civilization: Sources, Images, and Interpretations: Volume II. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Sherman, D., & Salisbury, J. E. (2014) The West in the World: Volume II: From the Renaissance New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
John Billett
History 106
March 15, 2017
Title
As the Enlightenment spread through the western world, people yearned for more and more freedom. They decided what church to join and how to worship God. Many pursued more education. The common man was taking power over their own lives. It was in this atmosphere that the French Revolution was first ignited. What started as commoners wanting a voice in how they were governed ended in one of the bloodiest times France would ever know. Although started with the intent to champion the ideas of enlightenment, the French Revolution peaked in a reign of terror that was the antitheses of the enlightenment. One of the philosophers from the enlightenment was Voltaire. When writing about the English political system, he showed admiration that in England every man had the right “to profess, unmolested, what religion he chooses.” (Sherman 2011 pg.43) Although a deist himself, Voltaire advocated the freedom of religion. Through the Reign of Terror, the Catholic Church was seen as a symbol of the old regime and came under attack. France was de-Christianized. “Robespierre tried in vain to institute his deistic Cult of the Supreme Being.” (Sherman Salisbury 2014 pg. 502) The Enlightenment was very much about the freedom to find truth. The Committee of Public Safety crushed that freedom.
One of the things that is associated with the Enlightenment is Diderot’s encyclopedia. It was a revolutionary idea. For the first time, people could find information on just about everything in one place. It was the free exchange of information and ideas that fueled the Enlightenment. As Robespierre gained power, the freedom to exchange ideas dwindled. The …show more content…
(2011). Western Civilization: Sources, Images, and Interpretations: Volume II. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Sherman, D., & Salisbury, J. E. (2014) The West in the World: Volume II: From the Renaissance New York, NY: McGraw-Hill