What Caused The French Revolution Essay
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was far bloodier and more brutal than its western counterpart, the American Revolution. After aiding the newly formed United States in the American Revolution, the people of France gained their own ideas of freedom and reformation. These ideas were further advanced by the desperate state of the country; after investing so much into American Revolution as well as the Seven Years’ War, famine and economic depression had a tight grip on France. The fact that French monarchy was living lavishly increased the tension as well, by making everyday French citizens bitter. As an added motivation, all of this occurred during the time period of the Age of Enlightenment, where thoughts of individuality were blossoming in the minds of philosophers and commoners
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alike. These factors combined to create a violent and epic conflict.
The French Revolution began abruptly, after the third estate of France - which was later renamed the National Assembly of France - demonstrated extreme anger towards the other states after being outvoted on which solution would be best to fix the economy.
The French monarch, King Louis XVI, soon banned the National Assembly from the conference room, and they then took the first true step of the Revolution. The National Assembly organized in the Versailles tennis court, and took what is now called the Tennis Court Oath. The oath was a promise to overthrow the king and create a Constitution.
The situation escalated to the point of violence shortly thereafter. The National Assembly stormed the Bastille, in order to arm themselves to fight off troops the king had summoned to Paris. The Governor of Bastille, who called for a ceasefire, was stabbed as well as beheaded in the battle. The turbulence in the social, political, and economic climates allowed for the Revolution to overtake France quickly. The Jacobins, who were more radical revolutionaries, created a petition to completely free France from monarchy, though that status did not become official until a few years had
passed.
France fought a war against Austria and Prussia - who worked in alliance with the king - as well as other countries. After enabling a draft, France obtained the largest army in Europe, and thus came out victorious, though the internal conflict of the country was a threat as well. Mass paranoia spread due to the Committee of Public Safety taking control of the government, which sent France into an era known as the Reign of Terror. The Reign of Terror led to mass executions by guillotine, until the leader of the Committee, Maximilien Robespierre, was also executed. France was officially declared a republic shortly after his execution, though the crippling social instability of the country led to it falling into dictatorship instead.
This political revolution led to a completely change in France, at least for a short time. Monarchal rule was completely abolished, despite it not being abolished in the manner French citizens expected it to. The government was first completely changed to a republic, and then back to something strikingly similar to monarchy. However, being led under a dictatorship did unify France, which helped it heal from its years of sociopolitical instability and constant state of crisis. Both of Aristotle’s descriptions of revolution actually apply to the French Revolution. While France was aiming for, and briefly achieved, being a republic, it ended up being ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte in a system that was not far off from the monarchy.
alike. These factors combined to create a violent and epic conflict.
The French Revolution began abruptly, after the third estate of France - which was later renamed the National Assembly of France - demonstrated extreme anger towards the other states after being outvoted on which solution would be best to fix the economy.
The French monarch, King Louis XVI, soon banned the National Assembly from the conference room, and they then took the first true step of the Revolution. The National Assembly organized in the Versailles tennis court, and took what is now called the Tennis Court Oath. The oath was a promise to overthrow the king and create a Constitution.
The situation escalated to the point of violence shortly thereafter. The National Assembly stormed the Bastille, in order to arm themselves to fight off troops the king had summoned to Paris. The Governor of Bastille, who called for a ceasefire, was stabbed as well as beheaded in the battle. The turbulence in the social, political, and economic climates allowed for the Revolution to overtake France quickly. The Jacobins, who were more radical revolutionaries, created a petition to completely free France from monarchy, though that status did not become official until a few years had
passed.
France fought a war against Austria and Prussia - who worked in alliance with the king - as well as other countries. After enabling a draft, France obtained the largest army in Europe, and thus came out victorious, though the internal conflict of the country was a threat as well. Mass paranoia spread due to the Committee of Public Safety taking control of the government, which sent France into an era known as the Reign of Terror. The Reign of Terror led to mass executions by guillotine, until the leader of the Committee, Maximilien Robespierre, was also executed. France was officially declared a republic shortly after his execution, though the crippling social instability of the country led to it falling into dictatorship instead.
This political revolution led to a completely change in France, at least for a short time. Monarchal rule was completely abolished, despite it not being abolished in the manner French citizens expected it to. The government was first completely changed to a republic, and then back to something strikingly similar to monarchy. However, being led under a dictatorship did unify France, which helped it heal from its years of sociopolitical instability and constant state of crisis. Both of Aristotle’s descriptions of revolution actually apply to the French Revolution. While France was aiming for, and briefly achieved, being a republic, it ended up being ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte in a system that was not far off from the monarchy.