“Thus a public can only attain enlightenment slowly. Perhaps a revolution can overthrow autocratic despotism and profiteering or power-grabbing oppression, but it can never truly reform a manner of thinking; instead, new prejudices, just like the old ones they replace, will serve as a leash for the great unthinking mass” (36). Kant prophesied that enlightenment will cause waves in bourgeoisie class, and it was possible through revolutions and changes that the world went over. As an illustration, a great example of the transformation could be shown from the changes of political view in France. That is, when revolution was sparked by the fierce passions of Frenchmen and issued statement of rights, demanding equality and freedom, among others. King Louis XVI was viewed as villain through the eyes of the revolutionary, where he governed France through monarchy. His rich in the palace of Versailles were seen as tyranny, and his credibility worsened as the people of French starved from scarcity. “the kernel gradually reacts on a people’s mentality, and it finally even influences the principles of government, which finds that it can profit by treating men, who are now more than machines, in accord with their dignity” (42). As Kant’s prediction, the First French Republic was formed and aimed for a better government and the desire for equality. They…
The French Revolution of 1789 had many long-range causes. Political, social, and economic conditions in France mad many French people discontented. Most disaffected were merchants, artisans, workers, and peasants. The ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers brought new views of government and society. The American Revolution also influenced the coming of The French Revolution. Therefore, The French Revolution of 1789 had several causes not only due to political, but also due to social and economic issues and problems as well that made France ripe for revolution. The most important long-range causes of this revolution, however, were the ideas of the Enlightenment, the unfair taxes, the gap between the rich and poor, and the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence.…
Throughout time, people have overthrown governments for a variety of social, political, and economic reasons. When basic needs aren't met and natural rights aren't protected, people start to question the government's morals and ideals. in the 18th century, the citizens of France were inspired by the Enlightenment ideas of Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau, as well as the success of the American Revolution. As a reaction to their unfair treatment, the people of the Third Estate rebelled against the government, and eventually, after many deaths and changes of power, the people finally received their much-deserved rights. There were many well-justified causes of the French Revolution, and although many horrible effects presented themselves, the resulting…
There were numerous causes to justify The French Revolution. There existed problems inside France’s government, society, and economy. Most of these problems were ultimately experienced by the third estate, or the middle class. The third estate was then educated on a better way to live by the results of the Enlightenment philosophers and their philosophies. Certain conditions also led to the revolution, on top of its causes. Living conditions and representation in government are two examples. It is undeniable that the people of the third estate were correct in their campaign for change.…
This essay peels through the layers of the remarkable years from 1789 through to 1794 to explore the catalysts of that period of the French Revolution characterized by political repression and widespread violence known as la Terreur, or, The Reign of Terror. The French Revolution, which initially saw an overthrow of the dictatorship of Louis XVI, was a period of time when France descended into a stage of political purges and indiscriminate martial law where many innocent civilians were killed. This essay investigates the causes for this unfortunate turn in the trajectory of the revolution. These causes are the storming of Bastille, the dividing nature of politics, the poor standard of living conditions, and the declaration of the new republic.…
By the end of September 1791, the National Assembly announced that its work was done. In many ways, the Constitution of 1791 seemed to fulfil the promises of reform which had been first uttered by the men of 1789. All Frenchmen could now be proud that the following rights had been secured: equality before the law, careers open to talent, a written constitution, and parliamentary government. Hence, there was a sizeable faction within the National Assembly who were satisfied and claimed the Revolution to be at an end as its primary aims had been achieved. However, by 1792 the revolution moved in a more radical and violent direction. Why the revolution became radical is often debated, and there are essentially two main reasons as to why it did so. First, a counter-revolution, loyal to Church and King, was led by the noble and the clergy and supported by staunch Catholic peasants. This threatened the changes of the revolutionaries; therefore they turned to drastic measures. Second, the economic, social, and political discontent of the urban working classes also propelled the Revolution in the direction of radicalism. These were the small shop-keepers, artisans and wage earners, referred to as ‘sans-culottes’.…
During the reign of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, revolutionary ideas flourished through the age of enlightenment. However, Louis made a crucial mistake by aiding the American Revolution; although it was a military success, it was an economic failure. France was bankrupt and the people were starving; they watched as their monarchs, nobles and aristocracy live a life of luxury and wealth while they suffered through poverty, drastically changing how the citizens perceived their monarch. Soon this resentment transformed into pure hatred and nothing could be done to change their minds. Before long the people revolted and Louis’ powers were stripped away, a new man was then put in his place, Robespierre. Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre was a man who had great power and abused it; to some he was “The Incorruptible”, but in reality was a blood thirsty…
1789: June 17th, they voted to establish the National Assembly, in effect proclaiming the end of absolute monarchy and the beginning of the representative government. This was the 1st deliberate act of the French Revolution.…
The French Revolution was a period of radical reform among the government and bourgeoisie that was initiated by the largest of the three estates to eliminate the unfair treatment that they were subjected to. The Third Estate was comprised of peasants and commoners that were being heavily taxed, while the nobles and bourgeoisie enjoyed a life of luxury with tax exemptions and political benefits like voting. In the beginning of the French Revolution, it was the Third Estate that had the most grievances against the government’s political and economic control, and being comprised of mostly peasant folk, they had little jurisdiction to address these grievances unlike the noble and political based bourgeoisie.…
As Malcolm Gladwell wrote in The Tipping Point, “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.” Symbolised by the Tennis Court Oath and the Storming of the Bastille, the outbreak of the French Revolution was caused by a buildup of many factors, finally causing the anger and frustration manifested in the French people to reach the tipping point as they took to the streets. This led to social and political upheaval, especially in Paris. Through examining Louis XVI’s inability to rule, the spread of Enlightenment ideas and the social structure of the Kingdom of France, this essay argues that the Enlightenment Ideas were the main cause for the outbreak of the…
Assess the historical significance of the French Revolution. The French Revolution, which took place at the very end of the 18th Century in France, was of crucial significance to the history of modern day society. It was to be one of the most important political and sociological reformations in history, and brought an end to the legitimacy and sovereignty of the monarchy, aristocracy and clergy, and instilled reforms upon liberal principles and democratic notions and important fundamental notions such as individualism equality and rights, namely in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. In assessing, I will examine how much of an impact the French Revolution made to change the course of history and how significant has it…
The plight of the French people has resonated throughout and ultimately changed the course of history, proving that the people indeed have the power to make significant change. It may take one person to spark a nation into revolt with the introduction of new ideas, all of which can be social, political, and even personal. Maximilien Robespierre is often seen as the face of change during the French Revolution as he managed to gather a large following of fed up citizens ready to make their inept leaders pay. The rightfully enraged citizens of France were influenced by the Age of Enlightenment, by the concept of liberalism, and new “leaders” to abolish the outdated Monarchy in search of true justice for now and for the future. With Robespierre…
Once these ideas entered the French citizens’ minds, they began questioning the structure of society and the inequalities between the Third Estate and the First and Second. The use of reason showed people that they did…
the author’s interpretation of what was so revolutionary about the french revolution is that “the French revolution was a succession of such events, events so terrible that shook mankind to it’s core. out of destruction they created a new sense of possibility- not just of writing constitutions nor of legislating liberty and equality, but of living by the most difficult of revolutionary values, the brotherhood of men” (Darnton 7).…
Thesis statement: The counter-intuitive insights in Alexis DeTocqueville's The Old Regime and the French Revolution (1856) intriguingly reveal the movement's poor planning. The abruptness, instability, and ignorance unveil a clumsy design. This explains the long term effects of the French Revolution.…