French Revolution

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Name:- Hitaxi H Bhatt.
Roll No:- 03.

Email Id:- hitaxidave81@gmail.com

Paper No:- 05(Romantic Literature)

Topic:- French Revolution.

Submitted to:- Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.

In history major changes take place often. One example of a major change was the French Revolution. The French revolution occurred in France during the late 1700’s.  Ever since the beginning of global history, there have been major political, economic, social and cultural revolutions. A revolution is the overthrowing if a government or ruler by the governed and then substituting another. For instance, a revolution took place in both France and England within the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Enlightenment and the political leaders led France to financial problems, causing  the French Revolution. The people wanted change and brought on the revolt against their government. As a result, France’s whole government perspective changed. Throughout global history, the revolutions have had complex causes and left long lasting impacts on people’s lives as well as the nation in general.  

Society were under the old regime. In France people were divided into three Estate.

• First Estate:- High ranking member of the church and privileged class.
• Second Estate:- Nobility, Privileged class.
• Third Estate:- Everyone else from countryside to wealthy bourgeoisie merchant in the cities , Unprivileged class.

Image of three estate and description:

At this time in France history, the social classes played an important role in the lives of the people. The social structure of France was divided among these three groups. Each social group had a varied type of people within their structure, which presented the different views of the people. The First Estate was the church. During the ancient regime the church was equal in terms of its social, economic, and spiritual power. The First Estate owned nearly 10% of all land in France. It paid no taxes but to support church activities such as school running and caring for the poor collected a tax on income.

The Second Estate in France life was the nobility. They enjoyed extensive rights and privileges. They made up less than 2% of the population. They like the First Estate, paid hardly any taxes. Economically, the nobility was characterized by great land wealth. Nobles were generally the richest members of the society. Typical sources  of income were rents and dues for the use of their farms or estates. The first and Second Estate were grouped togther because they had similar political beliefs.

The Third Estate consisted of the commoners. It included the bourgeoisie, peasants and city workers. The bourgeoisie or the middle class were by far the wealthiest in the bourgeoisie there were the merchants and manufactures, lawyers, doctors and others similar to those types of professions. Peasants made up the largest group within the Third Estate were the city workers. They were servants apprentices and household maids 

 An example of a cause of the French revolution is the dominance of Enlightenment ideas during that time. The thinkers of the Enlightenment wanted the best for their fellow citizens and to accomplish this, they openly endorsed revolution. These ideas of reason led the Third Estate to form the National assembly because they put faith in the people that they were the most important of France. While the upper classes wanted to keep their privileges and maintain the old ways, the Third Estate was no longer going to put up with being overruled because they were out-numbered. Also, the Enlightenment ideas became the basis to the declaration of rights of man. The document stated all citizens had natural rights and gave the French lower class a chance to rise to the level of the upper class.

The French Revolution was a very brutal time in history of France. Many innocent people were brutally and publically executed by the people themselves. It had many causes and effects on France. However, not all of these effects were good but its empact on French revolution was worthy to see.

Cause and Effects in the French Revolution:-

·        Causes of the French Revolution

Determining the cause and effect in the French revolution is not a simple matter. Like all wars and revolutions, there were a variety of factors and events that contributed to the climate before the French Revolution. While there are numerous factors that causes the revolution, there are a few keys and events and philosophies that were prevalent in the 18 th century that agree with a society was ripe for revolting. Here are the points of it.

1) Financial Crisis:-

The decadence of the monarchy, along with other factors like war and poor harvests, led to an extreme financial crisis in France during the second half of the 18 th century. People were going hungry and it appeared as if the monarchy just continued to spend carelessly. At the time of the Revolution, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were known for spending carelessly. Marie Antoinette is frequently credited with callously saying,

“Let them eat cake” in response to finding out that Parisians were starving. However, it is probably more accurate to say that she was in fact totally unaware of the people’s suffering. Louis XVI further added fuel to the fire by dismissing financial ministers who tried to bring about reform.

2) Social Inequalities:-

18 th century France was still under a feudal system which further served to breed contempt of the poorer classes towards the nobility. The king ruled as an absolute monarch although there was an Estates General. However even when the Estates general was called, it was organized in such a way that only those of nobility could truly have a voice. It was in this manner that the people were shut out. It was in this climate that the seeds of revolution were planted  and watered.

3) Influence of the American Revolution and Enlightenment:-

While it can be said that the American Revolution was the key factor in the French Revolution, the seed that the colonial uprising planted certainly cannot be ignored. The American Revolution ended in 1783, and the victory inspired much thought regarding the idea of a government that serves the people. The writings of Voltaire, and Rousseau were highly influential as they circulated throughout society, accessible to the common man.

·        Effect of the French Revolution

The effects of the French Revolution not only had long – lasting consequences for France but also for the rest of the world as Europe saw a rising middle class and Napolean Bonaparte’s rise to power.

1)      The Reign of Terror:-

While the goal of the French Revolution was in fact to establish a more democratic government that represents all people as opposed to just the wealthy and the aristocracy, the result really ended up being relative chaos. The Reign of Terror largely administrated by Danton and Robespierre, saw the beheadings of many members of  the royalty, including Marie Antoinette and countless others who were members of the French court or in some way considered a threat to new government.

2)      Napoleon Bonaparte:-

As France struggled under ineffective leadership that changed very little in the course of the daily lives of the peasants, Napoleon was able to return from a campaign in Egypt and relatively easily seize power with military help. Napoleon established what is known as the Napoleonic code. Perhaps the most far- reaching consequence of this was the establishment of the Napoleonic code. Essentially, the code made the legal system more fair to all in France regardless of religion or wealth.

3)      An Emerging Middle Class:-

Since the revolution essentially ended the feudal system in France, one effect that would greatly influence French culture was the emergence of a middle class.

·        Results of the French Revolution.

At last let’s see the outcome of the French Revolution…

The end of aristocracy and the beginning of the French republic

Decreased power of the church.

It ended the absolute Monarchy in France.

The regicide of king Louis XVI.

The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.

War between France and Prussia.

 Conclusion;

As the French revolution concluded the country adopted its slogan, “ Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” as a guiding principle for at least next century. The new government developed a constitutional system that shifted power away from from the nobility and its supporters. The devotion of the new republic to secularism led to the decimation of the catholic church in France. And its power, influence and aaserts declined from its pre-revolutionary height. After the revolution, the agricultural economy broke apart from large , nobility owned farms to smaller homesteads. In urban centers, entrepreneurship grew after the absence of barriers created by the monarchy and the nobility. Outside of France, many European countries, including Britain, Germany, and Belgium grew. The United States hostility towards France also grew.

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