An major turning point in the history of Europe is the French Revolution of 1789, which had a significant impact on the world at the time. The rebellion of the people against the despotism of the king was the first significant uprising at that time.
In the process, it gave rise to concepts of liberty, equality, and fraternity that spread beyond the borders of France and had an impact on the whole of Europe.
In addition to bringing about changes in the political, social, and economic lives of the people, the revolution also had an impact on the overall trajectory of the history of the globe.
In the 18th century, France was a feudal society that was ruled by an absolute monarchy. This was one of the political factors that led to the French Revolution. The royal palace of Versailles was the place where the Bourbon rulers of the time resided in splendour. The finances of France were in a state that might be described as dreadful.
Following the several wars that France had been engaged in, the treasury was almost completely depleted of its funds. It was impossible for King Louis XVI to steer France through the political and financial crisis that the country was experiencing. The Austrian princess Marie Antoinette was accused of frittering away state funds, and she was held accountable for her actions. Corruption and autocracy were hallmarks of the government.
Economic and social problems: The social conditions in France were just as upsetting as the country’s political infrastructure. There were three distinct classes or estates that existed throughout French society. The privileged class, which included members of the clergy and the nobility, was referred to as the first estate and comprised the second estate, respectively. Within the framework of the government, these two estates were granted a multitude of privileges and were exempt from the need of paying taxes.
The French aristocracy was able to monopolise all of the major posts in the governance of the country and maintain a lavish lifestyle. People who were considered to be common made up the third estate. People from the middle class, peasants, craftsmen, labourers, and agricultural labourers were all included in its membership ranks. Even members of the wealthy middle class, such as business owners, factory proprietors, and others, were included in this group. The third estate was responsible for bearing the whole cost of taxes. These taxpayers, however, did not have any political rights.
The poor working conditions of the craftsmen, peasants, and labourers were very deplorable. Those who were considered to be peasants were required to put in lengthy hours of labour and pay distinct taxes to the Crown, the Church, and the nobles. The amount of money they had left over after paying all of these taxes was hardly enough to feed themselves. Because of the enormous taxes that they were had to pay, the rich middle class was resentful of the advantages that were enjoyed by the aristocrats and the higher clergy, sometimes known as the first two estates. Workers, peasants, and members of the middle class who were harmed by the existing social and economic system expressed a desire to see improvements made to it.
The revolutionary concepts of liberty and equality that were proposed by French thinkers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu were a source of inspiration for the general populace. Montesquieu advocated for the division of powers and said that he did not believe in the concept of the Divine Right of Kings. In his work titled “Social Contract,” Rousseau made the declaration that the desire of the people was the source of sovereign authority.
Influence of the American Revolution
The victory of the Americans in their struggle for independence inspired the French people to rebel against their exploitation by the nobility, the church, and the state. This was a direct result of the American Revolution.
One of the primary factors that led to the beginning of the Revolution was the fact that the government was in the process of entering bankruptcy. As a result of the significant amount of money spent on the military during the Seven Years’ War, the nation’s coffers were completely depleted.
Additionally, France had been of assistance to the American colonies in their fight for independence from Britain. This contributed to the already enormous debt that the government owed. For the purpose of covering the expenses associated with the upkeep of a variety of government offices, law courts, colleges, the army, and other institutions, the state was compelled to increase taxes.
It was advocated by a number of capable ministers that the aristocracy be taxed. However, the aristocracy were not willing to foot the bill for taxes. From a condition of desperation, Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General, also known as the French Assembly, on May 5, 1789, in the hopes that it would provide him with the necessary sum of money. In the past, voting in the Estates-General had been carried out according to the concept that each estate would be given one vote.
Suppression of the Bastille
At this point, the third estate insisted that the voting process be carried out by the Estates-General as a whole, with each member having one vote. It was estimated that there were 600 members of the third estate, while the first and second estates each had 300 members. Following the rejection of the third estate’s request by Louis XVI, the members of the Estates-General stormed out of the ceremony. After some time had passed, the third estate made the announcement that they were the National Assembly instead. It was the resolution of the National Assembly to design a new constitution for France that marked the beginning of democracy and the end of absolute monarchy in France.
Aside from the National Assembly, the ordinary people of France had made the decision to rebel against injustice. They were motivated by the values of liberty and equality, and they had made this decision along with the National Assembly. On July 14, 1789, thousands of people assembled in the streets of Paris together with the intention of breaking into the Bastille, which was the state jail at the time. They went into the jail and put the inmates out of their confinement. It was decided to demolish the Bastille, which was a symbol of a monarchy that was oppressive.
Within the context of the history of the French Revolution, the fall of the Bastille is a significant significant milestone. On July 14, 1789, France celebrated the day when it gained its independence. This document, known as the “Declaration of the Rights of Man,” was approved by the National Assembly on August 12, 1789. The statement included the following: “Men are born free, remain free, and are equal in rights.” The composition of the Constitution was finished by the time the year 1791 came to a close.
It was in the year 1792 that the French monarchy was overthrown, and France was transformed into a republic that upheld the ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity instead. Initially, a temporary government was established. During the year 1793, the Jacobins, a political faction that was considered to be extreme, were given the ability to exercise administrative power.
The Robespierre
Robespierre was the head of their group. He gave instructions to put thousands of people who were considered “enemies” of the Republic to death. In the course of this “Reign of Terror,” thousands of innocent Robespierre individuals were executed by guillotine on the grounds that they were suspected of treason. A number of traitors, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, were executed by guillotine in the year 1793.
The monarchical nations of Europe were taken aback by the death of Emperor Louis XVI and his Queen, which they thought to be a shocking event. In the year 1793, the European countries came together to create a coalition against France. The moderate leaders in France gained momentum following the death of Robespierre, who was the first French president. In the years 1795–1799, authority was exercised by a Directory that consisted of five directors. The ineffectiveness of France’s government during this time period caused the country to experience a tremendous deal of unrest.
The Revolution in France
When it came to fighting the European alliance and gaining the faith of the people, the Directors relied on the military might of Napoleon. After gaining popularity, Napoleon seized power and abolished the Directory. It was in December of 1804, that Napoleon made the proclamation that he was the “Emperor of the French.” A legal cloak that had been covering republicanism was removed.
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