Causes of The French Revolution Essay Topics Text

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always use specific historical examples to support your arguments. although many accounts of the french revolution focus on the actions of the girondins and jacobins, nearly every major step of the revolution was incited by the sans culottes. A recurring theme throughout the french revolution was the idea that there is power in numbers, and the sans culottes represented without doubt the best example of the power of the masses. Although the national assembly was the governing body during the early stages of the revolution, it had little control over the symbolic events that incited revolutionary fervor, such as the storming of the bastille, the great fear, and the women rsquo s march on versailles. In fact, it was only in response to these spontaneous, unplanned events that concrete policy changes such as the august decrees were passed. Later in the revolution, the sans culottes continued to prove influential, as they were involved in the storming of tuileries, which led to king louis xvi rsquo s deposition, and stormed the national convention, which gave robespierre and the jacobins the opportunity to take control. Although the reign of terror and subsequent thermidorian reaction suppressed sansculotte activity later in the revolution, the decline was also due in part to diminished revolutionary spirit and apathy on the part of the government of the directory.

Nevertheless, in the crucial early and middle stages of the revolution, the sans culottes proved to be remarkably effective at forcing change mdash change that otherwise might not have occurred. Although the financial crisis of the ancien r gime was the immediate spark that set off the french revolution, which broader factors within france contributed to the revolution? in adhering to an outdated and essentially baseless feudal system, the aristocracy and monarchy of france provided the true impetus for the french revolution. In the years leading up to the revolution, france was riddled with unsustainable economic and cultural disparities: it showed a decadent facade to the world while actually facing catastrophic debt, and boasted some of the greatest minds of the enlightenment, though its populace was overwhelmingly illiterate and poor.

Perhaps most destabilizing factor was the growing class disparity between the emerging wealthy bourgeoisie and the old nobility. Despite the fact that the nobility were titled and the bourgeoisie were not, many of the bourgeoisie were far wealthier than the ldquo blue blooded rdquo but financially strapped aristocrats. As the nobility continued to try to claim special privileges over their hardworking bourgeoisie counterparts, it was inevitable that the bourgeoisie would grow angry and resentful.

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At the same time, discontent grew among the lower classes as landlords in the countryside continued to bind peasants to outdated, oppressive feudal contracts that were often difficult to fulfill. Simply put, with enlightenment ideas spreading through france in the late 1700s, it became increasingly obvious that the french nobility wielded a disproportionate amount of power and privilege for no apparent reason. The revolutionaries, with their cries of ldquo liberty! rdquo and ldquo equality! rdquo , sought to change that. Assess the validity of this statement: by attempting to escape from france in june 1791, louis xvi effectively destroyed the prospect of a moderate revolution resulting in the installation of a limited or constitutional monarchy. By definition, a constitutional monarchy needs two things: a constitution and a monarch. By late 1791, france had a constitution, as the national assembly had presented the new constitution of 1791 in september. Up until his attempted escape from france with his family in june 1791, king louis xvi had enjoyed vehement backing from moderates within the national assembly.

Jacques pierre brissot and his followers, the girondins, had sought a constitutional monarchy since the very beginning of the revolution mdash much to the chagrin of the radical democratic jacobins mdash and had constructed the 1791 constitution around the principle of limited monarchy. However, the fact that the king tried to run away from the very constitutional monarchy to which he had agreed made it clear that he had given up on the new government. This development made it difficult, if not impossible, for brissot and the girondins to defend their pro ndash constitutional monarchy stance. The jacobins, who had detested the idea of a king from the beginning, were able to take advantage of the girondins rsquo weakened position and take control of the government. With louis xvi having destroyed the credibility of the proposed constitutional monarchy, there was little to prevent the radicals from declaring france a republic, as the girondins could no longer justify any other feasible form of government. To what extent was the french nobility responsible for the crisis that destroyed the ancien r gime? 2.

What role did women play in the revolution? were they simply a reactionary force mdash as when bread shortages prompted a march on versailles mdash or an active part of the revolutionary public? 3. To what extent did the thermidorian reaction owe its success to the excesses of maximilien robespierre? 4. Make an argument as to which governmental arrangement mdash monarchial rule, the national assembly rsquo s constitutional monarchy, the national convention rsquo s republic, or the directory mdash was best suited to revolutionary france. What problems in france and beyond contributed to the rise of napoleon bonaparte? the major causes of the french revolution the french revolution overthrew the country's ancient monarchy, proclaimed liberty, equality and fraternity and fought off a hostile europe. The french revolution appears to have been the outcome of both long term and short term factors, which arose from the social and political conditions and conflicts of the ancien regime. The middle and lower class were becoming more conscious of their increased social importance and because the peasants were becoming more independent, more literate and prosperous that the old feudal freedoms and aristocratic privileges appeared all the more burdensome and intolerable for the struggling discontents of france. For more than one hundred years before the accession of louis xvi, france was the most powerful country on the european continent.

She had held this position for over 150 years, thanks to her fertile land, large population and many resources. However, the government had under gone periodic economic crisis, resulting from long wars, royal mismanagement, losses incurred in the french and indian war 1756 1763 and seven years' war 1775 1783 and increased debt arising from loans to the american colonies during the american revolution 1775 1783. The governmental system had worked reasonably well under louis xiv but had become impossible under his weak successors.

The government was corrupt and centralized and the king's authority had been slowly extended over the country. The third estate comprised of most of the population, ranging from rich businessmen to poor peasants. These members had no privileges and played no part in government and running the country.

Providence, ever watchful, well knows that this evil brood, the aristocrats, would always, in france, be like a bad seed growing on good land. As well as paying rent, they had to work free of charge for the local landowner on certain days of the year. They had to pay taxes to the government, like the taille and the gabelle salt tax , and tithes to the church.

Miserable, much arising from the minute division of their little farms among all other children. 5 tocquville believes the middle class were becoming increasingly richer and more conscious of their social importance. Further more, because the peasants were becoming free, literate and prosperous the old feudal survivals and aristocratic privileges appeared more vexatious and intolerable. The 'abbe sieyes' phamplet stated the third estate was everything in the sense it was a complete nation , which would survive without the other two orders. Communications were poor and economic life was sluggish and such improvements such as good harvest were being torn away by climatic deterioration and the rising population. With the misery of rural housing and the poor appearance of the peasantry were contributing to discontention throughout the land. 6 hours were long and the price rise of bread was considered the worst times for public order.7 when jobs failed they turned to the streets for begging.

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Other social and economic reforms initiated during this period included eliminating imprisonment for debt, introducing the metric system and abolishing the rule of primogeniture in the inheritance of land. An additional area that the revolution played an important part was that of religion.12 the revolution paved the way for the separation of state and church. The more fragile results of the revolution were symbolized in its slogan, liberty, equality, fraternity. These ideals became the policies of liberal reforms in europe in the 19th century and remain the present day passwords for democracy. The french revolution may be approved as an entire part of a permanent revolution whose origins are both economic and political. The marxist, which portrayed the revolution as bringing about the final end to the feudal system making the way for the emergence of the modern capitalist society. I believe the french revolution shouldn't excepted as a significant historical event.

Although the supreme power was transferred from king to nation and although the revolutionaries wanted to remove the obstacles to the development of a market economy, it appears that france in 1815 wasn't so very different to france in 1789. The french revolution is one of the foundation conscious and in civil status for jews and protestants. Competition for power had left bitter division within the elite and expressed the ambitions and goals of other groups, stones of coexisting political culture and the modern state. The french revolution's classic status can be a drawback, as it encourages us to think greatly about which historical research we don't support. The french revolution, however, created tension and an intense sense of insecurity throughout france.

It brought about a free society dominated by the middle class and landowners and it brought about great changes in the society and government in france. The above preview is unformatted text by: andrey bull 1,162 words bull july 13, 2010 bull 1,304 views causes of the french revolution of 1789 the french revolution of 1789 had many long range causes. Political, social, and economic conditions in france contributed to the discontent felt by many french people especially those of the third estate. The ideas of the intellectuals of the enlightenment brought new views to government and society. Their goals were to expose and destroy the inequalities of the ancient regime old order.