Why Did the French Revolution Take Place, and its Effects – A Study
Introduction:
The French Revolution was one of the most important revolutions in the world history. It was a series of events that began in 1789. It began when the Bastille prison was stormed by Parisian citizens on July 14, 1789. The event sparked a revolution that altered the course of French history, government, and the world. It changed the way people in France and in other countries around the world lived their lives. It also changed the way governments in France and other countries were run.
The French Revolution began when the country was under the rule of the King of France, the French monarchy. It was a complex and turbulent period of French history. It started by the French King Louis XVI’s arrest in 1791, followed by the arrest of his wife, Marie-Antoinette by the French Revolutionaries, a group of radical thinkers and politicians who wanted to overthrow the monarchy and create a democratic republic. The French Revolutionaries were led by Maximilien Robespierre, a member of the French Senate. The French Revolutionaries used the ideas of the Enlightenment, which was a period of time in which people in France and other countries were interested in learning new things and thinking for themselves instead of listening to their rulers and elders. In 1792, a national uprising prompted by the king’s imprisonment led to the execution of the king and queen. The subsequent Reign of Terror was a series of violent, bloody events, during which thousands of political prisoners were executed without trial. It was the most significant event in the history of France and one of the most important events in modern world history.
Reasons Behind the Revolution:
The French Revolution was caused by a series of complicated events that began in France and spread across Europe and the world. There were many reasons for the French Revolution, but the three most important were i) the ideals of the Enlightenment, ii) the bloody repression of the “Bastille” (a prison), and iii) the “whiskey rebellion” in 1791.
- i) The ideals of the Enlightenment:
The writings of Jean-Jaques Rousseau, Voltaire, Locke, and Montesquieu influenced the commoners of France. Their works questioned the social structure and absolute monarchy. The feudalism was at stake and common people started to oppose the social hierarchy openly. The revolutionary ideas were discussed and debated upon in common gathering places. These ideals primarily initiated the upheavals and disruptions in the then society.
- ii) The bloody repression of the “Bastille”:
The fort Bastille was becoming the prison of liberal thinkers and social dissenters. Gradually the repression on the prisoners turned to be unbearable. All the imprisoned people unified forgetting their respective creed and class. The sufferings of Bastille-captives earned the sympathies of the common people. Though this fort was decided to be demolished due to its high maintenance cost somehow it survived and turned into a prison. As the time passed on, this fort became the emblem of royal suppression. Naturally it became the common target of mass to uproot the monarchy in the country. The rage resulted into armed attack on Bastille on 14th July of 1989. This attacked officially marked the beginning of the great French Revolution.
iii) The “whiskey rebellion” in 1791:
The whiskey rebellion took place in the United States of America in form of a violent protest against the Federal Government that imposed tax on domestic product. It began in 1791 and continued till 1794.Though the Whiskey rebellion did not take place in France or it did not have any direct connection with the country, it surely ignited the action of the French rebels. The message of protesting and questioning the absolute authority was conveyed beyond the boundaries of United States. This event fanned the rage of common Parisians and had immense impact on them.
Effect of the French Revolution:
Because of the French Revolution, the United States government and many other governments around the world were changed. The French Revolution began in France when the king, the ruler of France, was executed. This led to the overthrow of the French monarchy and the creation of the French Republic, a government led by the people. The French Revolution also led to the creation of a new French constitution.
The French Revolution is one of the defining moments in world history. It was a complex, chaotic period that ultimately changed the world. It began as a series of protests and rebellions, but eventually evolved into a dictatorship and an empire. It is remembered for its violence and its leaders, but also for its ideas and its achievements.
The French Revolution was a crucial and future defining event in modern history. Over one million people died as a result of the revolution, which changed the course of Western civilization. This essay has discussed the background to the French Revolution, the causes of the revolution, and the consequences of the revolution. It has shown that the revolution was a key moment in the development of modern democracy and has provided background for the French Revolution and the causes of the French Revolution in a nutshell.