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Renaissance to French Revolution

What was the revolution? Background of French Revolution. Causes and its stages.

In between 1789 to 1799 the formation of colonies started and it was considered as the sudden change in social as well as in politics. This revolution leads to the overthrow of the system of Monarchy and its decline in different elements of Europe and all these are inspired by liberal and radical ideas.

Background – French Revolution of 1789

Involvement of France within the American War of Independence of 1776 was an expensive affair that left the country in a very state that is close to bankruptcy. Extravagant defrayment additionally done by  King Louis failed to facilitate matters.

A universal property tax was planned by the controller general, Charles Alexandre DE Calonne towards the end of 1786. Just like the priesthood and also the nobility as had been the case for hundreds of years, this tax reform would not exempt the privileged categories. To pass these measures the King summoned the Estates-General which was an assembly that portrayed the French nobility priesthood and also the bourgeoisie. The year 1614 was the last time the Estates-General was called.

Revolution of 1789 : Causes

1.Social – Within the late eighteenth century the social conditions in France were extraordinarily unequal and explicatory. In French society the priesthood and also the nobility, fashioned the primary two Estates and were also the foremost privileged categories. The normal public does not have any view on politics and political and any social rights they were pressured to pay high taxes. This results in a situation where they were extraordinarily discontent.

2.Economic – The State coffers were empty as a result of varied wars waged by Louis XVI.  The commons were  additionally burdened with taxes whereas the privileged categories were exempt from paying taxes.

3.Political – A lifetime of obscene luxury was lead by the Bourbon king of France, Louis XVI was an especially autocratic and weak-willed king. This created a great deal of edification among the lots who were leading a lifetime with extreme poorness and widespread hunger.

4.Intellectual – An aware refusal by French thinkers of the ‘Divine Rights Theory’ has been marked in the eighteenth century.  The paradigm of absolute autocracy was rejected by philosophers like Rousseau and they  published the philosophy of equality of man and sovereignty of individuals. 

Stages of French – Revolution

Stage I – The meeting of the Estates-General

 In terms of population, the increase in the number of  non-aristocratic members over the aristocrats and there was a possibility of losing by the opposite two bodies. Members of the commons (as the non-aristocratic category was known) began to mobilize the support of equal vote rights which might get on the idea of head and not by standing before the meeting of the Estates-General on might five.

Stage II – The revolution Begins

At Versailles the National Assembly continues to meet. While the population of Paris was scared and were overtaken by violence.Regarding an imminent military coup, speculations went around. This led to an insurgency in which the Bastille fortress was captured on July 14 th, 1789. From here the French Revolution started.

Stage III – Rights of Man : Declaration

On August 4th, 1789 the National Assembly adopted the Rights of man and of the citizen. They are based on democratic principles, which were taken from philosophy and were based on great thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau political views the charter was grounded on. On August 26th, 1789 the declaration was put forward.

On September 3rd, 1791 the constitution was adopted which symbolized a new society was found in France where the king holds powers in a limit along with an assembly which is modern wielding the foremost power. But for the radical components of the assembly like Georges Danton and Maximilien de Robespierre, who demanded a trial of the king and an additional republican variety of government, this was not enough.

Stage IV – Reign of Terror

When Louis XVI was attacked by the insurgents in the royal palace in Paris, this was considered as the flip in the revolution in August, 1972. Many people that were accused of being the ‘enemies of the revolution’ were massacred in Paris in the next month to August 10th, 1792.  King Louis XVI , on January 21st, 1793 was sentenced to death and his wife, the queen also died 9 months later.

Stage V – French Revolution : The End

The National Convention, currently are formed by the people who managed to stay alive during the Reign of Terror on August 22nd, 1795 had approved the creation of a fresh constitution that created France’s bicameral legislative assembly. 

French Revolution : The Significance

Because of the rise of new ideas steeped in liberalism, enlightenment and democracy, the revolution is thought to be the turning point in modern history. The French armies carried their idea throughout Europe through several wars as they wanted to protect the idea of the Republic. It impressed the common people in Europe to get on their own feet.  The revolutions would continue into the early years of the 19th century and result in the downfall of  many absolute monarchies everywhere in Europe.

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Mention the main cause of the French Revolution?

Ans:Despotic rule of the King of France, division of French society, rising costs, inspiration of the philosophers, etc were the main causes of the...Read full

Mention the impacts of the French revolution?

Ans:The French revolution played a significant role in establishing democratic establishments like elections, representative government, and consti...Read full

Who was the father of the French Revolution?

Ans:The father of the French Revolution was Jean-Jacques Rousseau.