...To what extent was the French Revolution of 1789 a bourgeois revolution? The French Revolution was a revolutionary movement which signified the end of the ancien régime and the increase of the ‘bourgeois’ class. However, it is still a long debated topic of interest when it comes to the idea if the French revolution was a bourgeois revolution or did other events come into play. Throughout 1787 and 1789 ‘one step led to another through a series of moves and counter-moves that later proved to have been an escalation’ of problems already highlighted earlier on in the history of France. To begin with, we analysis the idea presented in the original question of to what extent was the French revolution of 1789 a bourgeois revolution. When it comes to the events that led to the French Revolution ‘the origins must therefore be sought not merely in the general conditions of Europe, but in the specific situation of France’. This was due to the ongoing conflict between the ‘vested interests of the old régime and the new rising social forces’ which were much more prominent in France. These new rising social forces are more than likely the bourgeois class so this clearly highlights the fact that the French revolution was indeed to with if not caused by the bourgeois. It has also be stated that the French revolution was purely down to an uprising which instated the ideology and literally actions which allowed the ‘middle class to assume power by overthrowing the political and social order...
Words: 1749 - Pages: 7
...The French Revolution The book that was reviewed is titled “The French Revolution: William Doyle”. It addresses some of the causes of the French revolution and the effects it had. The French Revolution is known as one of the most significant events in the world’s history. Its impact hardly can be overvalued due to globally caused implications. Therefore, it is considered as generally valid birth of civilized principles. Appropriate analyzing requires plenty of items considering. However, there is the try to outline the most significant causes and effects of great historical event. Let’s start with the causes of the French Revolution. A major cause was social injustice and class inequalities. 18th century in French history was the time of feudal abutment. Naturally that is accompanied by different rights and duties for its members. The division of French society members was provided by Estates. In fact, prerevolutionary France experienced three of them: first, second and third estate respectively. The contrast between them was too significant and frustrated the lowest class. The first most privileged Estate was for about 2 percent of the entire population. At the end of scholastic influence era, the power of the Church was unrestricted. As for corresponding benefits, the Estate was out of tax duty. Moreover, the Church was authorized for income tithe claiming. Curiously enough, this minority owned more than 15% percent of France’s lands. The second Estate was nobility. As well...
Words: 1411 - Pages: 6
...countries. The French Revolution was a war that began in 1789 and ended near the late 1790s. The French Revolution was one of the bloodiest times in European History. The immediate main cause of the French Revolution was the frustration from the French people with the king’s lack of care for the citizens. Living conditions were declining completely. Along with living conditions, the country had a terrible financial situation. Throughout history and even today we have seen time and time again that when a country has no money, they tend to struggle completely. The French...
Words: 700 - Pages: 3
...The Age of Enlightenment The self-proclaimed Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was a period notable for its substantial cultural and scientific developments, that took place mainly during the eighteenth century. It was a time when the scholarly class of Western Europe left behind Church dogma in the process of formulating philosophical ideas as well as scientific theories. It was substituted with reason. Notably, political ideas that were extremely radical for the time propagated throughout Europe and eventually led to the revolutions of France and the United States. Also, modern science further implanted itself into the mainstream. The roots of the entire movement date back to the time of the great Ancient Greek philosophers and scientists, specifically to such great thinkers as Aristotle and Plato. In Western Europe, from the time of the Middle Ages until then, Aristotelian science had remained the extent of scientific knowledge. It had long been lost due to the chaos of the Dark Ages, but it was “rediscovered” in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries through contact with Muslim influence and Byzantine scholars. During the late years of the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment, scholars set out to improve upon Aristotelian and Platonic ideas. [1] The Renaissance gave a basis for the Age of Enlightenment to continue on. The Humanist movement during the Renaissance started to slightly move away from the Church. Although most Humanists were...
Words: 2105 - Pages: 9
...The Impacts of the French Revolution Latisha Wilson His 104 Professor Irene Geisler 6/17/13 The French Revolution was motivated by many origins. Many French people were displeased by the political, social and economic disorders, especially those of the third estate. The philosophers of the enlightenment changed publics’ points of view of government and society. Their goals were to expose and destroy the inequalities of the old order. The enlightenment ideals emphasized the idea of natural rights and equality. The enlightenment which was a period of where new ideas were spread throughout France often criticizing absolute government and the injustices of society. Enlightened thinkers believed that through reason humanity could advance into a new and better world. The Philosophers of the enlightenment were a vast political cause. They spread the idea that everyone should be equal. They tried to apply reason and the scientific method to laws that shaped human activities. John Locke believed that people have three natural rights. Life, liberty and property. The most impressive of the philosophers was the writer Voltaire. He fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious beliefs, and freedom of speech. Montesquieu wrote about separation of powers, dividing power among to separate branches of government. Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote in favor of human freedom. The enlightenment movement opened up citizen’s minds about positive change, respect for a person’s place...
Words: 790 - Pages: 4
...OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT (18th century) The 17th century was one of the most stormy periods of English history. The growing contradictions between the new class, the bourgeoisie, and the old forces of feudalism brought about the English Bourgeois Revolution in the 1640s. As a result of the revolution the king was dethroned and beheaded and England was proclaimed a republic. Though very soon monarchy was restored, the position of the bourgeoisie had changed. The 18th century saw Great Britain rapidly growing into a capitalist country. It was an age of intensive industrial development. New mills and manufactures appeared one after another. Small towns grew into large cities. The industrial revolution began: new machinery was invented that turned Britain into the first capitalist power of the world. While in France the bourgeoisie was just beginning its struggle against feudalism, the English bourgeoisie had already become one of the ruling classes. The 18th century was also remarkable for the development of science and culture. Isaac Newton’s discoveries in the field of physics, Adam Smith’s economic theories, the philosophical ideas of Hobbes, Locke and others enriched the materialistic thought and implanted in people’s minds belief in great powers of man’s intellect. It was in this period that English painting began to develop too: portraiture reached its peak in the works of William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds as well as Thomas Gainsborough, who was equally...
Words: 1140 - Pages: 5
...countries, particularly Industrial Revolution and French Revolution. Certainly, trends in European culture altered together with the changes in people’s outlook and way of life. In the very beginning of the nineteenth century, people changed their perception of the reality. This transfer from Classicism to Romanticism was indisputably the continuation of the processes that dominated in the society of that time. People were tired of the inviolable order that reigned in their life. Almost all countries were monarchies. It meant that life of people was limited and subjected to the kings’ rule. People were oppressed and did not have their needs satisfied. These were the main causes of the French Revolution in 1789 and the Industrial Revolution in England. The aim of people to be free in their opportunities and to raise the living standard drove them in their struggle. Thus, all these events show that people wanted to escape from the established order and, perhaps, to abstract from the daily routine and to pay more attention to their feelings and inner world. The Age of Enlightenment that ruled in the eighteenth century was also called the Age of Reason. The reason was considered the basis of all due to it science developed rapidly. However, despite the irrefutable benefit of this period in Europe’s history, the lack of attention to human soul was tangible and prevented the society from the spiritual development. Thus, we can say that Romanticism was a trend that reflected people’s...
Words: 564 - Pages: 3
...terror of the guillotine – the French Revolution has all of the ingredients of an engrossing drama. Yet to delve beneath the surface of these characters and symbols is to discover the complexity of this transformative era. The events of the French Revolution, transpiring over the span of a decade, were part of a grander Age of Revolutions and at the same time were comprised of a series of smaller stories of individual French citizens becoming politically engaged amidst tremendous poverty, intellectual transformation, and ultimately... violence. A combination of factors including rising expectations spurred by the Enlightenment, massive starvation, and frustration with the mismanagement of an inept monarchy pushed the Revolution’s initial aims. These aims were worn down as political conflicts splintered revolutionary groups and led to a frenzy of executions by guillotine. The special two-hour presentation, The French Revolution, peels through the layers of these remarkable years, from 1789 through the turn of a new century, to reveal an era of intense and lasting political and intellectual change. While the complexity of the French Revolution might seem to present daunting challenges, its significance in shaping international currents merits a careful exploration. Within the course of a decade, the French monarchy was shorn of its political power, a framework was created for a universal understanding of basic human and civil rights, and countless French citizens across class backgrounds...
Words: 2819 - Pages: 12
...Name Institution Professor Date The French revolution began in 1789 until the late 1790’s. This revolution was an influential period of political upheaval in France with various social aspects. The French revolution was mainly inspired by radical and liberal ideas altering the course of modern history. The revolution triggered the decline of absolute monarchies and theocracies then replaced them with democracies and republics (Hibbert, 1999). The revolutionary wars unleashed global conflicts that extended from the Middle East to the Caribbean. This revolution was later termed by historians as being one of the greatest events to occur in the human history. Historians debate amongst themselves the causes of the great French revolution, based on the compound nature of the situation. After the American Revolution and the seven years’ war, the French government was deep in debt and thought of restoring its financial status trough the introduction of taxation schemes (Brown, 2008). Privileges enjoyed by the aristocrats and the clergy were resented after bad harvests hence also leading to the revolution. Enlightenment ideals were in demand for change of the situation at hand that resulted in the convocation of estates general and took place in May 1789. Members of the third estate took control in the first year of the revolution that saw the declaration of the right of man being passed, assault on the Bastille and the march of women Versailles...
Words: 2944 - Pages: 12
...birth of the enlightenment movement. Deemed the age of reason due to the scientific revolution that occurred, a shift from the mystic to scientific fact occurred. Despite this shift in beliefs, mysticism was still present due to the methods that were used to spread scientific discovery also allowed for the spread of mystic ideologies. According to Sir Micheal Drummett, a British philosopher, mystics objects such a Tarot cards, thrived during the eighteenth century into the early nineteenth century. Tarot cards were able to be incredibly popular during this time because of the social climate of the long eighteenth century. In order to understand why Tarot was popular during the long eighteenth century, one must look a...
Words: 1762 - Pages: 8
...Reaction _____ 1. _____ 1. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____ 6. _____ 7. The British government usually left American colonists to make their own laws pertaining to local matters. American colonial trade was severely crippled by British trade laws. The European Enlightenment had little influence on the thought of American colonists. Because they were part of the British empire, colonists were constantly involved in England’s imperial wars with France and Spain. Parliament taxed the American colonists as a way to express its authority over them, not because it needed. the money. Colonists protested the Sugar Act and Stamp Act as violations of their rights as Americans. Colonists protested the Tea Act because it threatened to raise the price of tea. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____ 6. _____ 7. LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading Chapter 3 you should be able to: 1. 2. Define the basic assumptions of the British colonial system and describe its operation. Assess the impact of the Great Awakening and Enlightenment on the spiritual and intellectual life of the colonies. 42 3. 4. 5. Describe the relationship between the French and Indian War and the coming of the American Revolution. Trace the course of key events...
Words: 4419 - Pages: 18
...Hammurabi’s code was the main cause of law and government. This was the first real form of government. Both are a way to control citizens of a nation. The laws and government are a source of a criminal and court system. The criminal and court system created by Hammurabi’s government was a major cause of the reparations in Germany for war crimes. If there was no criminal or court system, there wouldn’t be a need for the reparations or even the war crimes themselves. Cave art was the earliest known form of written interaction. The cave drawings led to honing drawing and painting skills which led up to modernization of art. The modernization of art led up to romanticism. Romanticism led up to and was a major role in the renaissance. Drawing and...
Words: 2743 - Pages: 11
...Throughout the years since the French Revolution and, more specifically, the Reign of Terror, the name Maximilien Robespierre has become associated with those of tyrants and oppressive rulers. His image has been crafted with the likeness of a ruthless, bloody dictator, leader of the Jacobins, who sent thousands of French citizens to the guillotine. Such a man was vilified by his contemporaries and is still treated as such by much of prosperity, and his political agenda is regarded as that of a tyrannical leader. However, this is an unfair demonization of Robespierre, for his true beliefs and ideals mark him as a man who ardently believed in the revolutionary cause, and was willing to do what he could to elevate the rights of men in France. Maximilien de Robespierre was not corrupt and tyrannical as popular belief makes him out to be, but instead a revolutionary who acted in the name of democracy. The first of many accusations against Robespierre derives from the popular notion that he had enough power and authority during the Revolution to be properly labeled as a tyrant. This was not necessarily true. Far from wielding the power of an authoritarian dictator, or even a monarch, the only true position of power that Robespierre had ever held, aside from the presidency of the National Convention, was as a member of the Committee of Public Safety. The Committee of Public Safety consisted of twelve men who presided over the security of the new French Republic against both foreigners...
Words: 2028 - Pages: 9
...France The French Revolution (French: Révolution française; 1789–1799) was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France that had a fundamental impact on French history and on modern history more broadly. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed within three years. French society underwent an epic transformation, as feudal, aristocratic and religious privileges evaporated under a sustained assault from radical left-wing political groups, masses on the streets, and peasants in the countryside.[1] Old ideas about tradition and hierarchy regarding monarchs, aristocrats, and the Catholic Church were abruptly overthrown by new principles of Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality and fraternity). The royal houses across Europe were horrified and led a countercrusade that by 1814 had restored the old monarchy, but many major reforms became permanent. So too did antagonisms between the supporters and enemies of the Revolution, who fought politically over the next two centuries. Amidst a fiscal crisis, the common people of France were increasingly angered by the incompetency of King Louis XVI and the continued indifference and decadence of the aristocracy. This resentment, coupled with burgeoning Enlightenment ideals, fueled radical sentiments, and the French Revolution began in 1789 with the convocation of the Estates-General in May. The first year of the Revolution saw members of the Third Estate proclaiming the Tennis Court Oath in...
Words: 1958 - Pages: 8
...Exam 2: Chapter 28-32 Atlantic revolutions (American, French, Haitian, Latin America) Rise of nationalism Industrialization Global transitions: the americas, the ottoman empire, Romanov Russia, Qin China, Japan. Global empires. Atlantic Revolutions: In the early modern period (1450-1750. Period of early European exploration and contact. It caused the establishment of european commercial empires. Primary tributary, it focused on trade, and some settler comics. This caused there to be “nation-states”, in tern proto-industrialization in europe (innovation) Europe started into three major processes: Revolution, (and nationalism) Industrialization Imperialism Lastly the Rise of the “nation-state” Age of Enlightenment (1650-1780’s) There were plenty of forward thinkers. Each was moving toward science as the new way of thinking. They used the application of universal laws of the natural world to social world. They valued ration over revelation. The government was as a contract. The ideas of Freedom, equality and sovereignty were held as the highest. The belief was to move forward in progress. French Revolution (1789-1799) The aim was to abolish the monarchy that was in france, it ultimately failed. It was far more radical than the American, but still failed. Mostly because they had no idea how to run a government. Whereas the Americans had some knowledge about their own rule. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) Declared himself emperor and attempted to bring...
Words: 3255 - Pages: 14
