Above is a slideshow of the major people and events of the French Revolution.
"A Struggling Nation, A Struggling People": Causes for the French Revolution
Although the French Revolution began in the late 1780s, the factors that attributed to the revolution itself began years earlier. At the time France was an absolute monarchy, and the common people had grown frustrated by the lack of adequate leadership by their king, Louis XVI. King Louis XVI had, along with previous kings, pushed the nation further into debt. In fact, the nation itself was on the verge of bankruptcy.This debt problem was mostly attributed to involvement in the wars overseas, as the French had aided the colonists' fight against Britain in the American Revolutionary War. The nation itself was falling apart at the seams, as thousands of French were starving after grain prices grew to high for the peasants to afford. This rising grain price was attributed to numerous unsuccessful harvests. The worst of all is that the royal family seemed to ignore the fact that their people were starving, as displayed by Marie Antoinette's ignorant and infamous line,"Let them eat cake!"
Lack of government assistance was not the only aspect of French government that frustrated the common people. In fact the majority believed as if the entire government needed to be overthrown and a new government body to start anew. These feelings originated from the Enlightenment in which authors like Montesquieu and Rousseau discussed "popular sovereignty." "The Social Contract", a book of philosophy said to help inspire political revolution was the work that most directly impacted the Revolution as a whole. It is said that life in society is corrupt and that only man can fix it, and in order to fix it all men must join together to defeat the common enemy. Other writers fueled the Revolution with words as well, in a secret society known as "Grub Street, in which struggling writers risked censorship in order to continue the revolutionary cause.
A common question asked is, " Why the common people did not simply force the king to abdicate his throne and give the crown to another royal family member? "There answer is quite simple, and it explains the general discontent with the french government body. The governing style was a combination of absolute monarchy and feudalism, both of which kept people stuck in their social class.If a person was born a peasant, they would remain a peasant, no matter the skills they possessed. The new goal was to have people be employed by talent and merit, not where their family stood politically, socially, or economically. Another problem with the system of government was the enormous gap between the rich in the poor. The nobles seemed to mock the common peasants with the opulent Palace of Versailles, as it showed they had more interest in personal matters than that of the country.
Although the French Revolution began in the late 1780s, the factors that attributed to the revolution itself began years earlier. At the time France was an absolute monarchy, and the common people had grown frustrated by the lack of adequate leadership by their king, Louis XVI. King Louis XVI had, along with previous kings, pushed the nation further into debt. In fact, the nation itself was on the verge of bankruptcy.This debt problem was mostly attributed to involvement in the wars overseas, as the French had aided the colonists' fight against Britain in the American Revolutionary War. The nation itself was falling apart at the seams, as thousands of French were starving after grain prices grew to high for the peasants to afford. This rising grain price was attributed to numerous unsuccessful harvests. The worst of all is that the royal family seemed to ignore the fact that their people were starving, as displayed by Marie Antoinette's ignorant and infamous line,"Let them eat cake!"
Lack of government assistance was not the only aspect of French government that frustrated the common people. In fact the majority believed as if the entire government needed to be overthrown and a new government body to start anew. These feelings originated from the Enlightenment in which authors like Montesquieu and Rousseau discussed "popular sovereignty." "The Social Contract", a book of philosophy said to help inspire political revolution was the work that most directly impacted the Revolution as a whole. It is said that life in society is corrupt and that only man can fix it, and in order to fix it all men must join together to defeat the common enemy. Other writers fueled the Revolution with words as well, in a secret society known as "Grub Street, in which struggling writers risked censorship in order to continue the revolutionary cause.
A common question asked is, " Why the common people did not simply force the king to abdicate his throne and give the crown to another royal family member? "There answer is quite simple, and it explains the general discontent with the french government body. The governing style was a combination of absolute monarchy and feudalism, both of which kept people stuck in their social class.If a person was born a peasant, they would remain a peasant, no matter the skills they possessed. The new goal was to have people be employed by talent and merit, not where their family stood politically, socially, or economically. Another problem with the system of government was the enormous gap between the rich in the poor. The nobles seemed to mock the common peasants with the opulent Palace of Versailles, as it showed they had more interest in personal matters than that of the country.
The Revolution Begins and Ammendments are Made
The National Assembly's Power grew incredibly quickly after its creation. Within a month's time the Assembly garnered many supporters and created its own National Guard to defend itself. The problem was, however, that they did not have any gun powder, and needed to steal some. In order to do this, they needed to storm the Bastille, a large prison that was believed to house the entirety of Paris's gunpowder supply.That is why on July 14th, a mob went to Bastille in hopes of raiding its supply. A battle ensued but the Assembly won, and in turn, released all of the prisoners and beheaded the governor. July 14th is now recognized as French Independence Day as it marked the beginning of the French revolution.
The invasion of the Bastille caught international attention as demonstrated by the letter to the the right.
It marked the first time the common people tried to overthrow their current government. This differed of course from the American revolution because the United Sates were colonies were an extension of the mother nation.
Around this time, peasants began to be empowered by the prospect of a new form of government. During a time known as the "Great Fear" they began to ransack and burn the home of landowners and tax collectors. This led to an exodus of French nobles, who feared that they two would be plundered of their goods. By August, feudalism was abolished, which goes to show how quickly the overthrow of the French government was.
Also in August of 1789, the National Assembly wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. It was written under the belief that the denial of a man's rights were the sole cause for corruption in the government. In summary it protects the rights of men so that they can pursue liberty, and be free of oppression. This Declaration later served as the preamble for the new French Constitution.
The National Assembly's Power grew incredibly quickly after its creation. Within a month's time the Assembly garnered many supporters and created its own National Guard to defend itself. The problem was, however, that they did not have any gun powder, and needed to steal some. In order to do this, they needed to storm the Bastille, a large prison that was believed to house the entirety of Paris's gunpowder supply.That is why on July 14th, a mob went to Bastille in hopes of raiding its supply. A battle ensued but the Assembly won, and in turn, released all of the prisoners and beheaded the governor. July 14th is now recognized as French Independence Day as it marked the beginning of the French revolution.
The invasion of the Bastille caught international attention as demonstrated by the letter to the the right.
It marked the first time the common people tried to overthrow their current government. This differed of course from the American revolution because the United Sates were colonies were an extension of the mother nation.
Around this time, peasants began to be empowered by the prospect of a new form of government. During a time known as the "Great Fear" they began to ransack and burn the home of landowners and tax collectors. This led to an exodus of French nobles, who feared that they two would be plundered of their goods. By August, feudalism was abolished, which goes to show how quickly the overthrow of the French government was.
Also in August of 1789, the National Assembly wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. It was written under the belief that the denial of a man's rights were the sole cause for corruption in the government. In summary it protects the rights of men so that they can pursue liberty, and be free of oppression. This Declaration later served as the preamble for the new French Constitution.
The Influence of the Revolution
The revolution did not end with the fall of the monarchy. Rather, for five years the French struggled to determine what would be the best system for their people. It eventually ended with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, a French general who later declared himself emperor. Even though the revolution did not go as planned, it is safe to say that it had an enormous impact on the remainder of Europe. The French revolution made them realize that revolution was possible, and that even the weakest of people could one day lead the nation.That, combined with growing Idealist philosophies, influenced people throughout Europe to remove their absolute monarchs are create a fairer and more just government. It convinced people to "Aim higher in case you fall short." (President Snow) so that even if they fail, they at least did it for the common good. In fact, Hunger games: Catching Fire highly resembles the French revolution, as the common people fought against the tyranny of the Capitol or King, and eventually succeed.
The revolution did not end with the fall of the monarchy. Rather, for five years the French struggled to determine what would be the best system for their people. It eventually ended with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, a French general who later declared himself emperor. Even though the revolution did not go as planned, it is safe to say that it had an enormous impact on the remainder of Europe. The French revolution made them realize that revolution was possible, and that even the weakest of people could one day lead the nation.That, combined with growing Idealist philosophies, influenced people throughout Europe to remove their absolute monarchs are create a fairer and more just government. It convinced people to "Aim higher in case you fall short." (President Snow) so that even if they fail, they at least did it for the common good. In fact, Hunger games: Catching Fire highly resembles the French revolution, as the common people fought against the tyranny of the Capitol or King, and eventually succeed.