The French Revolution, which began in 1789 and came to a conclusion with Napoleon Bonaparte's ascension in the late 1799s, was a turning point in world history. French voters fundamentally changed their country's political landscape during this time, toppling centuries-old structures like the monarchy and the feudal system. Disgust with the French aristocracy and King Louis XVI's economic policies—who, like his wife Marie Antoinette, died at the guillotine—were to blame for the upheaval. The French Revolution, despite the fact that it turned into a massacre during the Reign of Terror, contributed to the development of modern democracies by demonstrating the strength of the popular will.
French Revolution | Root causes and outcomes
Ø The French Revolution's root causes
It was clear that France had established itself as one of the richest and most powerful nations in Europe as the 1700s came to a close. France had elevated itself among the other European countries, even though the people in the lowest strata would never benefit from that position. The status quo, however, was unable to hold, and in a matter of years, the French Revolution would radically upend every feeling of normalcy that had long enveloped the nation. The King, his wife, and other people would eventually perish as a result of this Revolution. The Estate System, Absolutism, concepts from the Enlightenment, food shortages, and the American Revolution can be boiled down to five key causes.
The French Estate System was essentially a caste system that classified and ranked individuals according to their level of wealth and status. The 1st Estate was the top tier, and they were the most influential. The 3rd Estate included the poorest people who also had the fewest rights and paid half of their income in taxes. As the nobility and the church were at the top of the Estate System, this led to hatred toward them.
King Louis XVI exercised unlimited power over his subjects, a policy known as absolutism, which only served to inflame the resentment of the French people, 90% of whom belonged to the Third Estate. Louis XVI was convinced that his position came from God, and as a result, he had the right to continue holding the position of greatest authority in the nation.
Making sure that those in the upper social strata were taken care of and had enough food was a practice that Louis XVI frequently engaged in. The lower strata of society, on the other hand, were essentially hungry. Due to poor harvests, there was a low supply of bread and severe food shortages throughout the nation. Due to the high demand for bread and the scarcity of it, bread prices rose as well. The 3rd Estate supporters were more agitated and tense as a result.
Around this period, a lot of notions about how society and government should operate began to emerge. The Age of Enlightenment, or the time when thinkers favored rationality and science over tradition, would be the main source of these ideals. New concepts in the areas of democracy, equality, and government were supported by enlightened intellectuals.
The American Revolution, in which America successfully attained independence from Britain, served as an inspiration for the French people as well. This served as a model for a proper revolution and offered some advice on how a nation should rise up against its oppressor.
Ø outcome
• The Ancien Régime was overthrown, and a constitutional monarchy was established.
• The French First Republic was proclaimed in September 1792.
• Louis XVI's execution and the Reign of Terror
• Wars of the French Revolution
• The French Consulate was founded in November 1799.
French Revolution | Root causes and outcomes French Revolution | Root causes and outcomes
