The French Revolution
This essay intends to draw on the much similarity between the French
Revolution and the age of antiquity, more specific Ancient Greece. We
shall compare dominant figures of both the French Revolution and
Ancient Greece by using examples from writings from both ancient
literature and contemporary and giving direct examples to support the
ideas in this essay. Furthermore, this essay will discuss how similar
the emergence of democracy in Ancient Greece is to the emergence of it
in the French Revolution.
The French Revolution was the first modern revolution in history. It
is one of the most studied times in history. Many questions are asked
about how, when, and why this great revolution started. This essay
will explain the reasons for it starting by comparing this time of
history to Ancient Greece. First, the essay will outline the
government structure in Ancient Greece before democracy and after
democracy and thereafter the essay will outline some key points in
French Revolution and why it is similar to Ancient Greece.
In Ancient Greece before the Persian Wars, there were three forms of
governments: Oligarchy, tyranny, and monarchy. Oligarchy is a form of
government where a few wealthy people govern over all the others.
Monarchy is a form of government where a king or queen rules by
inheriting that particular title. Finally tyranny is where a tyrant
like modern dictators rule over people illegitimately. Two of these
three types of governments are well explained in Sophocles’ The
Oedipus Cycle. This book contains three plays in which they depict the
shift from monarchy to tyranny and finally democracy after m...
... middle of paper ...
...y touches upon a few points that are
believed to be vital in comparing this point. The French Revolution
killed the old regime and brought many other concepts to Europe and
even people that had nothing became something like Napoleon. However,
it is always important to look to the past in order to achieve
something in the future.
Bibliography:
Aristophanes, and Plato. Four Texts on Socrates. Trans. Thomas G.
West., and Grace Starry West. Ithaca, New York, 1988.
Lualdi, Katherine J. Sources of The Making of The West, Peoples and
Cultures. Vol 2. Boston, Ma.2001
Schama, Simon. Citzens. New York, Ny, 1989.
Sophocles, The Oedipus Cycle. Trans. Dudley Fitts., and Robert
Fitzgerald. Orlando, Florida.1949.
Thucydides, On Justice, Power and Human Nature. Trans. Paul Woodruff.
Indianapolis, Indiana, 1993.
The French and American Revolutions were derived amongst similar motivations to better their governments. However, they differ on other levels based on their actions and outcomes. The American and French revolutions both wanted its citizens to be viewed as equals, just as well as allow them to have some natural rights. Sovereignty however is, viewed differently by the two parties. The core reason for each revolution differs, but they both have the same ending results of a declarations document. Both documents are composed based off enlightenment thinkers John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government and Jean Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract. The Declaration of Independence was mostly Locke’s theory. While the Declaration of the Rights of Man favored both theories.
During the late 1700 's America and France were both having trouble with their nations people revolting against the government and Monarchy. They both had many similarities and differences between them during each of their revolutionary wars. A similarity is that they both Had their nations people fighting for their rights. For example, Americas people were fighting against Britain and king George III. While that happen before that for France revolution they are still very similar during the French revolution the people were fighting for control and said of the monarchy being under power.
People of France were suffering because taxes were high and food was low. “The King and Queen treat us unkindly.They treat us as if we are animals instead of humans.” stated a French citizen. On June 17 1789, rumors of King Louis sending the military force to attack the National Assembly, spread like wildfire. The French people were outraged and decided to rebel. This is now known as the start of the French Revolution. “I was on duty when it all went down. I was looking out the doors when I see this huge mob coming towards the Bastille.” said Bernard-Rene Jourdan. “ We were on our way to attack, but we realized we had no way of starting our guns and cannons without gun powder, so we went to the Bastille.” another French citizen stated. While
During the late 1700's, two great revolutions occurred, the American Revolution and the French Revolution. These two historical events happened at the same time, but had a great number of differences and very little similarity. When French Revolution occurred, it turned into a very violent and bloody event, while the American Revolution was almost nonviolent, aside from the war. In 1774, King Louis XVI made a decision that could have prevented the French Revolution by breathing new life into the French economy: he appointed Physiocrat Robert Turgot as Controller General of Finance.
The French Revolution evokes many different emotions and controversial issues in that some believe it was worth the cost and some don't. There is no doubt that the French Revolution did have major significance in history. Not only did the French gain their independence, but an industrial revolution also took place. One of the main issues of the Revolution was it's human costs. Two writers, the first, Peter Kropotkin who was a Russian prince, and the other Simon Schama, a history professor, both had very opposing views on whether the wars fought by France during the Revolution were worth it's human costs. Krapotkin believed that the French Revolution was the main turning point for not only France but for most other countries as well. On the other hand, Schama viewed the French Revolution as unproductive and excessively violent.
The Real Cause of the French Revolution For hundreds of years historians have tried to find out the real cause
During the summer of 1793, the radical phase of the French Revolution was intensified by the Terror, created by The Committee of Public Safety. The Terror successfully preserved the Revolution by weeding out counter-revolutionaries to eliminate corruption within the government and giving equality to all social classes which untied France under one government. However, these successes were undermined by the many failures of the Terror due to the oppression of citizens which would lead to many executions and the paranoid slaughtering of citizens from all social classes which led to the changes in support of the Revolution.
The later 18th century was a time of crisis for the old regimes of Europe and their economic systems and political agitation sometimes breaking out into revolts. English Industrial Revolution vaulted Britain to the fore. France was the most powerful and the most typical of the old aristocratic absolute monarchies of Europe. (lower taxes off backs of lower classes).
France was a nation ruled by an absolute monarch who had power beyond the grasp of any peasant, and just out of the reach of the aristocracy. King Louis XIV (1774 - 1791) of France was not willing to give up his monopoly that had existed for seventeen years. It was the perfect situation for his absolute government, and may have remained that way if he had been able to manage France’s finances successfully. More money had been spent on roads' canals and wars then were being collected through taxes. In addition the government lost control over the bourgeois class. The bourgeois (working class merchants) gained control by using the disorganized peasant class, members of the Third Estate, who presented their grievances in cahiers to the Estates General. The disbanding of the Estates General resulted in the formation of the new National Assembly governed by the Third Estate. This assembly wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens that described political changes and freedoms for the Third Estate. The constitution of 1791 also resulted in dramatic changes to the political structure. It, however, did not bring relief to those who most deserved it, the peasants. These events were the prologue to the French Revolution, the most important event in France’s history. The French Revolution was a direct result of overspending by King Louis XIV and Louis XVI, leaving France a financially unstable nation and ultimately resulting in a revolt by the Third Estate upset by the dwindling social and economic conditions.
The French Revolution began in 1789 and ended in the late 1790’s (staff). Just like the American Revolution the French Revolution started with new ideas of enlightenment. French citizens started to uproot everything that was considered normal, things such as absolute monarchy and the feudal system, they wanted to redesign everything (staff). Although a lot of the attempts failed people continued to try to make the change.
During the eighteenth century, France was one of the most richest and prosperous countries in Europe, but many of the peasants were not happy with the way France was being ruled. On July 14, 1789, peasants and soldiers stormed the Bastille and initiated the French Revolution. This essay will analyze the main causes of the French Revolution, specifically, the ineffectiveness of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, and the Enlightenment. It will also be argued that the most significant factor that caused the French Revolution is the ineffective leadership of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
During the late 18th century, both France and the British colonies in America experienced wars the opened the eyes of nations. The French Revolution and American Revolution drastically changed political thinking. In the French Revolution, monarchism was abandoned and political power was given to the people until the country became out of control, and a military dictatorship was necessary to regain control of France. In the American Revolution, a new nation was formed as the British colonies tore themselves away from the English monarchy. In the end, both France and the new United States of America moved away from absolute rule by a king or queen and wanted to put the political power in the hands of their people. However, there are many differences as well as similarities along the way to their political reformation.
The American Revolution was a war that was brought on to the British for miss treating the colonists and imposing taxes on them, which led to them revolting against the British. There are also significant events that led to the outbreak of the American Revolution, and each side had reasons for entering the war.
The French Revolution had many causes. According to the historian, French people revolted because they were, “intelligent, free, and prosperous to be critical of the existing conditions.” In other words, this historian is saying that the people of France knew what was going on in their country. I agree with this historian and this quote. There were conditions that existed in France the people were aware of. The ideas of the Enlightenment, social classes, and tax system contributed to the French Revolution. The French Revolution was based mostly on the Third Estate’s desire to obtain liberty and equality.
The French Revolution, which occurred from 1789 to 1799, was a time where the monarchy was overthrown, a republic was formed, and limits were put on the church. The French Revolution ended with the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The French Revolution created France’s legislative assembly, which is still in place today. Many would argue that the Enlightment was a cause of the French Revolution, but the Enlightment was not one of the main drivers for the Revolution. The bad living conditions, France’s monarchy, and the involvement in the American Revolution and other wars caused the French Revolution.