How Did The Enlightenment Influence The French Revolution

695 Words2 Pages

The Enlightenment sparked movements towards better societies, involving a massive revolution towards study of the sciences, arts, and philosophy. The ideas sparked ideas within soon-to-be leaders, as with the leaders of the American Revolution, such as Benjamin Franklin. The Enlightenment made people of France realize that their society is due for a reconstruction of authority; to rebuild their society to be more “rational.” One of the earliest incidences of the Revolution was the revolt against the Revellion wallpaper factory. The owner said he would be increasing wages while the bread prices were soaring. The workers who were of the Third Estate, naturally, were greatly angered and took arms to revolt. Jobs and privileges were allowed to …show more content…

Initially, politicians planned to use him for their goals. But Napoleon had his own plans. Napoleon was a strong supporter of the Revolution since the Storming of the Bastille, and he favored the Jacobins and Republic rule. As the victories stacked up, he became more of a leader. He eventually crowned himself emperor in 1804. He dominated Europe and France from 1799 to 1815, and spread nationalistic feelings all over Europe. He controlled prices, encouraged new industry, set up a system of public schools (under strict government rule to ensure well-trained officials and military officers), and built roads and canals. Although he was a fair leader, he saw his men as expendable for his cause. Among his lasting reforms was the Napoleonic Code, which were laws that embodied Enlightenment principles. Despite this, Napoleon valued order and authority over individual rights. He ruled for a fair while, but suffered losses after he became over-confident. Although he was defeated at Waterloo and he died in 1821, his legacy lived on. He sparked nationalistic feelings across Europe and sold the Louisiana Territory to America in 1803. The Quadruple Alliance of Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain worked together to suppress future revolutions and maintain a balance of power, and held a Concert of Europe that met periodically to discuss grievances and any possible violations of peace. Europe would see war on Napoleonic scale nearly 100 years later in 1914 during the Great

Open Document