Revolution: the Cost of France's Liberty

Evaluate the view that revolutionaries consolidated power: Introduction Following the French Revolution, the National Convention and Robespierre as the head of the Committee of Public Safety, employed drastic measures to achieve their goals, however managed to successfully consolidate power as demonstrated by the overall success of the revolution. Whilst the revolution itself was a momentous undertaking, nothing was quite as dramatic as the execution of King Louis XVI that was orchestrated by the National Convention. “The king must die so that the country can live.” This ushered in a new era in France’s history and meant the revolutionaries would have to work hard to secure power given the hostile reaction to the execution by both internal and foreign threats. The day after Louis XVI fell victim to the guillotine the Convention created the first Republic of France and founded the Committee of Public Safety which was to become France’s new de facto executive government to deal with ever increasing external threats to the revolution. Under Robespierre’s radical leadership the Republic endured hard-fought years of power.

The French Revolution 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.

The divisions comprised of the Clergy, the Nobility and the Commoner, with little representation of the commoners who were the majority. As such, the commoners sought for equal rights and representation. However, though the revolution was marred by vast bloodshed, it significantly achieved its goals and significantly transformed France; with significant impacts in Europe and globally. The National Assembly members took an oath at the Tennis Court, vowing to create the new constitution in 1789 (Barnes 507). Causes of the French revolution During the Enlightenment era, the people of France had become conversant of their rights.

The American Revolution showed that they got economical and political freedom from Britain. This liberalism sparked many revolutions in Europe ,but in France the ideas of the Enlightenment and liberalism were put to their fullest test. The French people wanted rights and would later get these. Another reason was that the old regime was ineffective and it abused its power. The immediate causes of the French Revolution were that the Estate-General had to convene.

A revolution, by definition, is the overthrow of one government followed by replacement with another. The American Revolution against the British during 1775 to 1783 and the French Revolution pitting the French people against their own government during 1789 to 1799 were both very important political and social turnovers. This movement towards the establishment of a constitutional government influenced political thought throughout the world. By closely examining three of the main causes of these revolutions, it is clear that although the two revolutions have their differences, the basis of cause for the revolutions have, overall, much stronger similarities. One of the main causes for the revolution and essentially what started it was the inefficiency of both governments and the oppression they placed upon their nations.

The ideas of starting wars and liberating the people lead to new governments and success in economy. The ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers interested the people of America and France to upgrade their lifestyles. Every aspect of life from religion to capitalist economy led to the sparks of these revolutions and the differences of the two made them so significant. Works Cited Andress, David. The Terror: The Merciless War for Freedom in Revolutionary France New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005 Humphrey; Carol Sue, ed.

The French and Industrial Revolution encouraged numerous people of different groups, wealth, classes, jobs, etc to push toward the goals and liberties that they thought they were entitled to; while some received what they wanted and were pleased, others did not and resented any more revolutions. England appeared to be an exception to all the violence and destruction that France needed to make reforms as it passed acts and laws peacefully, benefiting a large of people who protested. Bountiful elements like wealth, power, and unfair treatment contributed to creating what is known as the “Age of Revolutions”. First, in both England and France, many were upset with class disputes. Arthur Young, being a British traveler in France who got to see the hardships first hand without bias, said “The abuses attending the levy of taxes… a cruel aggravation of their misery, to see those who could best afford to pay, exempted… more than 300 were reduced to beggary (Doc 1).” Young does agree that the one’s who could afford to pay “The rolls of the taille, capitation, vingtiemes, and others taxes” did not and the peasants who could barely... ... middle of paper ... ...wanted resulted in the changes made by this reform.

Through the revolution, the French aspired to do away with the traditional philosophy retained through the practices of the old monarchy. Also, the French rebelled because of the persecution inflicted by the existing government. At the time in France, social equality before the law was non-existent and corrupt government officials were prevalent. Poorer citizens were forced to carry most of the tax burden while the monarchs enjoyed lavish lives. The peasants, consequently, despised the rich and carried out an assault ... ... middle of paper ... ...estore their rights within it” (Doc ___).

The French Revolution was caused primarily by the Enlightenment and national debt. The people were not happy that country was not moving forward with the rest of the world. They desired change and that change would only come by one means, a revolution. In this revolution, the people wanted liberty and equality for all. The American Revolution played an essential role in the start of the French Revolution, since French aided the American Revolution by “sending its navy and troops to aid the rebelling colonists” (France History - Causes of the French Revolution).

One of the main causes of the Revolution was the issue of the estate system in conflict with the desires of the social groups (i.e. nobility and th... ... middle of paper ... ...gainst the British monarchy in 1776, it encouraged ideas, such as taking arms against a tyrannical action, as well as inalienable liberties for all (i.e. John Locke). These ideas, as well as many others proved to have an everlasting impact on the cause of the French Revolution. Contributing to the final outcome, many diverse factors played significant parts.