French Revolution Essay

The French Revolution began in a time where the clergy and nobles had to pay little or no taxes (not to mention their privileges) and now with the high price for bread and a lot of money spent on entertainment by the nobility (most of it taken from the poor) it was the perfect conditions for a Revolution. During the French Revolution the three most significant events were The National Assembly, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, and the execution of King Louis XVI.

The National Assembly and Tennis Court Oath were the beginning of events that made up the changes in society as a result of the French Revolution. Before the National Assembly, the “Parliament” known as the Estates General which was composed of three estates of social class. They each voted in blocs; meaning the 3rd estate, even though they were twice the size of the other estates could be outvoted 2:1. Eventually, the 3rd estate left and became the National Assembly where they made actual progress in creating changes in the Government as well as took the Tennis Court Oath, in which they would have to keep meeting until progress for the revolution was completed. The National Assembly also directed the course of the Revolution for the better, in the sense that if it didn’t happen, the revolution would have been stationary, unmoving. The positive events it led up to would not have happened like, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, the changes made in Versailles and Paris for example, the ending of serfdom and abolishment of the nobles feudal privileges, and the National Guard.

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A painting of the National Assembly taking the Tennis Court Oath

 

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen had a massive influence and an immense impact on the world. The Declaration of the Rights of man and the Citizen was one of the most significant because it’s never been conceived before, though yes, Britain had the Bill of Rights but, there were still many places, like France, that still used feudalism as their form of government. The colossal impact of this inspired the people, and frightened monarchs, across Europe and the effects last to even this day! Many countries have laws about equality and rights. Even when before Robespierre was executed, this happens much later on in the timeline, and the Committee of public safety was falling apart, they pointed out the Declaration of the Rights of man and the Citizen and thought something along the lines of, at least we got that done.

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The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

The execution of King Louis XVI was a turning point in the French Revolution because the king was executed and it led to many long term effects for the country of France. Including more executions for all. Eventually his wife, Marie Antoinette, too was executed, and all the executions eventually led to Marat’s Assassination that which eventually resulted in the Reign of Terror. It effected the course of the Revolution, because if he wasn’t dead the Moderates could have had a constitutional monarchy. The extent of the immediate impact of fear from the Royalists and the excitement of the Radicals was massive upon Europe as well as this effect lasted for a long while. To be honest, there was really no reason to execute the king, they had already dethroned him, but yet the effect was still enormous.

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The execution of King Louis XVI

There you have it, the three most significant events of the French Revolution. To recap, The National Assembly, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, and the execution of King Louis XVI. These events that took place inspired Equality, Liberty, and Fraternity around the world, and the effect still lasts to this day. This is what made them become the most significant events of the French Revolution.

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