The French Revolution And Why It Was Good

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History and Anthropology: The French Revolution and why it was Good

Introduction

It cannot be denied while it is a fact that the French Revolution played a huge and crucial role in the process by shaping the modern nations and communities through showing the entire world the power inherent in the people and nations’ will, it benefited its people and later institutions in different ways and aspects. It means that the French Revolution has benefited almost every person and the later institution up to a very high extent.

In addition to it, the main purpose of this essay is to elaborate and state that what is the French revolution and why it is good. While in detail, the essay covers how the French Revolution benefited its people and community and later institutions.

French Revolution

The French Revolution was a watershed event in the history of modern Europe or modern European history that started in the early days of 1789 and finished or ended in the 1790s. This event ended with the ascent of Napoleon Bonaparte. During this period, the citizens of France redesigned and razed the political system and landscape of their country and regions, uprooting the old institutions of the countries like the absolute monarchy and feudal system (Hunt, N.P). The upheaval was mainly caused by the widely spread discontent with the French monarchy and the weak economic policies and approaches of King Louis XIV who meet his death by the guillotine as has done by his wife. Even though it failed to accomplish all of the objectives and goals and at the times degenerated into a chaotic bloodbath. The French revolution can be found playing a huge and crucial role in the process by shaping the modern nations and communities through showing the entire world the power inherent in the people and nations' will (Verhoeven, N.P).

How the French Revolution Benefited its People and Later Institutions

The monarchy history in Europe communicates the story of the oppression of the people and every individual and the presence of inequality between the majority and aristocrats. The authority and ability to control lives and absolutism had not allowed for the public or individuals to participate in the politics (Hunt, N.P). Additionally, this was only till Enlightenment in the 18th century where the French public and people started to realize that change is important and necessary.

With new thinking approaches and a strong increase in literacy, individual empowerment and support started an increase and started to grow to an unprecedented level that led to a strong revolution against the government that was highly oppressive. Furthermore, the French revolution could be found acted as a prime and big example of how the empowerment of the people can amend or change both formal and informal institutions of French society and community into equality and democracy (Higonnet, P.p. 99).

The monarchist of France ruled from the period the Romans withdrew in the 4th century well and in a fine way to the 18th century. Each of them had been found acting as a figurehead of the nation and country where they served the people and the public in the thought and hard situations and infrastructural developments. Many and even most of the kings ruled with the general intent for the purpose to help the people and country. But on the other side, some had been found to become obsessed with the grandiose status of monarchy. Further, most of the monarchs had authority and power over the operations of the military and even the entire state. This was with the result of sharing some of the power with the Catholic Church. In fact, no-one had the power like the Louis XIV, who started his region in the mid of 1661 and reigned/ruled as an absolute monarch who ruled and controlled the entire area or land and power in the French region (or France) after loosening ties with the Church. Louis was able by herding every powerful aristocrat to have an eye or watch on all operations of the state thereby restricting anyone else to yield the authority and power (Verhoeven, N.P).

Beyond that, the spending of the Louis Lavish on the development and improvement of infrastructure of the country and personal affairs raised and lead to high taxes on the people of France. In short, the people and even the entire community of France lived in quiescence and poverty coupled with the stagnation of the land control under the system of medieval feudal of the medieval feudal system and food shortage (Higonnet, P.p. 99).

Proceeding further, after that time, Enlightenment in Europe, France, and the U.S. in the late 17th century and early days of the 18th century started an intellectual revolution. Starting among some of the greatest thinkers and decision-makers of that time such as Lock and Voltaire etc., it got spearing to the public and every common individual throughout the area and region which further made readily and timely available by the pamphlets. The Enlightenment beliefs and rise of the France of Enlightenment beliefs have been attributed as the literacy rate got raised during that particular period. The rise of France attributed to the Enlightenment though as the pamphlets had been written in the French language almost for every individual to read and understand. Hence, as a result, the people and society engrossed themselves in the new ways and approaches of thinking and analysis regarding oneself, themselves as individuals, and about their countries that had been supported and facilitated by their capabilities and competencies to read and understanding of propaganda pamphlets (Hesse, N.P).

Furthermore, the people and institutions (later institutions) had been benefited in many other ways. It is a fact that there was the existence of an inability of people to read and that was acting as one of the major barriers or problems to the development and empowerment of people, particularly those who had been ruled and controlled by a despotic monarch. But as the French Revolution had ensured a revolution of educational attainment or the French Revolution led to enhanced educational attainment, the people had been made able to think on their own, to develop agency, and get the ability and competency to get and defend their rights. It means that the French revolution benefited its people and community in a way that it empowered them through educational attainment and strengthen them mentally. While this further led to the empowerment of later institutions as well.

In addition to the above facts and statements, at the beginning of the French Revolution, the perception of citizens about the oppression spread and increased by the Enlightenment pamphlets. As well as, the citizens of France rose to take the step or action against the aristocrats, commanded and led by Louis XVI. This was advanced and promoted by the self-determination of everyone oppressed or oppressed people and important "confidence and consciousness" in French people or individual's power (Verhoeven, N.P). This occurred and came to see at the time when people started to have a level of consciousness and high-level confidence in their revolutionary thoughts.

Furthermore, the increase and spread of Enlightenment concepts also assisted the people of France to lower the 3rd dimension of power and authority that was held by King Louis XVI. This was also an incredible way through which the French Revolution benefited its people a lot. In detail, the 3rd dimension of power shows the occasionally unknown and subjective power and authority that affect the beliefs and thoughts or views of individuals.

In terms of benefiting the later institutions by the French Revolution, there are many shreds of evidence and facts that the institutions had been benefited a lot. It means that one can have numerous details, facts, and evidence if he or she wants to know how the French Revolution had benefited its institutions. In mid of 1789, the people of Paris were hoping that their readiness to compete for their freedom (individual freedom) would be symbolized even by them (Hesse, N.P). As a result of the show of physical fight and force as well as diplomatic fight and force, King Louis XVI approved/accepted to convert the monarchy (absolute monarchy) to the constitutional monarchy, finally. As an addition to it for better understanding, the constitutional monarchy is the monarchy where the kingship and even its power works only as formality while the power parting/separation will be mainly among the power elite and aristocracy. While on the other side, democracy will come in some time as after the Terror and Revolution. Hence, this amendment in the formal institution of power (the political system, laws, and structure) in the region of France have been escorted by the privileges' lessening of the aristocracy and monarchy, mainly with the elimination of the tax exemption among the ironic community and rich or financially strong people (Higonnet, P.p. 99). Therefore, it can be stated that the French Revolution benefited both the people and institutions (especially the formal institutions) in this way.

Likewise, the declaration and announcement of Rights of Man and the Citizen in 1789 also approved and gave full and formal rights and power to every individual man, not to be invaded or overstepped on or by the government body.

The impacts of the Revolution were also felt in the daily lives of the citizens and informal institutions of France. This was due to the political and social impacts of the Revolution. The average citizen was empowered through the efficient use of public action, and the notion of nationalism. The ideals of the age of enlightenment focused on the philosophical beliefs of quality, democracy, and fraternity. With the abolishment of the monarchic system, people were given the rights to their lands that were once the property of their governing nobles. Furthermore, the circulation of ideas was done through pamphlets that helped to promote the spirit of nationalism and pride in the general public at the time.

To conclude, the French Revolution benefited its people and later institutions because it stemmed in the empowerment and improvement of the status and lives of the citizens of France. This is so because French citizens got their rights, human rights, and had been allowed to have an active role and part in political system or politics (Hunt, N.P). Very unfortunately, this came at a very high price as a lot carried away with radical concepts regarding government body, and French community and society and began The Terror where thousands of lives had been lost to refute democracy (Higonnet, P.p. 99). That is why the revolution also acts as a critical warning to some. But, this also worked as a catalyst for the democratic reform in the European region and promoted Enlightenment, its ideals, and clarified and ensured the significance of a person in community and society and key role and importance of institution (both formal and informal) for change and agency.

Work Cited

Hesse, Carla. "The other Enlightenment: How French Women Became Modern." Princeton University Press, 2003.

Higonnet, Patrice. "Sociability, Social Structure, and the French Revolution." Social Research 56.1 (1989): 99.

Hunt, Lynn. "Politics, Culture, and Class in the French Revolution: with a New Preface." Vol. 1. University of California Press, 2004.

Verhoeven, Wil. "Americomania and the French Revolution Debate in Britain, 1789–1802." Cambridge University Press, 2013.