The Gallic Revolution Essay, Research Paper

During the late 1700? s, France followed in America? s footfalls towards their ain revolution. A major displacement in power would be seen within the short clip period of 1789-1799, and with it a big promotion off from the absolutist authorities of France. During the late 1700? s France was the most powerful estate in the universe. The effects of the state? s revolution would shortly distribute from France to the remainder of Europe and eventually ensue in a Continental war.The Gallic Revolution was based largely on the Third Estate? s desire to obtain autonomy and equality. France? s societal system was set up in such a manner that it was merely a affair of clip before a revolution took topographic point. The economic categories of France were set in three estates. The first estate was the church, or clergy, the 2nd estate was the Lords, and the 3rd estate consisted of provincials and the uneducated. France? s economic system allowed for the highest revenue enhancement of the 3rd estate while the clergy members were exempt from revenue enhancements, and the Lords paid little or no revenue enhancements at all. Peoples who are hungering and can hardly afford to last can merely pay so much before they refuse to pay any longer. It is non suprising that the 3rd estate was driven to immediate action with Louis XVI? s demand for higher revenue enhancements. Ideas of autonomy and equality sprang up with the oncoming of the American Revolution and paved a manner for the 3rd estate to alter France? s system of authorities. Philosophes such as Voltaire spread thoughts of reform that excited the provincials to believe there was a opportunity for a better life. Along with the societal causes of the revolution, economic and political events brought about the desire for alteration every bit good. Economic conditions such as hapless crops made the monetary value of nutrient rise to such high monetary values that half a worker? s rewards were spent on seeking to feed the household entirely. The revenue enhancement system took money from the provincials, yet they did non harvest any of the benefits that were supposed to come from their money. For Example, King Louis XVI lived such and excessive life that three per centum of the state? s GNP was spent on royal household life style. Wars besides played a major function in consuming the state? s financess. The cost of keeping a standing ground forces exceeded half of France? s expenditures. The revenue enhancements were non used nevertheless to better substructure, wellness installations, schooling, or general life of the 3rd estate from which all the money was being generated. These economic adversities set the phase for some major alterations in France. Louis Sixteen did seek, but was unsuccessful in reforming the political system of France. When King Louis Sixteen came into power, he realized that these jobs existed. Louis appointed a adult male by the name of Robert Turgot ease the fiscal crisis of France, but he had troubles when he tried to present a major reform. Turgot could non set up a alteration in the revenue enhancement policies of France. He was unable to present a higher revenue enhancement to the 2nd estate because the male monarch could non revenue enhancement the Lords unless the Parliament approved of the new revenue enhancement Torahs. The people in the tribunals that voted on these Torahs were the Lords, called Lords of the robe, and hence rejected Turgot & # 8217 ; s reform. After Turgot was rejected, the male monarch fired him from his office. With the economic jobs of France of all time increasing, Louis XVI summoned the Estates General in 1789. The Estates General was a council where each societal category could be represented. Louis convened the Estates General with the purpose on raising revenue enhancements even higher within the 3rd estate. However, the 3rd estate thought that they would eventually be able to show their thoughts about a national alteration that would advance autonomy and equality. When the Estates General met in 1789, the representatives from the 3rd estate outnumbered the representatives of the first and 3rd estates ( reflecting the societal category pyramid of the clip ) . When the male monarch realized this, he closed the doors to the 3rd estate members. Outraged by the involuntariness to hear their positions, the 3rd estate conv

ened in an indoor tennis court, declared themselves the National Assembly and made an oath not to leave until they had established a reformed government. This became the famous tennis court oath.So in 1791, the National Assembly brought forward a new constitution. It made France a limited monarchy and established a system of separation of powers. Under the constitution, the old distinctions between the clergy, nobles, and commoners disappeared. Few people were satisfied with the old constitutional monarchy, and Louis XVI, frightened by the actions of the National Assembly fled the country with his wife, but he was later arrested and brought back to accept the constitution. Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette were imprisoned and held powerless while a revolution destroyed the old system of government. The third estate had gained power, and leaders among them now took roles of government officials. With the overturning of power, Maximilien Robespierre came to power. In an attempt to stabilize the country under his control, Robespierre began what is now referred to as the ?Reign of Terror.? Robespierre?s time in control was backed by the power of the guillotine. Any person that posed a threat to the new standing government was executed immediately. Much like the Holocaust in the 1900?s, Robespierre?s Reign of Terror allowed for only those loyal to him to hold any kind of power. Robespierre was successful continued his reign of terror until 1794. By this time the French Revolution engulfed all of Europe. France was successful on all fronts, and slowly gaining world power. However, in July of 1794 Robespierre?s power was lost?he was executed by his own device of terror, the guillotine. With the end of Robespierre?s reign, a new form of government came to power. A five man executive committee known as the ?Directory? began to rule France. The Directory supported Robespierre?s objectives, yet their power was short lived as a brilliant young general, Napolean Bonaparte, seized power in 1799.The Napoleonic Era brought a sense of unity to France. This bold young leader quickly established a form of government of which he was in complete control. Napolean?s goals were completely personal and held little respect for what was best for France. He dreamed of global conquest, and continued France?s expansionist views by putting even more efforts in foreign fronts. While in power Napolean also established several beneficial systems that are still used in French society today. For this reason, it is argued as to whether Napolean was a hero or tyrant. There are arguments to support both sides, however, with his disregard for France?s goals to fulfill his own, Napolean is more easily shown as a tyrant. Napolean did view his goals as benefiting France though. His foreign policy consisted of conquering as much of Europe as possible and building France?s empire. Napolean gained a reputation throughout Europe that he was not to be trusted. Attacking every territory he could, Napolean soon over extended France?s empire and made too many enemies. His downfall was inevitable. After defeat from his allies, Napolean was abducted from his throne and banished to the island of Elba. But in one more glorious attempt to regain power Napolean escaped to France and once again tried to raise an army. His attempt failed and as he was jailed the Napoleonic Era ended, and with it the era of the French Revolution.The French Revolution was a drawn out era that has no definitive beginning. Though the first actions may have occurred in 1789, the causes of the revolution began long before that. Though the time that the revolution took place is not important, the affects have changed the course of European history. France?s revolution sparked a continental war while it also took its place with the United States to lead the way for future revolutions throughout the world. The far reaching implications of what the French Revolution became could never have been conceived by the poor peasants that took that Tennis Court Oath and vowed to change the government.