The French revolution was a watershed experience in the history of France that began in the year 1789 and came to an end in the late 1790s. The citizens of France during this period redesigned the administrative landscape of their country (Lefebvre, 2015). The French revolution played a significant role because it implied important events that laid the ground for change from Feudalism in France. For instance, the constitutional monarchy was implemented, and the absolute monarchy in France was abolished as a result of the Tennis Court Oath and the French revolution. The calling for the Third Estate General by the Tennis Court Oath to take a vow and create a new constitution finally made the absolute monarchy antiquated.
The constitutional monarchy established was checked and controlled by a parliament and governed by a monarch. The system of the government allowed for the reduction in the influence of the upper class and increase of the powers of the lower and middle classes (Goodwin, 2016). The National Constitution Assembly published the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August 1989. This declaration was not precisely a new constitution but was mainly a draft of a future constitution. The publication of the constitution in 1971 was presented as the official constitution of France. Jacques-Pierre Brissot, who was a member of the National Convention and Legislative Assembly supported the idea of constitutional monarchy.
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There was a significant decline in the power of the church during the French revolution. Prior to this revolution, the official religion in France was Catholicism. Almost all the population in France was in Catholic because it was considered very powerful. However, much of this power was lost after the French revolution, and religious worship was not as meaningful as before. There was an attempt to abolish religion during the period of the Reign of terror (Goodwin, 2016). This attempt was made by the Committee of Public Safety by renaming of the religion landmarks, plundering religious buildings and creation of new calendars. There was also the establishment of “anti-religion campaign” which comprised of banning of both the private and public worship, capital punishment of the clergy and closing many churches. The activities carried out during this time were known as "dechristianization."
The power of the national state was unified and increased as a result of the French revolution. The precedent for a democratic government in French was set, and the feeling of French Nationalism was also enhanced. The French revolution paved the way for the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte who established the Codes of Napoleon (Lefebvre, 2015).These codes improved the fairness of the French legal system irrespective of religion and wealth. In contrast to other reforms by the inefficient leaders, the Codes of Napoleon had a more significant impression on the lives of the peasants.
There was the rise of political parties was also a consequence of the 1789 French revolution. Political clubs including Giirondin, Cordiliers, Fauvillants, and Jacobins were formed due to the freedom of association. The parties competed for power criticized bad government policies and kept it in check. Maximilien Robespierre represented the Jacobins in the National Assembly as the chairman of the Committee of Public Safety (Goodwin, 2016). Robespierre pursued a planned economy and active mobilization of war. French revolution also created parliamentary democracy because the parliament that had been non-existent for more than one hundred and seventy-five years was restored. France was given a functional government with democratically elected representatives. The French citizens were allowed to participate in the administration of their country
Many reforms including change of land ownership resulted from the revolution. Prior to the revolution, clergy, as well as the nobles, dominated the lands and they abused the peasants. The peasants were provided with a chance to possess the land because of the idea of private land ownership by everybody was promoted (Lefebvre, 2015). The lands that initially belonged to the churches were nationalized and then sold to the peasants. Charles de Calonne, appointed by King Louis XVI proposed a plan that would see the tax burden shifted to the businessmen and wealthy nobles to reduce the tax burden for the peasants.
The National Guard was formed on 13th July 1789 with Marquis de Lafayette as its commander with the aim of protecting the achievements of the French revolution. It was a revolutionary army that succeeded the royal guard of the Bourborn monarchy (Goodwin, 2016). About 700, 00 soldiers of the National Guard were well trained to ensure the people and their property were protected. Formation of the National Guard was a notable accomplishment of the French revolution.
The reign of terror was of great significance during the French revolution. This period began in 1793, and it was characterized by the mass executions of people who were considered to be against the revolution. There was also outbreaks of a series of violence during the reign of terror. The execution of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI also took place during the Reign of Terror hence becoming the symbol of revolution (Lefebvre, 2015). The reign of terror signified the worst of the violence experienced during the French revolution. However, it initiated a precedent for the planning of the future government. It also highlighted the need for liberty regardless (change word) of opinions, which would allow for opposition from different political fractions without the chaos that was caused by the reign of terror.
References
Goodwin, A. (2016). The French Revolution (Vol. 2). Abingdon: Routledge.
Lefebvre, G. (2015). The coming of the French Revolution . New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
