The French Revolution is considered one of the most significant periods in Western Civilization. Gamboni (2013) observes that the revolution, characterized by social and political changes with profound consequences to France and her colonies lasted between 1987 and 1799. The revolution reached its peak under Napoleon Bonaparte. Moreover, French citizens, dissatisfied with the policies of King Louis XVI sought to redesign the political landscape of their country. They dismantled the old institutions like the absolute monarchy and the feudal system that dominated the country for centuries. King Louis XVI who had lost the trust and confidence of his subjects due to his poor economic policies was executed by the guillotine. His wife, Marie Antoinette, suffered a similar fate as her husband. The French Revolution failed to realize all the goals set. However, it was critical in contributed immensely in shaping the social, economic and political structures of the modern states by stressing that power belongs to the people.
The French Revolution is regarded as a watershed event in world history because it triggered the abolition of existing absolute monarchies at the time. The revolution reshaped the course of world history defined by the establishment of republics and democracies where the power of the people to rule through their elected representatives was embraced. It is important to note that at the later stages of the revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence as a powerful leading figure of the revolution and asserting him as one of the most influential people in European history. France later morphed into a dictatorship under Bonaparte. However, the French succeeded in sending a strong message to the world that power indeed belonged to the people.
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The actual cause of the French Revolution is a complex subject causing a great debate among historians. Nevertheless, history scholars concur that the involvement of French kingdom under the leadership King Louis XVI in the American Revolution and the Seven Year’s War are the bases upon which the revolution was fomented. The French suffered massive economic effects by taking part in the two events. For instance, the regime was left reeling under a heavy weight of debt and in response to this, resorted to extremely unpopular taxation models that many people viewed as regressive. The French administration incurred huge losses in its attempt to challenge the naval and commercial might of Britain in a protracted war that turned costly to the country. France lost its colonies in North America and experienced severe damages to its navy. French forces, under the stewardship of King Louis XVI, reestablished themselves.
Driven by the desire to revenge for the loss of their overseas colonial possession to the British, they resolved to offer financial and military support to the American revolutionaries.
Following the French intervention in the American Revolution, thirteen gained independence but the country was left with a huge debt burden to carry. This massive fiscal crisis compelled King Louis XVI to institute taxation policies that turned out to be unpopular and exploitative to the people. To worsen the already bad situation, the year preceding the revolution, the French economy was on its knees characterized by lack of adequate food to feed to its large population. Poor harvests and inefficient transportation system rendered the practice of growing food for the people a costly affair. On the social front, the gap between the rich and poor continued to widen despite the poor shape of the economy. Members of the upper social class were always assured of a comfortable life. The rich continued growing their wealth while the majority grappled with severe starvation. The act of masses’ decision to disrupt the status quo serves to underline the importance of the people in the prosperity of nations (Rude, 2014).
Enlightenment ideals served to fuel the course of the revolution. Writers and publishers played the role of informing and shaping sentiment while the opposition figures capitalized on the literature to rally people against the monarchy. This led to the repression of the underground by the reigning monarch. The revolution also exposed the king’s failure to assert his power. Despite the fact that it was an absolute monarchy, Mitchell (2013) notes that King Louis XVI was regarded as often indecisive and easily caved when subjected to immense pressure. There are many cases where opposition figures managed to compel thwart the king to implement necessary changes. The French people also expressed their displeasure with the state capture by the Catholic Church. The church played a key role in the formulation and execution of public policy, a situation that irked many people.
Additionally, the Queen, Marie Antoinette, was considered to be extravagant. While her subjects were facing severe challenges, the royal family led a lavish lifestyle. This greatly incensed the masses and strengthened their resolve to uproot the ruling monarch. The Catholic bishops were extremely aristocratic and this led to the popular demand for equality and fairness in the Kingdom. This clamor for changes is regarded as the moment when the French felt the need for a republic (Simon, 2015). King Louis’ decision to dismiss ministers who seen to oppose his policies served to deepen the people’s angst towards his rule. Jacques Necker, in particular, was loved by the people and had proposed a raft of measures that would create an economic setting that accommodated everybody thereby abolishing the feudal system. Consequently, he was popular with people and his dismiss drove the regime to imminent fall.
The fall of the French monarch began with the storming of the Bastille fortress. This was regarded as the symbol of the power of the monarch and contained a huge cache of weapons. The fall of the Bastille after many hours of combat illustrates the capitulation of the monarch. Petrified and alarmed by the massive wave of violence, King Louis XVI agreed to back down though temporarily. The revolution thus strengthened the power of the power of the people to assemble as avenues through which popular movements are developed to compel ruling powers to listen to grievances of the people.
Women equally played a crucial role in the revolution. The women, united by their resolve to force the government to address their economic plight particularly the reduction in bread, organized a match on the Versailles. The women further demanded that the king stops his efforts to prevent the establishment of the National Assembly and the regime to relocate to Paris. The city officials gave the women insufficient responses which led to over 7000 women, carrying cannons and smaller weapons marching to the Versailles. They finally managed to force the monarch to move to Paris. This move legitimized the National Assembly. This move illustrates that the revolution received the backing of all the members of the society who felt the ruling monarch had failed in their obligation to improve their living standards (Le Bon, 2017).
Courtesy of the revolution, the Roman Catholic Church transferred land to the State. Previously, the church had controlled about 10 percent of in the monarch. Additionally, the church was exempted from paying taxes. There emerged voices which advocated for the establishment of a regime that was not dominated by the Catholic ideals. The throne and alter enjoyed closeness in the years leading to the revolution as their apparent destruction would pave way for a new power order. The enactment and subsequent adoption of the Constitution of 1971 marked a dramatic shift of considerable power from the absolute monarchy to the power. Essentially, this signified that the people were finally getting the power to make decisions regarding how they should be governed by members representing the provinces. Constitutions, therefore, serve as the basis upon which the people’s power is anchored. There interests and aspirations for their country thus find a home in the constitutions.
In summary, a critical evaluation of the factors that led to the French Revolution amplifies the belief the people are the sole custodians of their sovereignty. The revolution, therefore, laid the foundation for other revolutions across the world which gave rise to the republics that exist today. The revolution emphasizes the integral role played by people’s constitutions in determining the relationship between the government and the governed. Governments function properly when they inculcate the wish of the people in their decision is a vital lesson that the French Revolution taught the modern the states. Significantly, republicanism thrives on power vested in the people and exercised through representatives under the legal guidance of the constitution.
References
Gamboni, D. (2013). The destruction of art: iconoclasm and vandalism since the French Revolution. Reaktion Books.
Le Bon, G. (2017). The crowd. Routledge.
Mitchell, W. T. (2013). Iconology: image, text, ideology. University of Chicago Press.
Rude, G. (2014). The crowd in history: A study of popular disturbances in France and England, 1730-1848. Royal College of General Practitioners.
Simon, R. (2015). Gramsci's political thought: An introduction. Lawrence & Wishart.
Videos:
https://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution/videos/robespierre-and-the-reign-of-terror
https://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution/videos/bastille-day
https://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution/videos/coroners-report-guillotine
