French Revolution

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French Revolution The French Revolution is known for its important changes of social and political systems in France. The best way to answer the question: ''How did revolutionaries seek to change the European social and political systems?'' is an example of the French Revolution. It is, because of the fact that the French Revolution soon became a model for other countries as one of the most popular rebellion against the government. It is true, that revolutionaries sought to change political and social systems. The best ways for these were rebellions and revolts. The population of France, in the 1780s was divided in three classes: the First Estate, the Second Estate and the Third Estate. The First and the Second Estates were clergy and nobles. The last class was made up of bourgoisie, rural peasants and urban workers. In France, 98% of population was the Third Estate. There were political and social inequalities among these three classes. The nobles and clergy (the First and the Second Estates) had special privileges and didn’t have to pay taxes. The common people (the Third Estate) had no power in politics and had to work hard and pay high taxes. At the same time, France started to fall in bankruptcy. It was due to deficit spending. The Seven Year’s war and the American Revolution added more debts to it. However, financial crisis wasn’t the only problem in France. Other economical troubles soon added to it. This trouble was bad harvest, which brought hunger to peasants. Arthur Young, who was a visitor to France, described it this way:

“Everything conspires to render the present period in France critical: the [lack] of bread is terrible; accounts arrive every moment from the provinces of riots and disturbances, and calling in the military, to preserve the peace of the markets.” (Elllis, Elisabeth Gaynor; Esler, Anthony; p.168)

King, Louis XVI had no other choice but to call the Estates General to solve these problems. In these meetings, each group had one vote and they voted separately. The First and the second Estate always outvoted the Third Estate. The Third Estate didn’t agree with this system and together they

2 formed the National Assembly. They wanted to write a constitution and invited delegates from other estates to help them. The French people were also very inspired by the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers and success of the American Revolution. It encouraged them to take the first step and on July 14, 1789 they stormed the Bastille. They killed six people there, but no weapons were found. After the Storming of the Bastille, economic problems of common people became worse. The price of bread increased. Many peasants were in panic. This period was later called, the Great Fear. Finally on August 4, privileges of nobles ended. Later, at the end of August, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was issued. It included basic rights, such as: freedom of speech, personal security and rights of property. However, the declaration didn’t say anything about the rights of women. Meanwhile, the king was losing his power. On October 5, women marched to Versailles, demanding and shouting the only word: “Bread!” The crowd forced the king and his family to leave Versailles for Paris and never to return. These events were followed by political, social and religious changes. In politics, the new constitution was released. It limited monarchy and the powers of the national government were divided among separate branches. The right to vote was extended to more than 50% of the male population. Social reforms included equal rights to all citizens, the elimination of guilds and granting the civil rights to all religious minorities. Religious changes were: the declaration of the freedom of religion, incorporation of the church within the state by the National Assembly and taking away special rights of clerics. National Assembly also put The French Catholic Church under the state’s control. At the same time, the king, Marie Antoinette and their children tried to escape from Paris, but failed. Louis and his family were escorted back to Paris. France had changed a lot, from 1791 to 1793. In 1792, the Tuileries was stormed by a crowd of Partisans. It was followed by the other outbreaks of violence. In 1793, the Revolution was in a radical phase. In January 1793, King Louis XVI was executed. Soon his wife’s execution followed.