Ideas previously not even dreamed became acceptable in principle such as 'the right to take up arms against tyranny, that no taxation without representation should be allowed, that a republic is indeed superior to a monarchy and that liberal freedoms should belong to all men. (Hilton, 2005) "Discontent was becoming more general and vocal" and as well "was no longer confined to one section of society
" (MSN Encarta Encyclopedia, 2005) The Beginning of the Revolution The French Revolution began in the summer of 1789 and is said to have, "stirred the imagination of nearly all Europeans." (Hooker, 2005) Further stated is that the causes of the "French Revolution are complicated, so complicated that a debate still rages among historians regarding origins, causes and results
Their views and beliefs advanced the underpinnings of widespread freedom in multiple forms that would eventually launch the political reform of the French Revolution (Gay) and induce an abrupt end to the Enlightenment era. There discourse was not without clash and intellectual debate, however, the extraordinary consistency in general intellectual pursuit that emphasized the power of reasoning is a fundamental characteristic that defines the uniqueness and importance of the Enlightenment period (Cassirer; Outram)
There discourse was not without clash and intellectual debate, however, the extraordinary consistency in general intellectual pursuit that emphasized the power of reasoning is a fundamental characteristic that defines the uniqueness and importance of the Enlightenment period (Cassirer; Outram). Within France, the Enlightenment occurred slightly later than other regions of the world and is considered by some to be a rejoinder to the decadence and corruption of the French Monarchy during the early seventeenth century (Church)
¶ … Enlightenment and the French Revolution The Enlightenment represents a period of intellectual advancement characterized by a burgeoning espousal of secularism, humanity, and freedom from the late sixteenth century to the advent of the French Revolution (Gay; Outram; Cassirer)
Symbolic of the transition from monarchy to republic, the Convention voted to execute King Louis XVI for his perceived role in constraining public liberties (Rude). The advent of the republic, however, did not correspond with diminishing violence within France (Lefebvre; Rude)
While there is no clear consensus with regard to when the Enlightenment began, its culmination was unequivocally as an impetus for the French Revolution, which advanced fundamental changes in individuals' personal freedoms and liberties as a result of the principles of Enlightenment philosophy (Gay; Outram; Lefebvre; Rude). Among the influential philosophers of the Enlightenment period were John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Francois-Marie Arouet, Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu, Thomas Hobbes and Denis Diderot (Outram; Gay; Cassirer)
End of the Enlightenment and Advent of the French Revolution The political discourse and general discontent of the French populace resulting from the widespread intellectual and philosophical exchange of ideas during the Enlightenment engendered a subsequent period of political and governmental reform known as the French Revolution, thus marking an end to Enlightenment and the beginning to a hostile and painful era of restructuring (Gay; Outram; Church). The French Revolution represented a violent upheaval of political and social organization within France and represented a practical attempt at realizing the political and philosophical virtues of the Enlightenment, including an attainment of representative governance and rights (Rude; Church)
The philosophes themselves were not necessarily adverse to religious belief or belief in God or a higher power, rather their argument was one of personal freedom instituted as a fundamental right of every human being. Voltaire Francois-Marie Arouet, best known by the pen name Voltaire, is perhaps one of the best well-known philosophers and writers of the French Enlightenment period, known for his fervent intellectual and scholarly achievements in the defense of civil and religious freedoms (Torrey)(Cassirer; Torrey) ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM {"citationItems":[{"itemID":6631,"position":1}]}
French Revolution Seemingly prudent people go to war against their government when conditions under current laws make it impossible to earn a living and provide for their families, such as the conditions which led to the French Revolution. The French Kingdom was divided into districts headed by an individual, the "intendant," appointed by the crown, who had complete authority and total control, except in military matters (Young pp)
In August, the Constituent Assembly was created which then ratified the "Declarations of the Rights of Man" that abolished feudalism, the old system of the lord of the estate and his serfs who worked the land for no pay or recognition, and established a constitution which greatly limited the powers of the French monarchy. One particular reformer at this time was Abbe Sieyes whose radical pamphlet "What Is the Third Estate?" attacked "the nobles and clerical privileges and was very popular throughout France with those that demanded social reform" (Forsyth 1987, pg
" Liberalism, or that which was espoused by the lower and middle classes, "focused on progress and reform that was favorable to individual freedom as guaranteed by natural law. Civil liberties were also of paramount importance, not to mention an open-minded and tolerant system devoid of the ideals expressed during the Age of Enlightenment" (Gershoy 1957, pg
Historically, the country of France was greatly changed by the Industrial Revolution which altered France from an agrarian nation to one based on industry, being the production of goods and commodities and the manufacture of machines that in many instances replaced manual labor. The lowest economic class, the proletariat, "was the most affected because of the absence of any way to profit from their own labor which forced them to sell their labor while being paid low wages" (Price 1987, pg
The upper classes, however, were able to demonstrate so big a generosity of spirit that the National Assembly was able to subsequently coalesce into a mutual respect and cooperation on the side of the monarchy. (Censer, 2004, p
However, the different classes of people within the same country shared different ideals and dreams, like for example, whereas artisans and farmers and the like believed in the fact that an infinitely better life would begin for them, the other class of people, like the merchants and traders and the like came to the conclusion that they would rule themselves by forming their own government comprising their own class of people, by overthrowing an oppressive power that had been ruling them for a great many years. (Gowland, 2003, p
The French Revolution had higher ideals and notions than that of the American, and the primary aim of the people involved was to virtually obliterate all the various pre-existing arrangements so that there may be a complete and a total change within the society as a whole. (Harsanyi, 2005, p
24) In the Book entitled 'The British Monarchy and the French Revolution', by author Marilyn Morris, states that the French Revolution in fact served to influence the British monarchy in several ways, and that British monarchy is in fact an extremely adaptable and strong Institution. (Morris, 1997, p
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was drawn up in July, 1790 (Schwab 221). It was a document that came out of the National Assembly, its Ecclesiastical clerics, but would eventually serve as a divide between the National Assembly Ecclesiastical clerics and it's the non-cleric body of the membership (Aulard 1910 45)
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was drawn up in July, 1790 (Schwab 221). It was a document that came out of the National Assembly, its Ecclesiastical clerics, but would eventually serve as a divide between the National Assembly Ecclesiastical clerics and it's the non-cleric body of the membership (Aulard 1910 45)
" The political ideologies of the provinces were vastly different in perspective and in origin. The Jacobin Republic, says Alan Forrest, would not accept disinterest or excuses for being politically unaware or uninformed, and the division of the provinces into departments required that the cities of those areas provide leadership, where, in some instances, there were few individuals who had the educational training or background to provide the Jacobin style leadership (Forrest 92)