French Revolution

University Degree Historical and Philosophical studies

Merrell

Larisa Merrell

Kindler/Robinson

January 20, 2003

French Revolution

Thoughts and opinions about the French Revolution have been thrown back and forth in stories, books, and novels. Novels, such as The Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables, and The Scarlet Pimpernel portray the many sides of the French Revolution. People from other countries involved themselves in the raging conflicts that were scarring France, all sides put many brave efforts forth, and many resolutions were brought into view but turned down. France was in a dilemma that ripped down the country, and tortured each social class as the crisis thundered on. The bourgeoisie wanted more of a say in government, and the clergy and aristocrats demanded that they shouldn’t be taxed.

During the Old Regime, the bourgeoisie consisted of peasants and professional people equaling 95% of the French population. These two groups where harped upon and heavily taxed to help the government sustain a financial balance since the clergy and the aristocrats did not have to pay taxes. To help their case, the bourgeoisie wanted every representative to obtain a single vote when the three groups were brought together. From here, they formed the National Assembly, which included all 600 representatives of the bourgeoisie. When the National Assembly was rebuffed, the bourgeoisie acted against the government’s decision and captured the Bastille Prison. The peasants and professional people wanted to take their problem under control. Families were not being treated for illnesses, they were starving and drinking water from the filthy ground, and they paid for small crimes with injustice punishments. The bourgeoisie wanted a Republic government and followed the United States lead in mutiny. The Aristocrats did not support a revolution; the Clergy clearly did not encourage the revolution as well, but stood with the Aristocrats that they shouldn’t be taxed.

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There are many reasons that a revolution is brought into play. The way people are cared for, the way quandaries are unraveled, and the imaginings brought into the government are all causes that explode wars. Greed can overpower a certain collection of people causing an up rise, personal rights can influence crowds, and mistreatment can fire up a clique of humans. Some aspects added wood to the fire while others remain in other wars.

Greed did not over power the bourgeoisie, the common sense of staying alive and healthy caused their ...

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Greed did not over power the bourgeoisie, the common sense of staying alive and healthy caused their determination to over take the government. Since their population exceeded every other group by a considerably large amount, the bourgeoisie decided to stand up and exert themselves for more control. This incredible idea rang through France shooting hope through peasants and professional people. They apprehended a right to straighten their lives out and they were taking the chance to do it. With many strong leaders the bourgeoisie dove head first into a revolution when all their peaceful ideas were shot down.

People stood up for themselves in this revolution, trying to prove better lives were needed. The Clergy and aristocrats did not have to pay taxes or break a sweat in their work; therefore the bourgeoisie considered them traitors, asserting that they pained themselves to build the fabulous courts. Here is a statement made after the war,

But this was as it should be: were not the people the rulers of France? Every aristocrat was a traitor, as his ancestors had been before him: for two hundred years now the peoples had sweated, and toiled, and starved, to keep a lustful court in lavish extravagance; now the descendants of those who had helped to make those courts brilliant had to hide for their lives—to fly, if they wished to avoid the tardy vengeance of the people (Orczy, Baroness; Scarlet Pimpernel).

Professional people and peasants thought they held equivalent rights with every other citizen of France. Yet, as they were the lowest ranking social class their lives detained every aspect the higher classes demurred.

Life for the bourgeoisie consisted of begging for food, searching for warm places to sleep and rest, and working hard for little money. Poor French inhabitants were mistreated and one and all knew it. Many sovereigns in surrounding countries feared that their kingdoms would revolt and wage war for an enhanced life as well. Also, few royalty spent time with their peasants, therefore the unwilling monarchs didn’t notice the dreadful lives numerous peasants’ lead. The populace truly did not have a chance to ascend the social ladder either. Torment was swept down the hierarchy steps into a large mound until it was dumped upon the peasants. Men were not equal and different social rankings had different privileges, the social classes were corrupt.

The bourgeoisie contained many justice reasons to rebel against the French government. Their dreams and desires were smashed and demolished by the wishes of the wealthier classes. Even needs for the peasants every day life were flattened by the extravagant upper class. Adding to the pestering squanderers, the government hounded the bourgeoisie for the requirements the whole country owed due to. Taxes hovered over the peasants who had nothing to look forward to. Scavenging for food, hunting for a single nights shelter, and trying to live a life full of illness and sorrows was forced upon the bourgeoisie. The need to take action kept growing stronger pressuring the leading professional people to take a step towards freedom, and towards a better life. These reasons have tremendous influences and have the force to turn a whole country around.