French Revolution

1. French Revolution By Catherine Welk Spring 2018 History 1102 -52

2. Thesis Statement • What were the issues and causes that led to the French Revolution, and how did the revolution have a lasting impact on the political structures and people of Europe in general in its aftermath?

3. Summary • While there is still debate about the causes of the French Revolution most historians agree that factors such as poor economic policies by King Louis XVI as well as the the majority of the population no longer accepting the divine rule of the king or the burdensome feudal system played a major factor.  Changing ideas about government and the introduction of Enlightenment philosophies helped the bourgeoisie and peasants (which was most of France) decide to take action and turn over centuries old political institutions to change France in fundamental ways. Gone was the power of the absolute monarch and in place the French drafted. The Declaration of the Rights of Man, formed a national assembly and declared France a Republic. • Though the struggle was violent there were some major permanent results that came about from the French Revolution: • Abolished the absolute monarchy • Destroyed the feudal privileges of the noble • New civil rights for citizens • The Church’s authority over the affairs of the state was drastically reduced

4. Websites

5. Causes and Outcome of the French Revolution • Author: Robert Schwartz • Link: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist151s03/french_rev_causes_consequences.htm • Summary: This author does a complete overview of the French revolution from the causes all the way to the outcome. He also wrote about the tragedies of the outcome and how the Revolution contributed to progressive change. • Evaluation: This is a credible source written by a History Professor from Mount Holyoke University. His information was from different perspectives and he also cited legitimate sources from where his information was taken.

6. Events Leading to the French Revolution • Author: History.com Staff • Link: https://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution • Summary: This website went more in-depth on the events that lead to the French revolution stating some particular events such as, The Rise of the Third Estate and the Tennis Court Oath. • Evaluation: This is a credible source first of all because it was written and reviewed by the staff of History.com and not only one person. It provides many videos as well. Also this website provides information solely based on History.

7. Timeline of the Revolution • Author: The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica • Link: https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution • Summary: This site focused more on the timeline of the French Revolution and specific events during each timeline. It also pointed out some of the common reasons believed to start the revolution though there are still scholarly debates about the exact cause of it. • Evaluation: This site is very reliable. It was written by the editors of Encyclopedia Britannica and includes many contributors. This site is also always kept up to date.

8. People Involved in The Revolution • Author: John and Abigail Adams • Link: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/adams-french-revolution/ • Summary: This article has more information about specific people involved in the Revolution such as King Louis XV, and MaximilienRobespirre. • Evaluation: John and Abigail the authors of this article are a couple who has devoted their lives to writing about History. This website is also funded by major companies.

9. Blog Posts

10. French Revolution As A Model for future Revolutions • Author: Marisa Linton • Link: https://blog.oup.com/2013/07/french-revolution-democracy-terror/ • Summary: Author talks about the reason why French Revolutionaries had to act the way they did because of the circumstances they had to face. She writes about why idealistic, humanitarian, people choose terror. The leaders of the French Revolution were not very powerful dictators or violent psychopaths but were genuine idealist. Through time though their choices made them into terrorists. • Evaluation: Blog post is credible because the author is a leading historian on the French Revolution and has published widely on eighteenth-century France and the French Revolution.

11. Personal Accounts • Author: Peter McPhee • Link: http://blog.yalebooks.com/2016/05/24/diaries-french-revolution/ • Summary: The author writes about the experiences of the citizens and troops during the French Revolution. The Revolution caused horror and hope, privation and celebration but most of all fear. • Evaluation: The author is a professor at the University of Melbourne and is an internationally esteemed historian of modern France. He is also the author of Liberty or Death, and The French Revolution therefore he is a credible source.

12. Food Shortages in the French Revolution • Author: Scott Thompson • Link: https://classroom.synonym.com/about-food-shortages-in-the-french-revolution-12078373.html • Summary: Food shortages was one of the contributing factors to the rioting that lead to the Revolution. The urban poor had to spend more than half of their income in order to survive in 1788 which was the year before the Revolution. The continued shortages led to the continued violence. • Evaluation: The author has been writing professionally since 1990 and has published nine books on topics like history, marital arts, poetry and fantasy fiction. His experience gives him credibility.

13. Conclusion • The French Revolution had a lasting impact on Europe as this was the form of government most Europeans would eventually adopt over the course of history.  It established the precedent of democratic government with civil rights, basic property rights and separation of church and state which is now the model of governance in much of the world. • While it would be nice to say that after the French Revolution the country was able to be ruled as a peaceful democratic republic this was not the case.  As the new French government struggled with political corruption, a weak economy and many different groups and people trying to seize power a military man took control.   On November 9, 1799 French General Napoleon Bonaparte with the support of the army overthrew the National Assembly and declared the French Revolution over.  He would go on to declare himself emperor in 1805 and his reign would last another 10 years.     

14. Works Cited • Adams , John, and Abigail Adams . “The French Revolution.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/adams-french-revolution/. • Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “French Revolution.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 7 Feb. 2018, www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution. • History.comStaff. “French Revolution.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/french-revolution. • Linton, Marisa. “What Can We Learn from the French Revolution?” OUPblog, 8 July 2013, blog.oup.com/2013/07/french-revolution-democracy-terror/. • McPhee, Peter. “Personal Accounts of the French Revolution.” Yale University Press Blog, 24 May 2016, blog.yalebooks.com/2016/05/24/diaries-french-revolution/. • “The French Revolution.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/adams-french-revolution/. • Schwartz, Robert. Causes of the French Revolution, www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist151s03/french_rev_causes_consequences.htm. • Thompson, Scott. “About Food Shortages in the French Revolution.” Synonym, 28 Sept. 2017, classroom.synonym.com/about-food-shortages-in-the-french-revolution-12078373.html.