French_Revolution


 * French Revolution**

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 * 1.** Estates General was a reaction to the ever increasing debt that the nation was facing. But with their lack of rights, the Third Estate created the National Assembly to satisfy their own needs. Though this would lock them out of the Estates General, their actions in the near by tennis court would soon lead to many factors and actions within the revolution.
 * 2.** Resulting partially from the Estates General as previously stated, the Tennis Court Oath was created to show the demanding and unstoppable nature of change that the Third Estate sought. With inspiration from Enlightenment thinkers who spoke of achieving equality regardless of costs, the stability of the Tennis Court Oath matches that of the determination of present day peaceful gatherings.


 * 3.** The Attack on Bastille on July 14 was caused by the inspirations of Enlightenment thinkers. Their views on freedom, equality, and revolt had pushed the common folk to seek to overthrow the old order's rules. This in turn would become their independence day that is celebrated to this day.
 * 4.** At this point, the goal of overturning the old order is achieved by the National Assembly. As a result of this overturning, many nobles see it right to fix other problems that the Third Estate had complained about. This led to a major reform of the way various aspects of life had run, many of which would allow for more income to the Third Estate, which would help with the debts of France. which had caused the Estates General that created the National Assembly. This mass amount of reform in a short period could be a slight foreshadowing of the Progressives later on in American history, though their goals differed, the sheer amount is similar.


 * 5.** The "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens" was written as a means for the National Assembly to state their opinion on the suffering of the Third Estate. This was caused by the inequality of the old order. This document was written to provide and protect the rights of man that were deemed absolute. The Enlightenment had also pushed for the creation of the document. It provided both the rights and the idea of writing the document.


 * 6.** The March for Bread definitely showed the results of the poverty and debts the nation had accumulated through the old order. But the goal was not to obtain food alone, it was also to show desperation and action to the king, in order for him to realize the sincerity of the people's goals. This walk effectively set up the trap for the capture of Louis XVI, seemingly convincing him that his people had not abandoned him.


 * 7.** The abolition of titles occurred also because of the old order. Sick of mistreatment due to a simple factor as name and money, the people would rather that all be equal and not receive unfair treatment. This inspired them to force the nobles to rid themselves of the titles.


 * 8.** The rights given to black citizens and slaves of French colonies we caused by the overbearing inequality of the old order. Understanding how inequality feels, the National Assembly found that their unfair treatment of the slaves was no better. This was also partially set up by the Enlightenment thinkers, which strove for general equality.


 * 9.** The Legislative Assembly was formed with the creation of the National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath. It also focused on the widely spoken ideas of Enlightenment thinkers, but brought more debate. This group would in turn cause the Reign of Terror--a better term would be allowed for--of which Robespierre formed after this. Though it failed, it only proves that good plans can go wrong, much like the splitting of the Roman Empire into the Byzantine and Holy Roman Empires.


 * 10.** As the Jacobin lead the French revolutionaries, they finally obtain true end of the old order. But by taking down the king, they actually fulfilled a portion of the Enlightened thought that said the people can overthrow their leader if it should deem more beneficial to have another system.


 * 11.** Maintaining the idea of equality for all, a trial was held for Louis XVI, only to have him guilty and beheaded. Though it may have been to their resentment, this showed that values of the Enlightenment ruled supreme to all aspects of the common person's life. This matches the system in place now, impeaching the higher level people within the government before punishing them.
 * 12.** The Committee of Public Safety resulted from the loss of a leader figure when Louis XVI was beheaded. It also led to the rise of the Reign of Terror. Though the intentions of the group were good, it led to a time much like that of Hitler's rule, full of fear.


 * 13.** As Robespierre rules the country, the Reign of Terror begins. Caused by both Robespierre's ideas of equality and debate, many often fought. But with the creation of the Law of Suspects, the equality that Enlightenment thinkers spoke about were beginning to be lost.
 * 14.** The Reign of Terror ends after just under a year's worth of time. This time leads to the creation of the Directorate which rules France in a better tone. In the end, Robespierre's own philosophies led to his downfall, showing the people that inequality had once again lost, but also that Enlightenment ideas should be held, but not too tightly.


 * 15.** The creation of the Directorate would be the next stage for ruling in France, following the end of the Reign of Terror. As Enlightenment philosophers had said, a government must be in place to protect the people, which this intended to do.


 * 16.** As Napoleon agrees that the Directorate was too weak, along with the still enforced National Assembly, he takes over as "first consul" of a triumvirate. Using means not endorsed by the Enlightenment, he was driven by none of the previous events, save for the battles within the revolution. Within the next few years, Napoleon's consulship grants him the rights of emperor.
 * 17.** Resulting from the time he was a consul, Napoleon essentially reinstates the old order that had been fought against. He does it in a way that is slightly better however, not creating inequality in any means other than spending. But true to the Enlightenment ideas, Napoleon spent much money and time on improving France for the people, which provided him the cover of the social contract.

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 * //The Declarations of the Rights of Man and Citizen// mark up:**

The document was occasionally specific but generally vague. The vagueness is a good thing as that means it can be used for a variety of cases in order to protect the citizens of France. At the beginning, it stated many of the Enlightenment views, but as the document went on, it began to stray away. This seemed to me as their advancement, to show that they understand the ideas and seek an even better system with more efficient ways. The fact that very many of the statements talked about citizens made me realize how damaging this would be to the women's rights movement, the future of the black slaves at the time, or the treatment of Native Americans. With all the talk of fairness and equality, even the Enlightenment thinkers did not mention it much.

This document took rights from both ideas of the Enlightenment and that of the American Declaration of Independence, which also took from Enlightenment philosophers. Mentions of protection of speech also came from our Constitution, or perhaps it influenced the creation of the First Amendment. The included part about military service however, did not seem to be upheld in the sense of it being only voluntary. Perhaps this would effect later war efforts, especially in WWI and WWII, as had the American draft.

Revolutionary Governments Worksheet