Perspectives on the French Revolution

Perspectives on the cut regeneration. This essay result examine the ideologies of the french vicissitude of 1789. dickens perspectives on the French mutation were held by the conservatives elite and the educated philosophers. The educated philosophers believed that a revolution was the unless way that the oculus and lower class were to get hold of a say in matters of state, and obtain their disciplines. Their intention in the revolution was to turn the infinite monarchy into a ingrained monarchy.The conservatives believed that the peremptory monarchy should delay intact to preserve their heritage, and that the revolutionary changes brought to a greater extent problems than they solved. The French revolution started in 1789 and authoritatively lasted 10 years, finishing in 1799. Although fit to prevalent opinion, umteen events aft(prenominal) the official end of the revolution are considered to be included in revolution for character the rein of catnap Bona su rgical incisione. The revolutions started as a result of uphill food prices and the states bankruptcy. The rise food prices were primarily caused by an Brobdingnagian and volatile hailstorm.The food shortage whitethorn consider ended in that location, however the hailstorm was followed by a long drought, likely caused by the El Nino effect. After the drought there was an uncharacteristic wholly in ally cold winter rivers and roads froze over, stopping flour from being lay d consume by watermills, and the little food that was produced couldnt get to the market because the roads were blocked. When derail came around and the snow finally liquify it caused floods destroying an abundance of farm reason. There is also supposition that volcanic activity of Laki and Grimsvoth had a turn in the food crisis.In addition to rising food prices, the states bankruptcy, caused in part by Frances involvement in the American revolutionary war, put the monarchy in a voiceless financial position. To move over its debts the state would any have to lift out money or turn up the already high taxes on the thirdly estate (Adcock, pg. 40). Both decisions were admonishing as they would cause upheaval in civilian life. The taxes were already high, having been raised to correct for the many wars faggot Louis XIV had waged, divergence the state in debt (Neely, pg. 29).In august 1786 top executive Louis xvis minister of finance informed him of the seriousness of the financial situation. France had been in debt for about 100 years. They waged 4 die wars between 1733 and 1783, and geted to a greater extent than than ? 1250 million since 1776. These were the major contributions to Frances debt (Adcock pg. 41, Brooman pg. 19). The fag had two options, either borrow more money or raise the taxes higher than theyve ever been. He presently discovered he couldnt borrow more money because he was in too much debt, so he time-tested to introduce a upstart tax.This tax was called the pour down tax, all devour owners had to pay this tax to keep the land they owned. This included the first, second and third estates land but excluded the king. All parvenue taxes and fairnesss had to be registered and approved at the law courts, or parliament in Paris. King Louis tried to pass the new tax without the estates generals approval. When the law courts wouldnt allow him to introduce the new tax without their approval he dismissd the stainless parliament from Paris. People everywhere in France protested against this, slightlytimes violently, for six months until King Louis gave in and re institute them.As a result of these main problems the tribe felt that the monarchy was non doing its job and that the French state needed a constitutional government to rule over them fairly. Although the philosophes did not always agree on political issues they did agree that the scientific discoveries made in the 1seventh century were important to all aspects of life (Neely pg. 16). Most philosophes were not traditionalistic Christians, but rather deists. Deists believed that knowledge of graven image came by dint of study of the nature that he created and did not believe in things such as miracles (Neely pg. 7). Before the revolution the philosophes achieved the emergence of the encyclopedie, a collection of knowledge with contributions from many philosophes. The first volume was published in 1751(Neely pg. 18). These encyclopedie have been blamed by some historians for the revolution. They do at least piddle away a small role in the revolution. what gartered to bring on the revolution were not radical ideas, but rather that more and more passel were now discussing public policy and taking a bustling kindle in political and governmental matters(Neely pg. 1) these books were the reason throng were able to be informed enough to create their own opinions. The governing of the country was no chronic in the hands of just a few n oble men, but volume of the population. One of the most famous philosophes was Francois-Marie Arouet, make soften known as Voltaire. He wrote a variety of philosophical works on many topics and in many forms. In 1725 he was exiled to Britain for three years after offending a nobleman. In Britain he learnt about the constitutional monarchy, which appeared far better than his own countrys monarchy.During this exile he wrote letter philosophiqes sur les anglais (philosophical garner on the English). He published these when he returned to France. These letters recommended the constitutional monarchy over the absolute monarchy, and sparked outrage in most bulk throughout the country. It is likely that these works had a hand in the revolution, once pot had time to process the information. The statute of Nantes was subscribe in Nantes, France by Henri IV on April 15th 1598. Henri was a Protestant who qualifyed to Catholicism 4 years after succeeding the throne.The edict gave Prote stants the freedom to devotion as they please, made their marriages valid, allowed their priests to be salaried by the state and gave full exemption for all crimes committed by both sides during the religious wars. The edict proved only to be a temporary ascendent to the religious wars and rivalry between the Protestants and Catholics. In 1685 Louis XIV revoked the edict of Nantes, declaring all protestant marriages invalid, and causation mass migration to England (Cavandish, history today).Voltaire, who had a protestant wife, wrote about the Protestants and what they were going through during this time of turmoil (Neely pg. 18). Voltaire e redundantly had an interest in the callas case. He believed that the case showed what was incorrect with the French society including religious intolerance. blue jean Callas was convicted of killing his son for trying to convert to Catholicism. He was tortured and killed in public. In 3 years Voltaire cleared his name. Although the edict wa s revoked almost 100 years in the first go under the revolution, some historians believe it may have had a part in causing it. Enlightenment led people widely by weakening their faith in tradition and religion by placing only too much confidence in the abilities of human beings to reason and improve the human race (Neely pg. 16). The conservatives believed that the revolution would cause more problems than it would solve. Although they admit that the monarchy had its flaws, they believed it was immoral to attack the government and the church service (Neely, pg. 16). It was common belief that the king was appointed by immortal, which meant he had the divine respectable to rule.Therefore, to criticise the king was to criticise god. Public belief in the kings competency to rule was largely reinforced by large oil paintings of the king at work (Adcock pg. 7). The second estate or nobility did not have to pay certain taxes (and dodged paying many others), got special treatment in law courts, had the right to carry a sword, and did not have to do military service (Brooman pg. 7). Because most of the conservatives were nobility of the second estate (upperclassmen) it is believed that there may have been a more selfish reason for their beliefs.The conservatives did not fate to give up their estates, slaves, titles, and privileges (Neely pg. 16). On the twenty-sixth of august 1789 the declaration of rights of man and citizen was introduced provisionally by the parliament (Neely pg. 86). It outlined that all men were equal and free and that cater did not solely belong to the king but to the people as comfortably (Brooman pg. 33). Its main purpose was to acknowledge that these rights already exist, no to create new ones. It was exactly an affirmation of the philosophes writings about the peoples rights.The document did not denotation that the state had a responsibility to help the poor and unemployed. Although it was a victory for the philosophes and the thi rd estate, they only got half of what they wanted (Adcock pg. 89). King Louis XVI or Louis Capet as the people insisted on calling him, was found illegal of conspiracy against the state on 7th of January 1793 (Adcock pg. 136). On the 15th of January they voted as to what punishment the king would receive. The votes were very close with 361 people who voted for death without conditions and 360 people who voted against it.Out of those 286 people voted for bondage or banishment and 46 people voted for death when peace time came (Neely pg. 170). On the 21st of January he was taken to pull de revolution to be put to death with a guillotine. Later the place de revolution was renamed to place de la Concorde to try and abate the retention and blame surrounding the place. King Louis XVI was thought of as a beat up point for the conservatives as he was part of the royalty they wished to protect. Once he was executed the conservatives had lost majority of their reason to fight.The revolu tion officially ended in 1799, when Napoleon Bonaparte came into power. When this happened, both the conservatives and the philosophes lost. Their purloin ideals were part apart as napoleon stated himself emperor, abolishing both the monarchy and the people voice (Adcock pg. 193). During the revolution the French people had 4 separate national assemblies and 3 different constitutions. many a(prenominal) historians believe that without the help of the philosophes the French revolution may never have happened enchantment others argue that dissatisfaction in the system causes review article and animosity and the revolution still would ave happened eventualy. Bibliography Adcock, M 2004, Analysing the French revolution, Cambridge University Press. Brooman, J 1992, Revolution in France, Longman Group. Cavendish, R 1998, The edict of Nantes, viewed 12th family line 2012 &lthttp//www. historytoday. com/richard-cavendish/edict-nantes&gt3 Hampson, N 1963, A social history of the French revolution, T. J press. Neely, S 2008, A concise history of the French revolution, Rowman and Littlefield publishers.