The Impact of the French Revolution: A Comprehensive Analysis

Research Essay:
French Revolution
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................3
2. The effect of French revolution...................................................................................................3
2.1 Long Term Effects of French Revolution............................................................................................4
2.1.1. Social class destruction....................................................................................................................4
2.1.2. Rise of the power of Napoleon Bonaparte.......................................................................................4
2.1.3. Human rights declaration.................................................................................................................4
2.1.4. Revolutionary ideas.........................................................................................................................5
2.1.5. End of Bourbon Monarch Rule........................................................................................................5
2.1.6. Political Party rising.........................................................................................................................5
2.1.7. Parliamentary democracy.................................................................................................................5
2.1.8. Constitutional rule and law..............................................................................................................6
2.1.9. National Guard.................................................................................................................................6
2.1.10. Ownership of Land........................................................................................................................6
2.2. Short Term Effects of French Revolution...........................................................................................6
2.2.1. Declining Economic status..............................................................................................................6
2.2.2. Loss of properties and lives.............................................................................................................7
2.2.3. Period of terror.................................................................................................................................7
2.2.4. The Relation with other countries....................................................................................................7
2.2.5. The state and the church..................................................................................................................8
3. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................8
Reference List..................................................................................................................................9
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1. Introduction
The European history has experienced a watershed periodic incident from 1789 to 1790 that has
shaken the entire world of France and this particular event has been known as the French
revolution in the modern history of Europe. During this specific time duration, the citizens of
France have razed and predominantly redesigned the political landscape and scenario of their
country by uprooting the century-old an ancient institutions and practices in the form o0f
reforming the part of the feudal system and absolute monarchy. This anarchy has been caused by
the widespread discontent about the monarchy and the worst economic policies by King Louis
XVI. The revolution has played a vital role in reshaping the modern and updated nation as it has
shown how the willing power of the people can amend a whole society.
2. The effect of French revolution
The French revolution has brought several impacts on the changing society of France,
Fundamentally it has served the purpose of the bringing change into the sphere of economic,
social and political matters. It has been marked as the most vital event taken place in the modern
history of France. Actually, the revolution has a number of positive and negative impact on the
society of France itself along with its impact on the whole Europe.1 It has destructed the class
discrimination, has established the human rights and constitution, law and rule, given rise to the
revolutionary ideas, ended the rule regarding absolute monarchy, increased the parliamentary
democracy that is specifically considered as the positive impact it has made in France. Some
negative impacts were there as well like the huge loss of human lives and property, increasing
the terror among public and society, declining the economic status of the society and destructing
the relations with the other states and countries. A deeper and closer study has given emergence
of the idea that the effects in this way can be categorized into two distinct and separate segment
namely short-term effects and long-term effects.
1 Lefebvre, Georges. The coming of the French Revolution. Princeton University Press, 2015.
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2.1 Long-Term Effects of French Revolution
The impacts or the effects of French revolution that are static even now are definitely deserved to
be the long-term effects of it. In a different manner of saying it precisely, they are actually the
positive changes that had taken place are called as the long-term impacts.
2.1.1. Social class destruction
The revolution has destructed and destroyed the barrier of social classes that was highly
functional at that particular period of time.2 The origin of the revolution was actually based on
demand of equality for people of all classes. It has even opened the idea of accepting talents and
abilities as the parameter of creating career for the people. The notion of promotion and
appointment has been raised by the revolution by which a set of proper and equal rights for all
has been established. Therefore, the middle class people who were educated at that time had got
plenty of opportunities in holding positions. The revolution has generated a sense of parallel
thinking for all the classes that has eventually eradicated the class system in France.
2.1.2. Rise of the power of Napoleon Bonaparte
The revolution has contributed in the area of rising power of Napoleon Bonaparte. Bonaparte
was such a personality without mentioning whom, the concept of French revolution would be
impossible and incomplete.3 He has powered the common men of the society. The rising of
Napoleon has clarified the picture of a peasant to get powered and this has destroyed the entire
class system of the society in France. It has been marked as a vital event. Even army generals
had been swept away at the time of the reign of terrorism by giving a chance to him to emerge
his power.
2 Goodwin, Albert. The friends of liberty: the English democratic movement in the age of the French Revolution.
Routledge, 2016.
3 Fuller, John Frederick Charles. The Conduct of War 1789-1961: A Study of the Impact of the French, Industrial
and Russian Revolutions on War and Its Conduct. Vol. 12. Routledge, 2015.
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