The Impact of the French Revolution: A Comprehensive Analysis

This research essay delves into the profound and multifaceted effects of the French Revolution, examining both its long-term and short-term consequences. It explores how the revolution reshaped French society, politics, and economics, leading to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, the establishment of human rights, and the end of the Bourbon monarchy. The essay also analyzes the negative impacts, including the Reign of Terror, economic decline, and strained international relations. By examining the revolution's enduring legacy, this essay provides a comprehensive understanding of its significance in shaping modern France and Europe.

Research Essay:
French Revolution
1

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
2

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.
3

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.
4

2.1.3. Human rights declaration
The revolution has led to establish the rights of citizens and common people of France. The
parliament or the constitutional assembly declared the rights of the human and has come up with
the proper documentation of it.4 The event granted the liberty in political sphere, freedom in
voicing, press, association, ownership of property and worship. Though the areas were abused at
time of rising terror, still they had become the foundation or the base of freedom primarily.
2.1.4. Revolutionary ideas
It is very much obvious that a revolution will give birth to some revolutionary ideas. French
revolution is no exception in this regard. It has given birth to the ideas of fraternity, equality and
liberty. Primarily these ideas or concepts had begun in France and then they had got spread in the
other areas or countries as Germany and Italy. These types of ideas basically promoted the matter
of democracy, freedom and equality for all with a good governance. This aspect of giving rise to
the revolutionary ideas has made France their nursery bed in demo0cratic Europe.
2.1.5. End of Bourbon Monarch Rule
Bourbon monarch had ruled the country of France for more than 400 years that had met end by
the French revolution. The rule had been abolished in the year of 1792 and had got replaced by
the Republican form of the French Government. It had been again restored after Napoleon had
lost his powers.5 However, the power of Bourbon Monarch could not be retained beyond 1830
due to the reason that monarchs had got already weakened with the changes that had been caused
by the revolution.
2.1.6. Political Party rising
With the progression of French revolution, France has become a state of multiparty functional
system. The revolutionary ideas that have generated the freedom regarding association, have led
4 Palmer, Robert Roswell. The improvement of humanity: Education and the French Revolution. Princeton
University Press, 2017.
5 Kopsidis, Michael, and Daniel W. Bromley. "The French revolution and German industrialization: dubious models
and doubtful causality." Journal of Institutional Economics 12, no. 1 (2016): 161-190.
5

to the situation of rising several different political parties such as Giiorndin, Jacobins, Fauvillants
and Cordilliers.6 These parties had competed for the utmost power. The rise of these parties had
been proven a positive change as with the criticism of bad policies by them the French
government was bounded to be under check.
2.1.7. Parliamentary democracy
The revolution on the other hand has made the parliament revived which was not in practice for a
long period of time of 175 years. A functional parliament for France had been given a rise by the
revolution itself. It had given the idea of administered by the representatives that were elected
democratically. The common people of France were therefore able to participate in governing
their own country.
2.1.8. Constitutional rule and law
The revolution has introduced the people of France with the constitutional law and rules. Before
the revolution had been emerged, there was no constitution in France to protect its countrymen
and their rights of freedom. In the year of 1791, the French government has declared the
constitution that was further amended in the year of 1793 and after that in 1795. The constitution
has distinctively separated the legislature, executives and the judiciary.7 The constitution has
been able to reduce the power of the King.
2.1.9. National Guard
A new formation regarding National Guard had been emerged that had actually replaced the
guard of Bourbon Monarchy. Precisely said, it was the army whose responsibility was to
safeguard achievements that the French revolution brought. At the end of the year 1793, a
number of 7000000 trained and well-disciplined soldiers were there in the National Guard to
6 Popkin, Jeremy D. A Short History of the French Revolution. Routledge, 2016.
7 Palmer, Robert R. The world of the French Revolution. Routledge, 2016.
6

protect people and properties.8 It is counted as one of the greatest achievements of the French
revolution.
2.1.10. Ownership of Land
A change has been brought by the revolution in the sphere of land ownership. Before the
revolution has risen upland was considered to be dominated by the nobles and the clergy who
had exploited the class of farmers and peasants. A reformation has been done in the area of land
duration system. The concept of private land ownership had been encouraged by everyone and
this had given a chance to the farmers as well to acquire land. This has been marked as one of the
greatest positive signs of French revolution.
2.2. Short-Term Effects of French Revolution
There were actually several impacts of French revolution that were very immediate and short-
lived. To be precise on the note, it were the negative impacts of the revolution that has shook the
country with some tragic outcomes.
2.2.1. Declining Economic status
The rise of the French revolution has led to a drastic change and decline in the economic
activities of France. It actually has hindered the growth of trade, business, agriculture,
communication, transport and industrial sector as well during the period of terror which
eventually has generated the issues such as inflation, starvation, poverty, famine and
unemployment.9 The whole picture has generated a way of declining the economic status for the
country as all of the mentioned aspects in some cases or others are responsible for having a poor
economy of the country.
8 Cone, Carl B. Burke and the Nature of Politics: the Age of the French Revolution. University Press of Kentucky,
2015.
9 Staum, Martin S. Cabanis: enlightenment and medical philosophy in the French Revolution. Princeton University
Press, 2014.
7

2.2.2. Loss of properties and lives
A massive loss of properties and lives has been noticed that was actually caused by the impact of
the revolution. A huge destruction of properties has been observed as well. The revolution has
taken lives of several important persons of that period of time such as Murato, Danton, King
Louis and many more. This destruction was of beyond repair.10 Some famous and considerable
names of that time had to be sacrificed because of the effect of the revolution that cannot be
restored again. It is not actually in the term of humans only, a massive destruction of assets can
properties has also been observed by the impact of the revolution.
2.2.3. Period of terror
The revolution has generated a kind of situation in which the whole country was terrorized by the
violence that was stable for two years from 1792 to 1794.11 This specific time period has
experienced an entire breakdown regarding law and regulation system. A situation has been
emerged of killing the other to avoid to be killed by the political leaders of the society. This
picture has given a chance to emerge a situation where the people of France could not feel secure
and safe. The question of the security of common men was given a rise. The revolution has made
the lives of females and children to be in danger and failed to safeguard them
2.2.4. The Relation with other countries
The revolution has made the country to have a poor relationship with the other countries and
states in the matter of international dealings.12 The revolutionary ideas that were evoked by the
revolution have been proven to be a threats for the other monarchs and powers of Europe. The
ideas has given rise to the scenario where the other power sources were getting suppressed due to
the proposed idea of the revolution. In order to make France to get dismissed in this power game,
10 Goodwin, Albert. The French Revolution. Vol. 2. Routledge, 2016.
11 Finley, Theresa S., Raphaël Franck, and Noel D. Johnson. "The Effects of Land Redistribution: Evidence from the
French Revolution." (2017).
12 Johnson, S., and J. A. Robinson. The Consequences of Radical Reform: The French Revolution. Ameri, 2016.
8

Russia, Austria, Britain and many other countries have allied against it to prevent the
revolutionary ideas not to spared in their countries.
2.2.5. The state and the church
A serious and grim conflict has been grounded between the state and the Catholic Church by the
revolution. The time before the revolution has taken place the state and the Catholic Church were
two inseparable bodies.13 Afterwards, the establishment of civil constitution in France, the
nationalization of the properties of church and reducing the advantages of church has led to the
worse relationship of the state and the church.14 Therefore, it can be clearly said that the
revolution has somehow made the state and church to work differently.
3. Conclusion
A serious and grim concentration of the above study can therefore conclude that French
revolution has opened a new door of freedom in France. It has made the country one of the most
powerful the assertions of that time in Europe.15 The revolution has helped the country in order to
save and protect human rights and freedom in different aspects of dealings. The revolution has
made it sure about the country to have a proper civil parliament and constitution that will
safeguard the citizen of the country and will perform the responsibilities of establishing freedom
and rights. However, the revolution has not only served in the long term and positive manner, but
also it has some negative trends. It has made the entire world of France to be like hell of terror. A
huge loss regarding lives and a massive destruction in the sphere of properties have been
observed. The poor relationship with the other countries and state was another drawback of the
13Barron, Alexander TJ, Jenny Huang, Rebecca L. Spang, and Simon DeDeo. "Individuals, institutions, and
innovation in the debates of the French Revolution." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115, no. 18
(2018): 4607-4612.
14 Dozier, Robert. For king, constitution, and country: the English loyalists and the French Revolution. University
Press of Kentucky, 2015.
15 Kates, Gary. The Cercle Social, the Girondins, and the French Revolution. Princeton University Press, 2014.
9

revolution. However, all of these were the impacts that had short-lived in wide aspect. The
positive changes made by the revolution have been still celebrated. Therefore, it can be said that
French revolution has drastically improved the internal scenario and system of France for which
it still has hold a lofty position in the modern world history.
10

Reference List
Barron, Alexander TJ, Jenny Huang, Rebecca L. Spang, and Simon DeDeo. "Individuals,
institutions, and innovation in the debates of the French Revolution." Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences 115, no. 18 (2018): 4607-4612.
Cone, Carl B. Burke and the Nature of Politics: the Age of the French Revolution. University
Press of Kentucky, 2015.
Dozier, Robert. For king, constitution, and country: the English loyalists and the French
Revolution. University Press of Kentucky, 2015.
Finley, Theresa S., Raphaël Franck, and Noel D. Johnson. "The Effects of Land Redistribution:
Evidence from the French Revolution." (2017).
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.
Goodwin, Albert. The French Revolution. Vol. 2. Routledge, 2016.
Goodwin, Albert. The friends of liberty: the English democratic movement in the age of the
French Revolution. Routledge, 2016.
Johnson, S., and J. A. Robinson. The Consequences of Radical Reform: The French Revolution.
Ameri, 2016.
Kates, Gary. The Cercle Social, the Girondins, and the French Revolution. Princeton University
Press, 2014.
Kopsidis, Michael, and Daniel W. Bromley. "The French revolution and German
industrialization: dubious models and doubtful causality." Journal of Institutional Economics 12,
no. 1 (2016): 161-190.
Lefebvre, Georges. The coming of the French Revolution. Princeton University Press, 2015.
Palmer, Robert R. The world of the French Revolution. Routledge, 2016.
11

Palmer, Robert Roswell. The improvement of humanity: Education and the French Revolution.
Princeton University Press, 2017.
Popkin, Jeremy D. A Short History of the French Revolution. Routledge, 2016.
Staum, Martin S. Cabanis: enlightenment and medical philosophy in the French Revolution.
Princeton University Press, 2014.
12