Essay: The French Revolution and Liberalism's Influence

This essay delves into the significant role of liberalism in shaping the French Revolution of the 18th century. It explores how liberal philosophies challenged the existing monarchical and feudal systems, leading to societal transformation in Western Europe and North America. The essay highlights the influence of liberal ideologies on key figures like Robespierre, the declaration of 'The Rights of Man and Citizen,' and the revolutionaries' fight for equality, freedom, and fraternity. It examines Robespierre's tactics in manipulating liberal ideas to mobilize the masses, the impact of liberalism on the abolition of the Estates system, and the bourgeois revolution. The essay also discusses the peasant uprisings, the struggles against class dominance, and the structural shifts at the end of the revolution, drawing parallels with Skocpol's view of social revolutions. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of liberalism in instigating the fight for individual rights and societal equilibrium, analyzing legislative actions and constitutional developments during the period. This essay is a comprehensive analysis of the French Revolution and its relationship with liberalism.

FRENCH REVOLUTION AND LIBERALISM: AN ESSAY
The French Revolution of the 18th Century, which is the most significant part of
International Relations’ history, and transformed the societal structure of most of the Western
European and North American region, was influenced by Liberalism. This revolution, according
to major historians and analysts was triggered by the prevalent liberalism in French society.
Liberal philosophies made people challenge the rule of monarchs and the wealthiest feudal lords.
The liberal ideologies of influencing figures of the revolution contributed much to the shift from
the traditional and conservative societal structure to the modern age. Also, ‘The Rights of Man
and Citizen’ declared in 1789 by the French assembly incorporates liberal ideologies. Based on
the political liberty, freedom of man, it helped and guided the revolutionaries in their struggle for
the elimination of the feudal system and socio-economic inequalities that existed in the French
society. The revolutionaries were greatly inspired by the liberal ideas of equality, freedom, and
fraternity.
Robespierre used liberalism to suppress anti-revolutionaries. He manipulated the French
by establishing that the incompetent ancient monarchy and Estates system in France is depriving
them of their rights and the feudal system represses them. He exploited liberal ideas to motivate
the individuals, who were outraged due to socio-economic inequalities and rising inflation, to
look for their true purpose (Bosc 95). In French Revolution, the ideas of sovereignty, citizenship,
and supreme legislative authority to abolish the Estates system according to the 'Prolegomena of
Liberty, 1789' were also inspired by liberalism. Robespierre's view that ‘the law is the expression
of the general will. All citizens have the right to contribute to its formation, either in person or
through their freely elected representatives’ (Robespierre “On the Silver Mark”) also support
Prolegomena of Liberty. The Prolegomena of Liberty contributed to ending the incompetent
monarchy of Louis XVI and feudalism (Gauthier 73). Also, the urge for social transformation in
the middle class can be viewed under Robespierre’s view of economic liberalism and his
stigmatization of fortune (Bosc 105). In addition, it can be maintained that in the revolution
against feudalism, Robespierre discoursed about liberal concepts of political democracy and
balance of power triggered the bourgeois revolution. His philosophy of a republic based on a
liberal economy and social equality depicts the need for a fundamental policy and social change
(Bosc 107). It is assessed that his political thoughtfulness and advocacy of the sovereignty of

men guided the French to struggle for their share during the 1972 food crisis (Bosc 113).
Moreover, his humanist liberalism (Bosc 109) was based on the need for the French to look for
their rights. He said, ‘all Frenchmen, meaning all men born and domiciled in France, or
naturalized, should enjoy fully and equally the rights of the citizen; and are eligible for all public
office, without distinction other than that of their virtues and talents' (Robespierre “On the Silver
Mark”). However, Robespierre's liberalism and his staunch stance on the natural rights of men
deprived people of their property rights and freedom of speech (Bosc 109).
The demand for the Rights of Man and Citizen, which spurred great uprisings during the
Revolution, was also a demonstration of prevalent liberalism in the French Revolution. The
demand for rights caused the peasant’s uprising from 1789 to 1792 against the 1971 Constitution
which still facilitated the feudal system and contributed to their socio-economic problems
(Gauthier 76). Furthermore, it also instigated the democratic movement for civil and political
rights in 1789. However, it did not remain successful and lasted for decades. Moreover, the
struggles against class dominance in France, the peasants uprising from 1789 to 1795, and the
major structural shift at the end of the French Revolution fit well on the Skocpol view of the
states’ stabilization and revolution. According to her, any movement in the society can instigate a
social revolution, it can be a revolt from the labor class or it can be the collapse of the state due
to international pressure. The social revolution can transform not only the society but also the
economy, people, culture, philosophy, and others (Skocpol). The French Revolution did the
same. The people realized the need of stabilization in the society, also, by overthrowing the
absolute monarchic rule of Louis XVI and with the introduction of a new republican government
and by the establishment of a national assembly. France was divided into departments, districts,
and communities which were administered by the elected assemble members (Neely).
The French Revolution, regardless of being prompted by multiple factors, was a social
revolution that was comparably inspired by the prevalent liberalism in the society. The modern
notions of equality and human rights made the middle and lower class felt the need to get rid of
the ancient monarchic and wealthy class system. The oppressed classes of the society stood for
their basic rights as human. The statesman like Robespierre’s liberal tactics and his portrayal for
the rights of men contributed greatly in the revolution and to address the needs of the suffering
French individuals. Also, the struggle for the Rights of Man and of Citizens stimulated the

revolution. It remained a sole source of direction for the peasants across the country. The
legislative assembly from 1789-91 and 1791-92 was a deliberation of liberalism. The law-
making in this period ensured individual freedom, secularism, and to some extent property rights.
It is noteworthy that the Constitution of 1971 was unable to put a halt to the fight for rights and
the struggled continued for decades. Lastly, it was due to the liberalism that individuals felt the
need of societal equilibrium and instigated a fight for the achievement and protection of their
rights.

References:
Florence Gauthier, “The French Revolution: Revolution of the Rights of Man and the Citizen” in
History and Revolution: Refuting Revisionism, ed. Mike Haynes and Jim Wolfreys (London:
Verso, 2007)
Maximilien Robespierre, “On the Silver Mark”
Neely, Sylvia, “A Concise History of the French Revolution.” Rowman & Littlefield (2008)
Theda Skocpol, States and Social Revolutions, 174-205
Yannick Bosc, “Robespierre as a Liberal,” Annales historiques de la Révolution française 371:1
(January 2013)