French Revoluyion Origins
...I. Introduction
So far we have looked at people and ideas, at social history and intellectual history. Not at what a lot of you might have expected as history, but we are looking at how the modern world came about in all its complexity.
Now however, we are going to look at the series of events which make up the French Revolution. Today we are going to look at causes and origins, at how previous intellectual, social and political elements all contributed to it.
Importance of the French Revolution
It brought the People to the forefront of politics
set the model for later revolutions, and
changed the political map of Europe forever.
Chronology - Sketch of Events
1788-89 French State undergoes a massive revolution in politics but also in society and the way people think. The calling of the Estates General in 1789 was the catalyst for the Revolution.
1789-1792 - Liberal Revolution
1792-1794 - Radicalization
1795-1799 - Ineffective Reaction
1799-1815 - Napoleon - did he destroy or establish the FR?
Causes of the French Revolution
Intellectual
Social
Political
II. Intellectual Causes
A. Liberalism
[See classes on Enlightenment!]
The Enlightenment: scientific and philosophical thought had been generalized in the 18th Century. There was now a much larger intellectual class with the political ideas that the Enlightenment had spread around Europe.
What was later called Liberalism was popular.
Liberty - Human Rights/Natural Rights.
The sovereignty of the people.
Equality - meant equal rights for all under the Law.
Liberals also wanted freedom from a state-controlled economy. Property was seen as sacred. These were middle class property owners by and large.
B. Assessment of Intellectual Causes
Intellectual causes are difficult...
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