The Enlightment and the French Revolution - 1263 Words

In France during the 18th century, there was a system named the Ancien rà ©gime, which refers to the societal, economic and political structure of France before the French Revolution. At the top of the pyramid was the absolute monarch Louis XVI. He took the throne in 1774 and received it with problems that couldn’t be fixed. (French Revolution Overview 6) Below the king came the first estate which was made of 100,000 nobles. Then came the second estate was made of 300,000 clergy. Finally came the third estate which was made of the rest of France, which was 23.5 million people. 90 percent of that 23.5 million were peasants. The third estate’s taxes ensured the financial well-being of the state, clergy and nobles. (French Revolution Overview†¦show more content†¦The National Assembly recorded the new civil equality on August 26th with the Declaration of Rights of Men and of the Citizen (1789) (French Revolution Overview 8) the Enlightenment brought ideas of new governments and rights to all, and contested the â€Å"divine right† of the kings. Many even called it the â€Å"liberation of the human mind† because the peasants realized that they didn’t have to follow what the â€Å"higher class† said or ordered. And the Enlightenment pushed that idea, which caused the people to change the way they viewed politics and or the government placed at that time period The Enlightenment was also the reason for the American Revolution, which is the reason for French’s financial shortage. French very generously lent the American’s money to help the American’s with their revolution, not knowing it would be a major cause of theirs. France fought along the United States, against Britain for America’s independence. (French Revolution Overview 7) French’s money, soldiers and naval forces provided the win, but France gained little except large debts. 4 million livers in debt, and they couldn’t afford to pay to even get credit. The social unrest and mounting financial problems led King Louis XVI to call a meeting of the estates generals for the first time since 1614. A long cycle of industrial depression had been in effect since 1770. Fifty percent of the people in urban areas were unemployed (The Enlightenment Overview 2).Show MoreRelatedVoltaire s Theory Of The Age Of Enlightenment848 Words   |  4 PagesFranà §ois-Marie Arouet, or most commonly known as Voltaire was born November 21, 1699, in Paris, France. He was a French philosopher, historian and writer of the Age of Enlightenment. He valued the right to have your own thoughts as well as the ability to change religion. Even though he was a complex person, he was highly intelligent, humorous and his writing style made him one of France s greatest writers and philosophers. He supported social reform, including freedom of religion, civil rights andRead MoreWhy the French Revolution Took Place Essay676 Words   |  3 PagesThe French Revolution was a period in history of France covering the years 1789-1799, in which the monarchy was overthrown by the people that were dissatisfied with how the king and queen was running the country. According to The War Times Journal, â€Å"The era itself can be split into two periods; The French Revolution, and the Napoleonic Empire. The Revolution and ensuing republic saw the toppling of the old French monarchy and its replacement by a series of sporadically violent civilian administrationsRead MoreAge of Revolutions Essay751 Words   |  4 Pagesmechanics of increased living standards, the creation of the middle class, elevated literacy levels and wider book distribution and publication, the novel genre saw indespensible changes which have persisted throughout time. Prior to the age of revolution, novels were written and centered upon themes pertaining to, imagination, philosophy, realism which coincided with what peoples interest were. Throughout the 18th century with the works of Rousseau’s, Laclos, Goethe and Shelley, novels began toRead MoreThe Impact of the French and Indian War on Colonial America1065 Words   |  5 PagesNowitzky 1 Chris Nowitzky Professor Noyalas November 23,2011 U.S. History 121 The Impact of the French and Indian War on Colonial America The French and Indian war was fought between Great Britain and France from 1754 to 1763. Also known as the Seven Year’s War, this confrontation eventually erupted into an all out worldwide conflict. Its effects were not only immediate but long term. Although the colonies were not directly tied to the war, it greatly impacted them as well as modern AmericaRead MoreThe Classical Style Of The Ancient Greece And The United States1141 Words   |  5 Pages‘Belvedere Torso’ and the ‘Medici Venus’. In the 17th century the classical style was revived, now called the neo-classical style. It was born in Rome but its popularity flourished all over Europe. The neo-classical movement clashed with the age of Enlightment and continued through the 19th century. The neo-classical principles were based around the same characteristics as the classical arts such as: balance, proportion, order, simplicity, clarity, and reason. It was strongest in architect, sculptureR ead MoreEssay on Voltaire and the Beginning of the Enlightment1305 Words   |  6 Pagesentertaining. Meanwhile, Voltaire attempted to regain the approval of the French and draw himself a position in the French Academy. With the help of Madame du Pompadour and Voltaire’s numerous fibs to the French society regarding his sacrilegious play Mahomet, he was finally elected member of the Royal Society in England and Germany placed him in the Hall of Fame.5 Yet, France still resisted his request as a member of the French Academy. Again, Voltaire fearlessly persisted and persuaded the Pope’sRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence Essay929 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom the age of enlightment, he was a great writer and was the one chosen to write the declaration of independence, he wrote it with a lot of thought about how people’s emotions would be, how they would react, and how it would work all to their advantage, and with very rhetoric language he wrote this document, stating truths and lies about what was happening in the colonies at that time. The Declaration was the spark to set off the revolution that was the most successful revolution in human historyRead More A History of the Treatment of Insanity Essays881 Words   |  4 Pagesill-treated mental patients appeared during the time of the French Revolution with the rise of moral treatment. Philippe Pinel, an enlightment psychiatrist, held the view that all men are inherently good and should be cared for as we would care for a physically ill human being with no mental disturbance. Pinel looked at the conditions in the lunatic asylums of France and was horrified by the manner in which the inmates were treated. In 1792, the French revolutionaries, led by Pinel, unchained the patientsRead MoreSimon Bolivar Essay examples2205 Words   |  9 Pagesbecause he looked to other people’s success and then expanded his visions from their success to set out his goals. Simà ³n traveled to different parts of Europe when he was young and learned about the ideas and aspirations expressed by people in the French revolution, such as Napoleon, and learned how these goals worked. This is where Simà ³n Bolà ­var used these ideas to his advantage when he worked towards the declaration of Latin American independence for his native homeland. Including the fact that he alsoRead MoreTo What Extent Was the Enlightenment the Cause of the French Revolution3952 Words   |  16 PagesTo what extent were Enlightenment ideas responsible for the outbreak of the French Revolution and the reforms of 1789? Included sources attached: John Locke, â€Å"Two Treatises on Government†, 1690; The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizens, 1789; Arthur Young â€Å"Travels in France during the Years 1787, 1788, 1789† The ancien rà ©gime, the time before the outbreak of the revolution, was divided into three estates. The first estate, for the people of the highest position in France belonged