FREE Philosophers of the French Revolution Essay (original) (raw)

The French revolution was three phases rolled into one revolution. Each revolution had a different approach to enlightened philosophy, political goals, and economic ambitions. Throughout these three phases, the philosophers of the enlightenment from chapter eighteen are represented in influencing the French revolution. These philosophers, including Locke, Smith, Wollstonecraft, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, proved as a guiding force through the best and worst parts of the French revolution. .
The first stage of the French Revolution was caused by financial crisis because they were in debt due to the American Revolution, nobles and clergy resisted taxation, and Louis XVI wanted his rights. To solve the financial crisis, the works of the Scottish philosopher, Adam Smith, is represented and had to be used. Smith believed that rational self-interest and competition can lead to economic prosperity through free market capitalism opposed to mercantilism. This way trade can help not only one, but both sides. But capitalism had been tried before and was loathed by the public both times. .
When capitalism was tried the price of foods and many other necessities inflated such as bread creating furious mobs, the mobs were out of control revolting and ravaging bakeries. Much to Wollstonecraft's approval a mob of women marched to Versailles to make their feelings known. There was a bill proposed by Olympe de Gouges that called, "Declaration of the Rights of women " which is very similar to Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Woman. The financial crisis in France would soon be solved once all of France has committed to free market capitalism. But to solve the crisis Louis XIV calls for the Estates General in this stage. The Estates General Consisted of 3 estates, the 1st estate was the clergy and its officials, 2nd estate was the aristocracy, and the 3rd estate included merchants, doctors, lawyers, and bankers; mainly the upper middle class.

1. History of the French Revolution

The French Revolution was a very different revolution of its time. Unlike previous revolutions, the French Revolution was very violent. ... Many philosophers over the years, like Marx, have studied this event, and tried to conclude why it was so violent. ... France continued to be reformed even after the revolution and was a subject of great debate for many philosophers. ... After the French Revolution, philosophers started creating Historiographies of the revolution and tried to determine why the Revolution occurred. ...

2. Enlightenment And The French Revolution

The effect of the Enlightenment on the French Revolution has created a debate which will not be resolved soon. ... However the philosophers of the Enlightenment and their ideas did not, in themselves, incite the revolution. ... Indeed, the 18th century had no Karl Marx because the prophets of revolution, like Marx, were made by the French Revolution. The French revolution was not made by prophets. The revolution in France was caused by many things. ...

3. The fall of the ancien regieme and the french revolution

The period prior to the French Revolution in 1789 has been labeled the Ancien Regime. ... France then tried to adopt and follow the ways of the British, even going as far to take social and political ideas from their philosophers into their period of Enlightenment. French philosopher Voltaire said it best when he described the feelings of the people of France leading up to the Revolution as a "civil war in every soul". ... The unique characteristics of the Ancient Regime in France allowed for a major social revolution in the 18th century, unseen at this time by any other nation. ... There id...

4. Government and the French Revolution

The French Revolution brought forth great changes in the government and society of France. It lasted from 1789 to 1799, and had democratic effects of France; however the revolution did not make France a democratic country. ... Background leading up to the French revolution includes various social, political, and economic conditions. ... During the 1700's, the French writers were called philosophers and philosophers from other countries raised new ideas about freedom. ... The French revolution ended supreme rule by French Kings and strengthened the middle class. ...

5. French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era

The French Revolution lasted ten years starting in 1789 and ending in the year 1799. The French revolution was a period of very radical social and political change in French and European history. ... Next, the second stage of the revolution took on equality to rally their troops, which was also the revolution of the working people in the French cities. ... In the French revolution democracy was brought upon because political thinkers and philosophers inspired its people by buying into American idea's and telling the people that the only way to freedom is to separate the legislative, judic...

6. The French Revolution

"The French Revolution Owed Much to the Philosophes" The French Revolution of 1789 had many causes, both short and long term. ... However, a Revolution such as the one in France does not come about simply because people are discontent. ... Although the Enlightenment consisted of many other philosophers and social commentators, from countries such as England and America, these four made the biggest impact on the French people, and played the largest role in driving them to a revolution. Voltaire, a philosopher, social critic, and probably the most influential of the philosophes, championed ...

7. French Revolution

Causes of French Revolution Although the beginning of the French Revolution cannot be pin pointed to one specific event that took place, there were many problems that provoked the people of France to fight for their independence. ... From the start of the American Revolution France had been supplying arms and money to the rebels oversea. ... "Before the Revolution, French society was grounded in the idea of privilege or an inequality of rights" (386). ... During the Enlightenment, people know as philosophers spread their ideas about the world to many people. ... There were a few...

8. Bastille Day and the French Revolution

"Bastille Day, on the Fourteenth of July, is the French symbol of the end of the Monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution" (www.hightowertrail.com). ... There are several factors that led to the Revolution. ... The philosophers' books were widely read by the educated class. The ideas in these books were very popular and many people agreed with the philosophers. ... Bastille Day is one of the largest celebrations in France, and the whole day is like one big party to celebrate the beginning of the French Revolution, and the end of royalty in France....

9. The French Revolution: 1789-1799

There were many different causes of the Revolution each influencing the people of France towards a revolution. ... In France, more and more people were reading the ideas of Enlightenment philosophers and philosophes and agreed with the ideas. ... Along with the Enlightenment the American Revolution influenced the French Revolution. ... The division among French society at that time was another major cause of the French Revolution. ... France's financial crisis also played an important role in the French Revolution. ...

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