Viktoriya Molchanova

Ms. Heskestad

Global 10H

10/17/13

DBQ Essay on the French Revolution

During the Old Regime in France, the factors of inequality between the three

estates have led to the dawn of the French Revolution. The revolution lasted from the end

of the eighteenth century to the beginning of the nineteenth in France and in its main

cities, Paris and Versailles. The French Revolution was propelled by the spread of ideas

from the Enlightenment. The overthrow of absolute monarchy by the will of the people

resulted in the Reign of Terror and Napoleon’s rule. The political and economic causes of

the French Revolution affected its people, nations throughout the globe, and the history

of the world.

The uneven distribution of money and power between the social classes resulted

in the overthrow of the country. King Louis collected “taxes and spent the people’s

money as he saw fit.” (Doc. 1). As a result, most of the people of the third estate lived

their lives at a subsistent level. The divine right of monarchy left the people without any

rights of freedom. In the presented chart in document two, the government only taxed the

commoners. The people could not afford to buy basic products such as bread because

there was a very large population in France. Also, there was heavy taxation. In addition,

the king was in great debt for helping the American Revolution. Under these

circumstances the people had to make changes.

 Violence and terror controlled the seizure of power as its reforms affected the

people. Under the Legislative Assembly “war [was] declared against Austria and

Prussia.” (Doc. 4). This means that thousands of people went into war against the

absolute monarchs that opposed their republic government. The storming of the Bastille

has marked a great event in the French history because it symbolized the freedom of the

people. During the Reign of Terror, “the guillotine was claiming both the innocent and

the guilty alike, and at such a rate the gutters seemed to stream with blood.” (Doc. 6). The

tone of this excerpt demonstrates how other nations had sympathy for the citizens of

France. During the Directory, the rise of Napoleon’s control over Europe impacted the

people and nations as a whole.

The monarchs kept the new social reforms after Napoleon to maintain order. After

the French Revolution it was hard for the affected governments to bring back the people

under control of absolute monarchy. These countries could not prevent the “social change

that has been set in motion.” (Doc. 8). Napoleon’s Code gave the people enough rights

under the government’s strict laws to live a healthy life. However, they limited their

freedom. The revolution had influenced the students’ decisions in China when they “had

fought their government in Tiananmen Square.” (Doc. 9). Napoleon’s influence started

public educations around the world. One revolution changed several nations and their

governments.

The strength, differing opinion, and will for freedom of the people have

overthrown the government of France and other European countries. The political and

economic causes of the French revolution have impacted how the events of the revolution

followed. The Reign of Terror and Napoleon’s era represent how power can affect people
negatively or positively. The violent execution of absolute monarchy has led to wars with

the first, second, and third coalitions. After Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna was

established to restore some of the laws concerning the protection of the people and royal

families. Revolutions in Latin America have followed after the French Revolution. All

these events have happened because of the will of the people who wanted change and

reform.