The French Revolution

The French Revolution was a period of major social change in France

from 1789 to 1815. During the French Revolution, the French people

tried to introduce several reforms to the French government. Many

believed that the revolution would bring freedom, equality and

democracy. However, the radical Parisian section of the

Revolutionaries took control of Paris and placed the Declaration of the

Rights of Man and of the Citizen at the center of public life. This

declaration laid down fundamental principles of civil liberty, freedom

of opinion and general equality before the law. The revolution

eventually brought about far more violence and horror than its

supporters had anticipated.

First, note that during the French Revolution, France adopted many

political and social ideas first developed by the Roman Empire. For

example, Julius Caesar established a Roman Republic with two main

features: 1) a Senate made up of elected representatives and 2) a

Supreme Court to maintain law and order. Furthermore, Caesar

instituted a code of laws called the 'CIVIS CURIA LAETAE

PRUDENTIAM' or 'The Code of Laws GIVEN BY THE LAEVES TO THE

CAREFUL.' These laws laid down principles for property rights, record-

keeping and contract law as well as punishments for crimes. In

general, these laws proved so popular that they were later adopted by

the Roman Catholic Church as canon law.

The second factor that led to major change in France was the war

initiated by the radical Parisian section of the Revolution. Initially,

revolutionary forces decided to target prisons in order to release

imprisoned members of the aristocracy. However, this led to a conflict

with counter-revolutionaries who targeted revolutionaries in return. In

response, revolutionaries formed citizen armies known as 'The

National Guard.' Ultimately, this led France into a conflict that would

end with Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power.

Although Napoleon Bonaparte seized control from his cousin Louis

Bonaparte, he retained several key revolutionary principles. His

administration maintained a republican form of government where

representatives from districts met in National Assemblies to make

decisions. One famous decree during this time was 'The Code

Napoleon' which standardized legal procedures throughout France. In

addition, Napoleon introduced a new system of public education

which helped mold future leaders for his country. Ultimately,

Napoleon's dictatorship ended with his own downfall and mission to

cross the Russian Alps on an ice rink.

The French Revolution was a period of major social change that

changed many aspects of life in France. However, changing

circumstances eventually led to far greater horror than desired

reformers had envisioned. Ultimately, key aspects such as citizen

armies eventually led to greater conflict between revolutionaries and

Napoleon's regime- which ultimately led to Napoleon's rise to power

and eventual downfall at Waterloo.