Cause and Effects of the French Revolution Essays

Cause and Effects of the French Revolution Essays Cause and Effects of the French Revolution Essay Cause and Effects of the French Revolution Essay Essay Topic: Cause and Effect Have you ever wondered what the causes and effects were of the French Revolution? Today, we are going to explore this amazing question, and find out what the real causes’ and effects were of this remarkable Revolution! First off, you could name a dozen reasons why the French Revolution was started, but, I decided to name one key factor for the cause. The Financial Crisis. The decadence of the monarchy, along with other factors like war and poor harvests, led to an extreme financial crisis in France during the second half of the 18th century. People were going hungry and it appeared as if the monarchy just continued to spend carelessly. At the time of the Revolution, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were known for spending carelessly. Marie Antoinette is frequently credited with callously saying, Let them eat cake in response to finding out that Parisians were starving. However, it is probably more accurate to say that she was totally unaware of the peoples suffering. Louis XVI further added fuel to the fire by dismissing financial ministers who tried to bring about reform. As you would probably guess, this made the people furious because their rights were being demolished by a King. In turn, this would be one of the major causes the French Revolution. Secondly, the effects of the French Revolution not only had long-lasting consequences for France, but also for the rest of the world as Europe saw a rising middle class and Napoleon Bonapartes rise to power. You could also name a dozen effects that the French Revolution had on the people and the country, but, once again I chose one key factor for the effect. The Reign of Terror. While the goal of the French Revolution was in fact to establish a more democratic government that represents all people as opposed to just the wealthy and the aristocracy, the result really ended up being relative chaos. The Reign of Terror, largely administered by Danton and Robespierre, saw the beheading of many members of the royalty, including Marie Antoinette and countless others who were members of the French court or in some way considered a threat to the new government. This put all of France in fear because they didn’t know what to do, or whose ideas to follow. With all of this going on France was in ruins both politically and intellectually, which was one of the biggest factors in effecting the French Revolution. Lastly, determining the causes and effects in the French Revolution is not a simple matter. Like all wars and revolutions, there were a variety of factors and events that contributed to the climate before the French Revolution. The effects of the French Revolution however, remain indelible in the shaping of French culture. Who knows what would’ve happened with the French culture if this Revolution didn’t take place, maybe France would be a politically sound country, or maybe the there would have been a different Revolution. What did happen though, was the fight for power and greed. The French Revolution was a prime example of what can happen to mentally sound people if power and lust is placed into their grasps. In conclusion, an entire history book could be filled with the causes and effects of the French Revolution however, understanding the gist of the mentality of the time as well as examining some of the far-reaching consequences can give you a look into the exciting past of those interesting times events!