The French Revolution

Essay submitted by Rachel Hall

Thesis: The French Revolution was a crucial event in Western History, and

possibly the single most crucial influence on British intellectual, philosophical,

and political life in the nineteenth century.

The French Revolution was a crucial event in Western History, and possibly the single

most crucial influence on British intellectual, philosophical, and political life in the

nineteenth century. It presented itself as a triumph in its early stages but later proved

to be a revolution of senseless revenge. With a mob composed of mainly animals, like

Madame Defarge, the French Revolution is one of the most barbaric periods recorded in

history.

The French Revolution began in 1789 when the States General met May 5. June the

seventeenth the National Assembly was declared. Then a gang of angry, mistreated

peasants stormed the Bastille and murdered numerous aristocrats. As a precaution,

Louis XVI and the Royal Family were removed from Versailles to Paris. The King

attempted, but failed, to flee Paris for Varennes in June 1791; he was captured. The

Legislative Assembly sat from October 1791 until September 1792, when, in the face of

the advance of allied armies, it was replaced by the National Convention, and the

National Convention proclaimed the Republic. The King was brought to trial, found

guilty, and executed on January 21, 1793. In February, war was declared against

Britain, Holland and Spain.

The Revolution heightened. After the execution of the King, the Committee of Public

Safety and the Revolutionary Tribunal were created. The most horrific time was still to

come. The reign of terror, during which the ruling faction ruthlessly exterminated all

potential enemies, began in September and lasted until the fall of Robesoierre on July

27. During the last six weeks of the terror, nearly fourteen hundred people were

murdered in the guillotine. On October 16, Marie Antoinette was executed, and many

others followed her. The revolution began to invade people's lives deeper and deeper.

In November of 1793, the worship of God was abolished and the cult of Reason took its

place. Battle followed battle; the Revolution raged on devouring everyone in its path.

Things finally came to a halt when Napoleon Buoneparte became Emperor on May of

1804.

The French Revolution was possibly the most crucial event in recorded history. It was a

time that was filled with hate, murder, despair, tyranny, and lies. We can look back to

these events and learn how selfishness and prejudice can ruin a society. At least

today, we do not have to worry about hearing the words "Let him be, he will be judged

in Paris...and condemned a traitor".

Works Cited

Rempel, Gerhard. "The French Revolution."Chronology of the French Revolution.

Online.