The Legacy of the French Revolution

A detailed Summary of The Legacy of the French Revolution

One of the periods of tremendous upheaval throughout Europe was the French revolution, beginning in 1789. As the people of France, from the workers to the bourgeoisie to the nobles, vied for political power and control, the country went through intense periods of terror and bloodshed. Some may argue that the revolution's end did not fulfill the desires of the French people or aid them in their search for reform. But the revolution did create the inextinguishable spark throughout Europe: the right to rebel. All over the continent oppressed countries began following France's lead, trying to better their life through rebellion. This spark of hope in Europe's lower classes is the foremost legacy of the French revolution; all people realized the power of the working man and his ability to unite a country. While the revolution, with its moderate yet useless political reform, implement the beginning of the modern age of France, the revolution's true legacy was to afford Europe's lower classes with the confidence, cause, and motivation to change their country through rebellion.

The political reforms created by the revolution in France did little to better the people's lives or empower them through representation. As power shifted hands

Only the revolution could have created the rebellious actions of Europe's discontented nationalists and citizens. For hundreds of years the people of Europe lived under absolutism, and yet all the successful rebellions happened after the French revolution. Countries became more unified because the peasants and middle class forgot their differences, created unity, and then liberated their country. Only after the Napoleon's conquest of Europe, spurring the nationalism hidden deep in the people, did the liberation of countries begin. Belgium was able to break free of its tie with Holland, despite the fact that the conservative leaders of the Congress of Vienna tied the countries together. Though Poland's revolt failed because of lack of unification, the spirit of the people was still kindled, and the leaders of Russia, Austria, and Prussia realized the need to quell that spirit. Latin-American hopes were fed after the French cried out for justice, and Haiti, Mexico, and the South American countries became separate countries. In the words of Metternich, "When France sneezes, Europe catches cold." The illness in France was its people, and the sickness in Europe was the people's realization and unification against absolutism. France's storm of revolt and uprising might have been unsuccessful in meeting its goals, but it was successfu

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Approximate Word count = 900
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History