Emma Weidenhamer

World History

9 November 2009

Ms. Demharter

There are several causes of the French Revolution. For one, the political and
social inequalities were great. Feudalism was still alive and well in France at the
time, and the common people had no privileges or power whatsoever. They were
not happy with this situation at all. Another reason is that the government was
bankrupt. Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, had spent too much, and were in
debt. Louis failed to improve the financial status, throwing the country into
bankruptcy. The outbreak of revolution was a major cause leading to the French
Revolution. The Third Estate did not agree with the system of the Estates General.
They thought that it was unfair, and formed the National Assembly to make a
constitution. They were so fueled by anger that they stormed the Bastille, the
starting point of the French Revolution that was to come.

Many things happened between the creation of the constitutional monarchy

and the dictatorship of Napoleon. Jacques Necker was dismissed by the Estates
General after failing to eliminate the country’s financial losses. The execution of
Louis XVI caused great upheaval. People were cheering the executioners on, and
dipping their garments into the king’s blood to keep as treasures. The fall of
Robespierre was a great relief to the people of France. He and his brother were
executed, along with over 100 supporters, the day after both men tried to kill
themselves. The creation of the Directory was an attempt at power that followed
the Reign of Terror. The Directory suffered from widespread corruption, even
though they agreed on some of the issues concerning the National Assembly. This
laid the foundation for the Napoleonic Era.

Without just one of the events described, the history of France could have
been drastically different. If the people of France had not stormed the Bastille, there
would have been no revolution. In turn, without a revolution, France would not have
had a constitutional monarchy. The biggest turning point for France was the
storming of the Bastille, and it had many effects and counter affects that influenced
the outcome of France’s government and ruling. Bastille Day, today, celebrates the
storming of the Bastille, and the peoples’ liberation from the unfair laws of Louis
XVI. Without it, Louis would not have been seen faulty, and would not have been
executed. France owes a lot to the people in general, for their bravery and
perseverance, knowing that they were doing the right thing for the good of France.