All of us Chinese cannot wait any longer. Every day of delay will bring great suffering, disaster, revenge, social suici···
In 1789, the French Revolution broke out, which was a milestone in history. It is like a huge stone thrown into a tranquil lake, causing waves in human society.
It not only had a profound impact on France, but also reshaped the global political landscape. Therefore, its story is rich in value and fascinating highlights, and it is worth digging deeper.
French society at that time was in a state of extreme instability.
Under the Ancien Régime, feudalism was firmly rooted in French society.
The privileged classes such as nobles and clergy occupied a lot of land and wealth, but were exempted from paying due taxes.
For example, nobles relied on traditional feudal relationships to hold large amounts of land while receiving almost no tax.
At the same time, many members of the third estate, such as farmers, workers, and the emerging bourgeoisie, are burdened with heavy tax burdens and live in poverty.
The era is the 18th century, the location is France, and the characters involved include Louis XVI and all social classes of his reign.
This social situation will inevitably lead to serious differences among various classes, thus laying the foundation for instability in the outbreak of revolution.
In addition, the Enlightenment thought was widely spread at that time.
Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu, etc., these great thinkers of the Enlightenment era, actively promoted the concepts of freedom, equality, and democracy.
The "theory of popular sovereignty" advocated by Rousseau advocates that state power should belong to the people. This concept has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and prompted people to awaken.
These ideas provided the spiritual preparation for the French Revolution.
At that time, whether in French cities or rural areas, the seeds of ideas were being sown, and people began to have deep doubts about the feudal governance methods.
In 1789, the situation in France reached its peak of tension, and the revolution finally broke out.
The trigger was the convening of the Level 3 Conference.
The Third Estate was eager to gain more interests in the meeting, but unfortunately they were ostracized by the First Estate (the clergy) and the Second Estate (the nobility).
As a result, the Third Estate established an independent National Assembly. Louis XVI tried to dissolve the Assembly by force, which caused strong dissatisfaction among the people.
On July 14, 1789, the people of Paris successfully captured the Bastille, a move that became a historic symbol.
This is a group of Parisian citizens with revolutionary enthusiasm. They come from various professions such as workers and small traders.
The Bastille is a symbol of feudal autocracy, and its capture marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
This incident spread quickly in France, and the people responded one after another. Revolutionary regimes were established in many areas. This revolutionary wave was surging and unstoppable.
As the revolution progressed, the monarchy became increasingly unstable.
Facing difficulties in his rule, Louis XVI tried to flee abroad for protection, mainly to Austria and other places in France where the feudal monarchy was stronger.
In 1792, he was discovered and arrested.
In the same year, the monarchy was overthrown, a fundamental change in the French political system.
After Louis XVI was tried, he was led to the guillotine. Soon after, his wife Marie Antoinette met the same fate in the near future.
This series of events shocked European countries.
The feudal monarchs were shocked by the tragic outcome of their counterparts. The French people had a deeper understanding of the power of revolution. More and more ordinary people began to actively participate in revolutionary actions and devote themselves to the great cause of building a new country.
During the French Revolution, the Jacobin dictatorship was a relatively special stage.
The Jacobins, under the leadership of Robespierre, took a series of radical measures.
They implemented a reign of terror in order to resist counter-revolutionary forces at home and abroad.
In France, severe liquidation was carried out against those suspected of colluding with feudal forces. As a result, a large number of people were arrested and even executed.
However, the Jacobin Reign of Terror also had many negative effects.
Excessive killings have filled society with panic.
In French towns, people live in fear and many innocent people are implicated.
Affected by the turmoil, the domestic economy declared a state of collapse. Food supply is tight and prices rise sharply. This situation has lasted for some time.
The French Revolution had a profound impact on the political landscape of Europe and the world.
In Europe, the French Revolution spread the ideas of freedom, democracy, and equality.
Before that, Europe was deeply controlled by feudal monarchies. However, during the French Revolution, concepts such as human rights were proposed, and these concepts allowed people in many countries to see the dawn of a new world.
Some intellectuals in Germany were inspired by the ideas of the French Revolution and then advocated political reform in our country.
Around the world, many countries learn from France.
Although the United States had already established its own political structure when the country was founded, its understanding of the deeper meaning of democracy and civil rights was further broadened and deepened by the outbreak of the French Revolution.
The French Revolution showed the world that people had the power to change society and abolish unjust dictatorships.
After the success of the revolution, France established a relatively more democratic republic.
Under the new regime, many feudal privileges were abolished, and freedoms of speech, publication, etc. were developed.
The electoral system has replaced the old feudal hierarchy, allowing large numbers of ordinary people to get involved in politics.
At that time, many ordinary people from small towns in France were eligible to vote for the first time, and they experienced the fresh breath of life brought by political changes.
However, the French Revolution also had certain limitations.
Although France has established a republican form of government, the political environment is still turbulent and regime changes occur frequently.
Social problems such as the gap between rich and poor have not been completely solved fundamentally.
In some remote areas, the legacy of feudalism still has an impact on residents' lives and social order.
The French Revolution was an earth-shattering event, and its history was magnificent. To this day, we can still learn many lessons from it.
Dear reader, what aspect of the French Revolution do you think has the most profound impact on modern society?