Effects of the French Revolution (Maia Vaughan)
After the French Revolution had ended, many things in different locations around the world were affected socially, politically and economically. Some of these effects have changed society on such a large scale that they are still the same today.
IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE REVOLUTION
In 1795 the French Directory was established as the primary form of government in France. On November 10th, 1799 the revolution ended with the coup of 18 Brumaire and Napoleon Bonaparte overthrowing the French Directory. Napoleon then became the First Consul of France and remained their military dictator for fifteen years. Currently, Switzerland is the only country that still uses a directory.
SOCIAL EFFECTS
The French Revolution had a large impact on people socially all across Europe. At the time, (1789, before the revolution) there was a population of 26 million people living in France. More than 23 million people were peasants. The remaining 3 million were kings and the clergy, nobles and lords, and knights. This was called the Feudal System. The Feudal System was like a pyramid, the more land you owned, the more power you were given. Kings were able to give away land to wealthy lords and nobles and make laws for the country. The peasants had to work for those above them and were forced to pay rent. In return they were given protection from those above them. After the revolution the Napoleonic Code was developed by Napoleon Bonaparte. The Napoleonic Code destroyed the Feudal System. It gave more freedom to everyone in France, regardless of what family you were born into. It also gave everyone the right to own land. Unlike the Feudal System, where land was only owned by the king who would be allowed to give it to lords and nobles.
IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE REVOLUTION
In 1795 the French Directory was established as the primary form of government in France. On November 10th, 1799 the revolution ended with the coup of 18 Brumaire and Napoleon Bonaparte overthrowing the French Directory. Napoleon then became the First Consul of France and remained their military dictator for fifteen years. Currently, Switzerland is the only country that still uses a directory.
SOCIAL EFFECTS
The French Revolution had a large impact on people socially all across Europe. At the time, (1789, before the revolution) there was a population of 26 million people living in France. More than 23 million people were peasants. The remaining 3 million were kings and the clergy, nobles and lords, and knights. This was called the Feudal System. The Feudal System was like a pyramid, the more land you owned, the more power you were given. Kings were able to give away land to wealthy lords and nobles and make laws for the country. The peasants had to work for those above them and were forced to pay rent. In return they were given protection from those above them. After the revolution the Napoleonic Code was developed by Napoleon Bonaparte. The Napoleonic Code destroyed the Feudal System. It gave more freedom to everyone in France, regardless of what family you were born into. It also gave everyone the right to own land. Unlike the Feudal System, where land was only owned by the king who would be allowed to give it to lords and nobles.
POLITICAL EFFECTS
After the revolution there were many changes made to France on a political level. England was the only state that appeared to give some constitutional rights to it's people, but there was still no voting. After the revolution France joined England, and began developing a more democratic system of government, rather than power being based on ownership of land. The revolution also resulted in two new groups of people with different beliefs, Nationalism and Socialism. Nationalism is when someone becomes strongly attached and or connected to a nation. Socialism is when the production and selling of products is controlled by the government in order to keep the economy stable and controlled.
After the revolution there were many changes made to France on a political level. England was the only state that appeared to give some constitutional rights to it's people, but there was still no voting. After the revolution France joined England, and began developing a more democratic system of government, rather than power being based on ownership of land. The revolution also resulted in two new groups of people with different beliefs, Nationalism and Socialism. Nationalism is when someone becomes strongly attached and or connected to a nation. Socialism is when the production and selling of products is controlled by the government in order to keep the economy stable and controlled.
ECONOMIC EFFECTS
Entrepreneurs became more successful, on a small scale after the revolution because of the many monopolies, laws, taxes and guilds were destroyed. Guilds were buildings built in the Middle Ages and they had a substantial amount of power. Guilds were groups of people who took part in a certain craft. Anyone who was not apart the guild was not aloud to partake in anything that related to that craft. For example, If a person decided they wanted to build weapons, they would be forced to join the blacksmith guild and pay a fee. Guilds also had a negative effect on the economy and they were not worth keeping. Because the government in France demanded control of product production and selling of products to keep everything. The economy grew fast and became more powerful because the freedom everyone was given from the Napoleonic Code.
Entrepreneurs became more successful, on a small scale after the revolution because of the many monopolies, laws, taxes and guilds were destroyed. Guilds were buildings built in the Middle Ages and they had a substantial amount of power. Guilds were groups of people who took part in a certain craft. Anyone who was not apart the guild was not aloud to partake in anything that related to that craft. For example, If a person decided they wanted to build weapons, they would be forced to join the blacksmith guild and pay a fee. Guilds also had a negative effect on the economy and they were not worth keeping. Because the government in France demanded control of product production and selling of products to keep everything. The economy grew fast and became more powerful because the freedom everyone was given from the Napoleonic Code.