French Revolution Effects

Impact of the French Revolution,
1789
Question VI-2-9: Discuss the immediate and
permanent results and achievements of the
French Revolution.
Or
What was the legacy of the French Revolution of
France, Europe and the World?
Or
Give a critical account of the permanent effects
of the French Revolution of 1789 on Europe.
Or
Describe the permanent political and social
changes in the life of France resulting from the
French Revolution.
Answer: The French Revolution is the greatest
event of the modern period. It influenced the
whole human society. The whole world received
the message of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
The welfare of the common man became the
paramount priority and required changes were
made in their constitution by the different
countries. A brief description of the effects of the
French Revolution is as per the followings.
I. Effect on France
There is no doubt that the French Revolution had
far reaching implication for the world. However,
it had influenced France the most. The
Revolution had left following social, economic
and political effects on France.
France – The Representative of Humanity: -
France became the representative of the
humanity. It gave to the world of humanity three
main important messages of Liberty, Fraternity,
and Equality. However, it paved the way for
Republican governments for rest of the humanity
when it became successful in France.
The Empire of France became French Nation: -
The French nation was born because of the
French Revolution. Since then, there was one
France in place of different regions. The thirty
million French (three crores) now had the
equality of status as a citizens of a nation and
equality before law for all of them. They were
patriots of their nation in place of loyalty to any
dynasty.
End of Despotic Rule: - Before the French
Revolution, the Bourbon family was ruling over
France. The rulers of this dynasty believed in the
theory of divine right of kingship. They ruled as
per their own wishes and whims. The French
Revolution destroyed their very existence. It
established a constitutional form of government
and republic in France. They made the French
people their own ruler.
Written Constitution: - France got her first
written constitution due to the French
Revolution. It was also the first written
constitution of the European continent. It gave
the right of franchise to the citizen of France.
There were some shortcomings in the
constitution but it had ushered in a new era in
France.
Declaration of Human Rights: - The main result
of the French Revolution was that the French
people acquired many human rights. They were
given the right of equality, freedom of expression,
etc. They were free to organize their
associations. They got the right to property.
They got the equality before the law. They could
object to illegal actions of the government
officials.
Abolition of Feudalism: - The Feudal system
ended due to the French Revolution. With the
French Revolution, the difference between the
privileged and non-privileged class ended. It was
an end of the old despotic system.
Decrease in the influence of the Church: - The
influence of the high priests on the society of
France ended. The priests took oath on the new
constitution to maintain their loyalty to the
French nation. The state became the owner of
the wealth of the church. The priest started
receiving salary from the state. On the other
hand, the French people started adopting rational
attitude in place of the blind faith based on
religious affiliations.
Administrative Changes: - Numerous changes
were made in the administrative structure of
France due to the French Revolution. A single
code of law was implemented in whole of the
France and it was also codified. The whole of
the country was divided into 83 departments for
the administrative purpose. The principle of
election was adopted in the administrative at the
required places in the administration.
Re-Organisation of the Judicial System: The
National Convention introduced a common
judicial system for whole of France. The penal
code was made soft and same types of
punishments were introduced for the similar type
of crimes committed by any person without any
discrimination. The judicial system was made
independent of the executive and legislator. The
'Jury System' was introduced to try the criminal
cases.
Public Works: - Many public welfare works were
undertaken due to French Revolution. New roads
and canals were constructed. New dams and
bridges were build. The land was reclaimed from
marshes for farming. The economic infrastructure
was improved to promote the trade. The large
landholdings of the lords were sold to farmers at
cheaper rates. The agriculture was modernized.
Such improvements brought amazing changes in
the economic strength of France.
Changes in the Conditions of Farmers: - The
condition of farmers improved due to the French
Revolution. The revolution ended the feudal
system, which liberated the farmers from the
burden of unnecessary taxes. They did not have
to pay the taxes to the landlords and tithes (the
religious tax) to the church.
Cultural Effects: - France made numerous
achievements in the field of art, science, and
literature due to French Revolution. Numerous
schools, colleges, universities, and academies
were opened in the country. The special attention
was paid to art, literature, science, mathematics,
technology, and physical training in the field of
education.
II. Effect on England
The immediate effects of the Revolution on
England were as per the followings.
Effect on Reform Movements: - Pit, the Younger,
the Prime Minister of England in 1789, praised
and welcomed the events of French Revolution,
when it started in May 1789. When the Britishers
watched the blood shed which followed the
revolution, they turned against it. However, the
main message of liberty, fraternity and equality
arrested the attention of the British. They started
various movements for social and political
reforms.
Effect on British Politics: The social reform
movements which started as a result of French
Revolution divided the Whig party. The division
due to ideas of French Revolution weakened the
Whig party of Britain.
Economic Crises: It led to Financial crises in
Britain. Britain started supporting the anti-
revolution parties. It also extended them the
monetary help. Britain also suffered due to the
economic blocked launched by Napoleon. It
increased her financial liabilities and her citizens
were made to suffer the load of extra taxes.
Influence on Ireland: The success of French
Revolution encouraged the revolutionaries of
Ireland. They increased their revolutionary
activities. British government was forced to
adopt oppressive measures in Ireland.
Effect on Literature: The issue of French
Revolution became the subject matter of the
English poets, essayists and political
commentators.
Effect on Europe
1). Responses and Reactions: Russia, Spain,
Austria and Turkey remained untouched by the
French Revolution. In Poland and Ireland, the
French Revolution encouraged the revolutionary
activities. The Revolution also influenced the
middle class of Germany and Italy.
2). A phase of new Wars: The rising tide of
revolution in different countries became the
cause of fear among the autocrat rulers. They
joined to check the spread of the revolution. It
pushed Europe in a spate of anti-revolutionary
wars.
3). Rise of Concert of Europe: After defeating
Napoleon, the European nations organised the
Concert of Europe in 1815. It aimed at
maintaining the status quo and reinstatement of
European royal families. It was also
accompanied by the reactionary policies against
the revolutionary movements in European
countries.
Permanent Effects
Spirit of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity: The
main gift of French Revolution was the ideas of
Equality, Fraternity and Equality. It ended the
dominance of the theory of divine right of
kingship. It gave a deathblow to social status by
birth. It became the cause of the rise of
nationalism.
Rise of nationalism: The French Revolution
infused the sense of nationalism among the
people of France. The people of France faced the
attack of foreign power as one nation and
inculcated the feeling of nationalism among
them. It was soon followed by similar rise of
feelings of nationalism in other countries.
Growth of Democratic Ideas: The French
Revolution encouraged the rule of law, the
politics of census and democratic rule.
Rise of Internationalism: The French Revolution
gave rise to the need of coming together at
international level in order to face the common
danger. It emerged in form of Concert of Europe.
It started an era of international bodies. The
origin of UN (UNO) is also traced to Concert of
Europe.
Total Word Count: 1342