What do you know about the French Revolution?

Question

Answer 1

Yoda

A very sad and poorly handled affair all together.

It came about due to heavy inflation following France's military aid to the American revolution and other campaigns in Europe. Increasing prices on food, reaching extreme levels to where bread was highly costly. Poor harvests on the countryside etc.

The obscene decadence of Versailles and the French royal house (I'm a royalist but renaissance France was too much), ignited fury with the populace and led a gory revolt. Louis XVI and his queen Marie Antoniette almost escaped but were caught on the border to Belgium, promised asylum by the Belgian king, and brought back to Paris to be guilliotined. Then came the reign of terror where madmen like Robespierre decapitated multitudes accused of being "enemies" to the revolution and new nation of France, before being executed himself having tried to establish a cult around himself.

And then the dreadful National Assembly that was so laughably inept to govern and couldn't reach consensus on anything, eventually absolved in favor of the very new Emperor, Napeoleon I Bonaparte, a very ironic ending to a chaotic revolution.

That's my abbriviated version :P there are nuances of course and more to say.

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Jonathanlama

1 y
yes, bravo for your knowledge, Napoleon is an heir of the revolution besides he also inherits revolutionary wars, oh you are monarchists you hate Napoleon much then lol
AlexanderAnttila

1 y
I don't hate the man. I just don't support him or his ideals. He was still a brilliant tactician and brave commander.
Jonathanlama

1 y
his ideas are those of the French revolution, what better idea for man than the motto of liberty, equality, fraternity? lol
Show All Show Less
AlexanderAnttila

1 y
Don't forget bread. XD

How about: truth, justice, and love. The French revolutionary ideals were born out of hatred and wrath, equality in that everyone had to have the same standard of living, which isn't justice, "liberty", in that no monarchy was to exist but instead a gathering of commoners with legislative and executive authority, we all saw how that went, and fraternity in that everyone had to agree and love the revolution and the new nation of France, or be beheaded. Hardly born out of true solidarity.
Jonathanlama

1 y
The problem is that no regime is perfect, Napoleon tried to mix the old regime with ideas of the French revolution, he brought the civil code to countries where there was still serfdom, no being is perfect and no diet either, I love the kings of France and the Republic, because it's still the history of France, I take the both inheritance lol
AlexanderAnttila

1 y
No regime is perfect, but that's a strawman argument in the context. There are still better and worse ones! And in my own opinion, Napoleon's codes were too liberal. Which merely serves to enslave people to other ideals than the former. During these times I support the conservative monarchist forces of primarily Great Britain, and the other kingdoms of the coalition.
Jonathanlama

1 y
which text esy too liberal? morals or the law the hatter? moreover if the civil code you find it too liberal then you cannot support the English monarchy it is the incarnation of liberalism, moreover it is the fault of the monarchy the french revolution, the french monarchists often forget to remind it
AlexanderAnttila

1 y
I don't see how the English monarchy is the "incarnation of liberalism". And during the Napoleonic wars Great Britain represented conservative values.
Jonathanlama

1 y
first the French revolution was influenced by the philosophers of the Enlightenment, who themselves were a great admirer of the English monarchy, against the absolutist French monarchy. On the one hand, liberalism can be conservative, in particular by opposing at various times popular pushes of democratic and radical spirit, as we see in France under the July Monarchy, or, at the same time, in England. vis-à-vis Chartism. England will take a liberal, financial turn with its revolution called by them glorious revolution. And lately the French revolution finished the work of the monarchy centralization, and the English do not hate Napoleon because of the revolution but because he does not want a country to dominate the European continent. Sorry for m'y Bad English lol
AlexanderAnttila

1 y
While that is true, simply because a few enlightenment icons thought well of the Crown it doesn't make it a liberal institution. But its very nature it is conservative.

England has certainly had various periods of inclination towards other sets of beliefs, although I would describe the Glorious revolution as a mere continuous power struggle between the monarch and parliament, which did not end with the revolution, rather than a liberal uprising.

I never said the English hated Napoleon for the revolution, he wasn't its architect. But Great Britain sure did not want that kind of societal upheaval to reach their shores, which was entailed with the French revolution, the British were loyal to their monarchy.
Jonathanlama

1 y
If the discovery of America had changed the fate of England, placing it at the heart of the promising transatlantic trade, the revolutions of 1648 and 1689 were the political prerequisite for its economic orbit. England established its July Monarchy more than a century before France. The younger branch replaced the older Stuart, and set up a parliamentary and aristocratic regime, where the king reigns but does not govern, and where the censal suffrage protects the interests of "fifteen hundred and fifty thousand egotists" (Talleyrand). The Cromwell episode enabled an open English "establishment" to find in the divine fury of the Old Testament the necessary blessing for its mundane affairs. It is the reign of freedom that is established, sheltered from divine tutelage. While the English aristocrats imposed a parliamentary monarchy on the king, the French rebels failed and laid the groundwork for a decisive strengthening of the absolute and centralized monarchy.
Jonathanlama

1 y
and no it's not because of the revolution, they wanted to keep what the English call the European balance, and have the monopoly of trade, that's all, the revolution and its ideas were going to conquer Europe and threaten the monopoly of English commerce. everything else is wind, only their domination and their commercial interest interested England. England is carthage lol
AlexanderAnttila

1 y
Exactly, Napoleon was a threat to the Balance of Power, which is what Great Britain sought to preserve as they weren't keen on being under the subservience of revolutionary Paris, Napoleon himself, albeit ironically, hated monarchy.

I'm aware of England's history pre and post-Stuart deposition. The Hanoverian's furthermore, being a German house, had little love for a French despot.

And whilst the Glorious Revolution cemented a magnified parliamentary role in executive authority, the split power between Crown and Parliament began already with Magna Carta in 1215. The House of Lords had considerable influence of both legislative and executive affairs already in the late 16th century.

Napoleon wanted to unify Europe under a French flag that still carried with it the echoes of the revolution, ideas of the enlightenment, such as secularism and materialism.

So while it is true that their main concern lay in the commercial sector, their monopoly on trade and so forth, they also saw Napoleon's conquest as a threat since only a few decades earlier, Britain emerged victorious from the Seven Year's War as the new Hegemony of Europe and most powerful nation of Earth. So an all conquering Frenchman, which was a result of the revolution that cannot be denied, was causes in themselves to oppose the revolution. Especially as it inspired Britain's losses of the American colonies as well.
Jonathanlama

1 y
I just wanted to show by this example, that England was economically liberal, moreover one of the great thinkers of this liberalism will be John Locke, who will influence many philosopher of the lights and even the founding fathers of the USA. For me, the English did not attack France, because of the liberal ideals of the revolution, if France were to remain a monarchy and the French monarchy wanted to dominate Europe again, they would not accept and would have to finance the other European countries to attack France, it's just a question of domination, the European balance wanted by the English allows them to ensure their domination. But I appreciate the debate with respect for everyone

Answer 2

Jonathanlama

yes, bravo for your knowledge, Napoleon is an heir of the revolution besides he also inherits revolutionary wars, oh you are monarchists you hate Napoleon much then lol

Answer 3

AlexanderAnttila

I don't hate the man. I just don't support him or his ideals. He was still a brilliant tactician and brave commander.

Answer 4

Jonathanlama

his ideas are those of the French revolution, what better idea for man than the motto of liberty, equality, fraternity? lol

Answer 5

AlexanderAnttila

Don't forget bread. XD

How about: truth, justice, and love. The French revolutionary ideals were born out of hatred and wrath, equality in that everyone had to have the same standard of living, which isn't justice, "liberty", in that no monarchy was to exist but instead a gathering of commoners with legislative and executive authority, we all saw how that went, and fraternity in that everyone had to agree and love the revolution and the new nation of France, or be beheaded. Hardly born out of true solidarity.

Answer 6

Jonathanlama

The problem is that no regime is perfect, Napoleon tried to mix the old regime with ideas of the French revolution, he brought the civil code to countries where there was still serfdom, no being is perfect and no diet either, I love the kings of France and the Republic, because it's still the history of France, I take the both inheritance lol

Answer 7

AlexanderAnttila

No regime is perfect, but that's a strawman argument in the context. There are still better and worse ones! And in my own opinion, Napoleon's codes were too liberal. Which merely serves to enslave people to other ideals than the former. During these times I support the conservative monarchist forces of primarily Great Britain, and the other kingdoms of the coalition.

Answer 8

Jonathanlama

which text esy too liberal? morals or the law the hatter? moreover if the civil code you find it too liberal then you cannot support the English monarchy it is the incarnation of liberalism, moreover it is the fault of the monarchy the french revolution, the french monarchists often forget to remind it

Answer 9

AlexanderAnttila

I don't see how the English monarchy is the "incarnation of liberalism". And during the Napoleonic wars Great Britain represented conservative values.

Answer 10

Jonathanlama

first the French revolution was influenced by the philosophers of the Enlightenment, who themselves were a great admirer of the English monarchy, against the absolutist French monarchy. On the one hand, liberalism can be conservative, in particular by opposing at various times popular pushes of democratic and radical spirit, as we see in France under the July Monarchy, or, at the same time, in England. vis-à-vis Chartism. England will take a liberal, financial turn with its revolution called by them glorious revolution. And lately the French revolution finished the work of the monarchy centralization, and the English do not hate Napoleon because of the revolution but because he does not want a country to dominate the European continent. Sorry for m'y Bad English lol

Answer 11

AlexanderAnttila

While that is true, simply because a few enlightenment icons thought well of the Crown it doesn't make it a liberal institution. But its very nature it is conservative.

England has certainly had various periods of inclination towards other sets of beliefs, although I would describe the Glorious revolution as a mere continuous power struggle between the monarch and parliament, which did not end with the revolution, rather than a liberal uprising.

I never said the English hated Napoleon for the revolution, he wasn't its architect. But Great Britain sure did not want that kind of societal upheaval to reach their shores, which was entailed with the French revolution, the British were loyal to their monarchy.

Answer 12

Jonathanlama

If the discovery of America had changed the fate of England, placing it at the heart of the promising transatlantic trade, the revolutions of 1648 and 1689 were the political prerequisite for its economic orbit. England established its July Monarchy more than a century before France. The younger branch replaced the older Stuart, and set up a parliamentary and aristocratic regime, where the king reigns but does not govern, and where the censal suffrage protects the interests of "fifteen hundred and fifty thousand egotists" (Talleyrand). The Cromwell episode enabled an open English "establishment" to find in the divine fury of the Old Testament the necessary blessing for its mundane affairs. It is the reign of freedom that is established, sheltered from divine tutelage. While the English aristocrats imposed a parliamentary monarchy on the king, the French rebels failed and laid the groundwork for a decisive strengthening of the absolute and centralized monarchy.

Answer 13

Jonathanlama

and no it's not because of the revolution, they wanted to keep what the English call the European balance, and have the monopoly of trade, that's all, the revolution and its ideas were going to conquer Europe and threaten the monopoly of English commerce. everything else is wind, only their domination and their commercial interest interested England. England is carthage lol

Answer 14

AlexanderAnttila

Exactly, Napoleon was a threat to the Balance of Power, which is what Great Britain sought to preserve as they weren't keen on being under the subservience of revolutionary Paris, Napoleon himself, albeit ironically, hated monarchy.

I'm aware of England's history pre and post-Stuart deposition. The Hanoverian's furthermore, being a German house, had little love for a French despot.

And whilst the Glorious Revolution cemented a magnified parliamentary role in executive authority, the split power between Crown and Parliament began already with Magna Carta in 1215. The House of Lords had considerable influence of both legislative and executive affairs already in the late 16th century.

Napoleon wanted to unify Europe under a French flag that still carried with it the echoes of the revolution, ideas of the enlightenment, such as secularism and materialism.

So while it is true that their main concern lay in the commercial sector, their monopoly on trade and so forth, they also saw Napoleon's conquest as a threat since only a few decades earlier, Britain emerged victorious from the Seven Year's War as the new Hegemony of Europe and most powerful nation of Earth. So an all conquering Frenchman, which was a result of the revolution that cannot be denied, was causes in themselves to oppose the revolution. Especially as it inspired Britain's losses of the American colonies as well.

Answer 15

Jonathanlama

I just wanted to show by this example, that England was economically liberal, moreover one of the great thinkers of this liberalism will be John Locke, who will influence many philosopher of the lights and even the founding fathers of the USA. For me, the English did not attack France, because of the liberal ideals of the revolution, if France were to remain a monarchy and the French monarchy wanted to dominate Europe again, they would not accept and would have to finance the other European countries to attack France, it's just a question of domination, the European balance wanted by the English allows them to ensure their domination. But I appreciate the debate with respect for everyone

Answer 16

007kingifrit | 1.9K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Yoda

quite a lot, its an important warning tale against idealism.

one thing i always warn people about in general is how they changed the calendar, its always a warning sign when any regime tries to mess with something fundamental like time. its a guaranteed sign they are mass murderers in waiting

just like the people today trying to rename BC and AD to BCE AND CE

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Answer 17

Elliegirl | 246 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Guru

Honestly, not much. My world history class in high school skipped over a lot of that stuff and focused more on pre-16th century history.

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1 Person

Jonathanlama

1 y
Have they ever spoken to you about Louis XIV?
Elliegirl

1 y
A little bit

Answer 18

Jonathanlama

Have they ever spoken to you about Louis XIV?

Answer 19

Elliegirl

A little bit

Answer 20

nopedydoo | 50 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Explorer

too much. im taking a history class rn thats putting a lot oh emphasis on it

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Answer 21

OlderAndWiser | 6.2K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Influencer

It was in France, right?

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1 Person

Answer 22

pajamasam

Yoda

Lots of different causes led to it but one of the ones that really hits me is that most of the country was starving due to food shortages.

When people get hungry they dont care about the rules anymore. They are ready for change.

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Answer 23

Tea-Spaghetti

Explorer

All I know is from this video https://www.youtube.com/embed/8qRZcXIODNUIt seemed to be a rather chaotic period for France. But interesting too.

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Answer 24

Astarlessnightsky | 1.9K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Guru

After centuries of oppression and living in poverty, the citizen rioted and beheaded every single one of the royal families.

React

EyesOfGod

1 y
https://youtu.be/8qRZcXIODNU

Answer 25

EyesOfGod

https://youtu.be/8qRZcXIODNU

Answer 26

lanadelrey25

Yoda

It was started in 1789 to abolish the ancien regime and absolute monarchy. Ended in the late 1790's, lot's of terror during that period.

React

1 Person

EyesOfGod

1 y
https://youtu.be/8qRZcXIODNU

Answer 27

EyesOfGod

https://youtu.be/8qRZcXIODNU

Answer 28

TheFlak38 | 2.6K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Master

I was never interested much. What I like is how it sparked the beginning of a chain reaction that caused revolutions in other places.

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Answer 29

abc3643 | 3.3K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Master

O mon Dieu!

I went to Paris for Bastille Day festivities in 2007!

React

1 Person

abc3643

1 y
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."

- Opening lines of "A Tale of Two Cities".

Answer 30

abc3643

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."

- Opening lines of "A Tale of Two Cities".

Answer 31

EyesOfGod | 326 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Xper 7

That a certain man was very very interested in beheadings and that pissed off the people.

React

lanadelrey25

1 y
That's not what it was about. The guillotine was used primarily on the upper class during the revolution.
andreasderjuengere

1 y
Ouch :D It was somehow the other way round.
lanadelrey25

1 y
@andreasderjuengere Not during the revolution, the revolution was all about getting rid of the absolute monarch aka KILLING them, you know?
Show All Show Less
lanadelrey25

1 y
@jonathanlama right? I'm still learning my french history.
andreasderjuengere

1 y
@lanadelrey25 That's what I had in mind.
lanadelrey25

1 y
@andreasderjuengere Good, I thought I was right, You are from France so I hope you'd know lol. I have strong French heritage so I'm trying to learn more!
EyesOfGod

1 y
https://youtu.be/8qRZcXIODNU

Answer 32

lanadelrey25

That's not what it was about. The guillotine was used primarily on the upper class during the revolution.

Answer 33

andreasderjuengere

Ouch :D It was somehow the other way round.

Answer 34

lanadelrey25

@andreasderjuengere Not during the revolution, the revolution was all about getting rid of the absolute monarch aka KILLING them, you know?

Answer 35

lanadelrey25

@jonathanlama right? I'm still learning my french history.

Answer 36

andreasderjuengere

@lanadelrey25 That's what I had in mind.

Answer 37

lanadelrey25

@andreasderjuengere Good, I thought I was right, You are from France so I hope you'd know lol. I have strong French heritage so I'm trying to learn more!

Answer 38

EyesOfGod

https://youtu.be/8qRZcXIODNU

Answer 39

andreasderjuengere | 3.8K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Master

I was one of the village leaders in my previous life.

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1 Person

Answer 40

OddBeMe | 11.4K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Master

that it started before America's and ended way after.

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Jonathanlama

1 y
No lol
OddBeMe

1 y
yes lol
OddBeMe

1 y
1780s so around our revolution but didn't end for decades.
Show All Show Less
Jonathanlama

1 y
French révolution 1789
OddBeMe

1 y
Same time as ours.

Answer 41

Jonathanlama

No lol

Answer 42

OddBeMe

yes lol

Answer 43

OddBeMe

1780s so around our revolution but didn't end for decades.

Answer 44

Jonathanlama

French révolution 1789

Answer 45

OddBeMe

Same time as ours.

Answer 46

Anonymous

They wanted to oust King Louis 16 but I don't know what he did to piss them off so much. My knowledge of the French Revolution is limited to that segment in that Mel Brooks film.

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Answer 47

disgustingweebtrash | 4.5K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Master

The many cutting off the heads of the 1%, what's not to like?

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Answer 48

ChefPapiChulo | 989 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Yoda

They chopped of the heads of their royalty. That’s about it.

React

ChefPapiChulo

1 y
Why are her tits out?

Answer 49

ChefPapiChulo

Why are her tits out?

Answer 50

rustymopp

Xper 4

lots of french people rebelled against the state
and lots of people died

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Answer 51

yeahguy2

Xper 5

Mary gets killed over cake.

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Answer 52

purplepoppy | 2.4K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Master

It was a boom time for the guillotine trade.

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1 Person

Jonathanlama

1 y
yes lol, but hey the revolution gave us Napoleon lol

Answer 53

Jonathanlama

yes lol, but hey the revolution gave us Napoleon lol

Answer 54

Anonymous

nothing. I can't learn about it I tried.

React

EyesOfGod

1 y
Watch the Oversimplified video https://youtu.be/8qRZcXIODNU
Tea-Spaghetti

1 y
@EyesOfGod that’s a good video! Thanks for sharing

Answer 55

EyesOfGod

Watch the Oversimplified video https://youtu.be/8qRZcXIODNU

Answer 56

Tea-Spaghetti

@EyesOfGod that’s a good video! Thanks for sharing

Answer 57

harmon

Xper 5

Let them eat cake.

React

Answer 58

Anonymous

ne of my

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1 Person

Opinion Owner

1 y
Oops I accidentally clicked the answer button before. My phone is fucked up. So it's basically one of my fave historical periods with some really interesting history figures. (Marquis de Lafayette, Robespierre, Danton) It started on July 14, 1789 with la prose de Bastille, when rioting citizens of France destroyed the Bastille, cause they were unhappy with the monarchy and the economic policies of King Louis the 16th (The peasants had to pay heavy taxes to the king and the nobles and were subjected to forced labor). It's really important because it led to to the Declaration of the rights of man, which remains the corner stone and influenced most modern-day republics. Unfortunately their revolution didn't go as smoothly as the one in America. In France there were a lot more beheadings, the Reign of terror, then a dictator,…and then some more kings, and then an emperor, Napoleon
Jonathanlama

1 y
for you the dictator is Napoleon
Opinion Owner

1 y
He was an emperor, right?
I don't know if he was a dictator or not, I'm not French, so I'm not qualified to judge French history, I just know the basic events lol
Show All Show Less
Jonathanlama

1 y
Yes exactly emperor, not really dictator, authoritarian regime yes but it was necessary
Opinion Owner

1 y
The English didn't like him a lot and exiled him twice
Jonathanlama

1 y
Yes, but the English have spent their history looking for war at the France lol, but for the island of Elba it is not so much the English c is more the Russian Tsar Alexander, and Napoleon will manage to escape from the island lol

Answer 59

Opinion Owner

Oops I accidentally clicked the answer button before. My phone is fucked up. So it's basically one of my fave historical periods with some really interesting history figures. (Marquis de Lafayette, Robespierre, Danton) It started on July 14, 1789 with la prose de Bastille, when rioting citizens of France destroyed the Bastille, cause they were unhappy with the monarchy and the economic policies of King Louis the 16th (The peasants had to pay heavy taxes to the king and the nobles and were subjected to forced labor). It's really important because it led to to the Declaration of the rights of man, which remains the corner stone and influenced most modern-day republics. Unfortunately their revolution didn't go as smoothly as the one in America. In France there were a lot more beheadings, the Reign of terror, then a dictator,…and then some more kings, and then an emperor, Napoleon

Answer 60

Jonathanlama

for you the dictator is Napoleon

Answer 61

Opinion Owner

He was an emperor, right?
I don't know if he was a dictator or not, I'm not French, so I'm not qualified to judge French history, I just know the basic events lol

Answer 62

Jonathanlama

Yes exactly emperor, not really dictator, authoritarian regime yes but it was necessary

Answer 63

Opinion Owner

The English didn't like him a lot and exiled him twice

Answer 64

Jonathanlama

Yes, but the English have spent their history looking for war at the France lol, but for the island of Elba it is not so much the English c is more the Russian Tsar Alexander, and Napoleon will manage to escape from the island lol

Answer 65

Iron_Man | 6.9K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Master

Tell me all about it

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