French Revolution Essay

In 1793, the radical Jacobin group of France took over France’s revolutionary government, thus beginning the second part of the French Revolution. The period of time of their rule is known as the Reign of Terror, in which the Jacobins killed other French citizens at the fear of those attempting to attack the Jacobins and take away their power. At the same time, France had declared war on Austria. Austria, allied by Prussia, began to push further and further into French territory. Also, a secessionist movement was also growing in Paris and southern cities. Consequentially, being attacked from all sides, France was falling into an economic crisis. Attempts by the Committee of Public Safety to reform this utterly failed. Troops were sent to combat in both the civil and international wars. By the end of the Reign of Terror, over 25 million people had been killed. However, France left many economic policies to later influence other territories of France. Thus, the French Revolution wasn’t an all-around travesty. Some at the time believed the revolution was just and secured social and political progress for France. Still, many others were against the revolution in that it was a massive onslaught and jailing of many innocent Europeans. The new government oppressed its citizens and treated them unfairly for its own benefit, and that triggered revolts against the revolutionized government- the government that was supposed to represent the good people, but ended up becoming what it initially fought against.

To some French citizens, the revolution was a beneficial change for France. During the 1780s, French citizens became increasingly upset with the poor actions of the monarchies of Louis XV and Louis XVI. Always trying to defending their privileges, the upper-classed government members did little to reform the nation in its decaying economy at the time. So in retaliation, the citizens of France revolted, had Louis XVI executed, and revolutionized the government, forming a...