It was not only important for France, but it served as an example for other countries , where similar social conflicts unleashed , against an anachronistic and oppressive regime , as was the monarchy.
Policies .
The French Revolution was the most important political change that occurred in Europe in the late eighteenth century .
Consequences of the French Revolution :
1 - feudal system was destroyed
2 - A heavy blow to the absolute monarchy
Three - emerged creating a cutting liberal Republic
4 - It spread the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
5 - The separation of church and state in 1794 was a precursor to separate religion from politics elsewhere
The 6- bourgeoisie increasingly expanded its influence in Europe
7- democratic ideas were disseminated
8- The rights and privileges of feudal lords were canceled
9- began to emerge ideas of independence in Latin American colonies
10 nationalist movements were encouraged .
11 Nationalization of church property .
Before:
1 - The political organization of France, by 1789 , was monarchical . King claimed that his power derived from God , who only had to account for their actions. His subjects had no right , but the duty to obey .
2 - The King declared war and made peace, commanded armies , determined and fixed expenses taxes , appointed and dismissed officials and directed the entire administration . The provinces were administered by the mayors , with absolute power and arbitrary.
3 - The king made the laws , which were the expression of his personal will , because although should take into account the " fundamental customs of the realm " such customs were contradictory and vague , and it would have been difficult to define clearly . Moreover , the king directed the administration of justice , as this is dictated in his name and the designated officials . Torment was used to achieve the confession of the accused , who were tried in secret and that the penalties applied marks barbaric with hot irons , the pillory, the whip and the gallows.
4 - Individual freedom was threatened constantly by police, anyone could learn with a simple order of the king , the " sealed letter " . No cause was given detention because " such was the will of the king."
5 - existed prior censorship and there was no freedom of conscience .
Social .
French society was distinguished in three states or classes :
1) The clergy was the first of the privileged social classes . Retained great prestige and influence. Also received the tithes of the faithful , had extensive properties , covering a quarter of the size of France , and to top it off , did not pay taxes .
2 ) The nobility : this was the second privileged class made up of a number of people similar to the clergy , who owned land of similar importance and extent . They perceived the farmers who lived on their land , the ancient feudal rights , and pay taxes only in special cases.
3) The Third Estate were distinguished different categories , some of which had managed privileges. The top of the third estate was the bourgeoisie bottom, the workers and peasants . The latter endured heavy burdens , in the generality of cases , denied them four-fifths of the fruits of their labor . They had to pay taxes to the state, the tithe to the church and the feudal rights to the Lord.
Point of view.
- Farmers benefited out of national assets .
- The workers were badly hit : prohibition of association , private religious attendance system .
- Loss of prestige, confiscation of property and decline of the nobility.
- Wreck of the bourgeois owners of offices and emergence of a new