This Worksheet Will Help You Answer The Question How Revolut

This Worksheet Will Help You Answer The Question How Revolutionary W

This worksheet will help you answer the question, “how revolutionary was this revolution?” in your Milestone 2. The revolution I chose to research is: 1. Did the revolution succeed in creating a completely new system of government in the end? Or did they end up keeping a lot of stuff from the old government they overthrew? Or did they end up with a government even more oppressive than the one they overthrew?

2. Who was considered a citizen in the new nation? Who was allowed to vote or hold office? Were some people not considered citizens or not allowed to vote and hold office?

3. Did the revolution bring about big changes in anything other than government? (For example, did the whole structure of society change? Did people who had been on the bottom suddenly gain newfound power or status? Did people who had been rich and powerful end up losing that status?)

4. Were there groups of people that were “left out” of the changes that the revolution brought about? Or groups that ended up worse off than before? Explain.

Paper For Above instruction

The French Revolution, which began in 1789, serves as a pivotal example of a transformative upheaval that redefined political, social, and economic structures in France. Analyzing whether it succeeded in creating a new system of government reveals that it did indeed dismantle the ancien régime and establish a republic, at least temporarily. The revolution abolished the absolute monarchy and aristocratic privileges, replacing them with a constitutional monarchy and later a republic, though ongoing tumult led to periods of more oppressive rule under Napoleon Bonaparte. This suggests that in some ways, the revolution replaced one form of oppression with another, but it fundamentally altered France’s governmental landscape.

Regarding citizenship, the revolution initially expanded political participation by advocating for “common men” to have rights. However, the franchise was limited to male citizens who met certain property requirements, excluding women, the lower classes without property, and non-citizens. Women, for instance, fought for rights but were largely marginalized during the revolutionary period, and their citizenship rights were not fully recognized. This limited scope of who could vote or hold office reflected ongoing societal inequalities rooted in gender and class distinctions.

Beyond government, the revolution brought profound social changes. Feudal privileges were abolished, and the class hierarchy was challenged through measures like the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Yet, societal structures did not fundamentally flatten; economic disparities persisted, and new power dynamics emerged, especially as revolutionary leaders gained prominence. The revolutionary ideals inspired lower classes and some peasants to assert their rights, leading to land redistribution efforts, although many of these gains were unstable or reversed during subsequent political upheavals.

Nevertheless, certain groups were left out or suffered during the revolution. Women, despite their active participation, were not granted equal rights and faced repression. The rural peasantry, although they benefited from the end of feudal dues, often found themselves caught in violence and instability. Non-Christian minorities, such as Jews and Protestants, faced restrictions or targeted violence. Additionally, many colonized peoples in France’s overseas territories did not see any benefits from the revolution; in fact, the revolutionary chaos often led to increased repression and exploitation of these groups. Therefore, while the revolution aimed for universal liberty, many marginalized groups remained excluded or worse off after the upheaval.

References

• Doyle, W. (2001). The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
• Furet, F., & Richet, M. (1990). The French Revolution, 1770-1814. Blackwell Publishing.
• Linton, M. (1998). The French Revolution and the Birth of Democracy. Cambridge University Press.
• McPhee, P. (2016). The French Revolution: A History. Yale University Press.
• Schama, S. (1989). Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution. Vintage.
• Tocqueville, A. de. (2003). Democracy in America. Digireads.com Publishing.
• Blanning, T. C. W. (2015). The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648–1815. Penguin Books.
• Hibbert, C. (1990). The French Revolution. HarperCollins.
• McIlwain, C. H. (1968). The High Court of Parliament. Harvard University Press.
• Ramsay, W. (2005). The French Revolution: A Beginner's Guide. Oneworld Publications.