French Revolution and Nationalism

It can me asserted that the Enlightenment thinker’s ideas had the desired effect on France as France became more stable with the emergence of new bodies of power which would enforce just laws, the separation of church and state which would maintain stability within the stat, and the rise of Napoleon who came to save the disembodied France from ruin. The rise of the Jacobin Club and the Reign of Terror was a necessary evil as it revealed the need for a new body of power that wouldn’t allow for such an extremist group to rise and wreak havoc on society. “In addition, the middle-class members of the National Convention wrote a new constitution restricting eligibility to serve as a deputy to men of substantial means. Real power lay with a new five-man executive body, called the Directory. France’s new rulers continued to support military expansion abroad, but war was no longer so much a

Just about any country that one can name has some history of civil unrest, class issues, rioting in the streets, and outright warfare. These patterns of behavior are common denominators for most civilization in the world. The names, faces, and places may change, but the motivations are generally the same, because of the need for change and the willingness to do whatever is necessary to achieve it. In contrast to the United States, which was in the process of freeing itself from British colonial rule, France was working to free itself from royal absolutism. This period is historically known as the French Revolution. Many scholars do not agree on the chronology of the French Revolution; some scholars suggest that the Revolution took place between 1789 to 1799 while others feel that it did not end until Napoleon lost power in 1815. To better understand the history of the French Revolution it is necessary to discuss the causes, major events, significant figures, and the outcomes associated with these political developments. Without this uprising, that changed the face of the entire country and influenced local political life in many countries in Europe, in all likelihood the France we know today would never have existed.

France stood as the center for the Enlightenment because it was in a constant dichotomy between “the desire to censor dissident ideas and the desire to appear open to modernity and progress” (Hunt, 4098). Parliament hindered the monarchy’s reform efforts by using their own words of Enlightenment influence against them. This was a paradox that showed how the Enlightenment affected all levels of French life, but was applied to achieve different results. While the American Revolution and the resulting new republic was regarded as a successful application of the Enlightenment, the unstable, failed attempts at change and reformation in France led to early signs of revolution as revolts “in the name of liberty” from 1787-1789.

Few humans have ever come as close to ruling over the entirety of Europe as Napoleon Bonaparte did. As the end of the French Revolution drew near, Napoleon Bonaparte did not hesitate long to create policies that kept him in power. With such power, it was certain that Napoleon would use it to influence to people all over Europe. Napoleon’s impact on the people of France and Europe, who he affected through propaganda, his ideas of nationalism and patriotism, and a codification of laws, was a very long-standing and resilient ideology that was mostly prevalent during the French Revolution.

With all the glory and the splendour that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country France from its most tormented status, to the very pinnacle of its height in just a few years time. He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius; whatever it was, he was simply the best. But, even though how great this person was, something about how he governed France still floats among people 's minds. Did he abuse his power? Did Napoleon defeat the purpose of the ideals of the French Revolution? After all of his success in his military campaigns, did he gratify the people 's needs regarding their ideals on the French Revolution? This is one of the many controversies that we have to deal with when studying Napoleon and the French Revolution. In this essay, I will discuss my opinion on whether or not was he a destroyer of the ideals of the French Revolution.

She directly ties these examples forward to our present-day nation, and how our world leaders’ policies can have a substantial effect indirectly on our nation’s youth. As long as the federal government has a hand in the direction of the educational system, little control rests in the hands of the educators. Arcamone-Makinano’s most prominent example of a strong leader who led their country into prosperity was Napoleon, Emperor of France, who led his people into a short, yet key stage of Enlightenment. His educational reforms brought an enormous wealth of progress to his citizens, giving them the power of literacy to defend themselves and also potentially giving themselves more opportunities in their daily lives. Growing up, Napoleon was born and “grew up among the first descendants of the Enlightenment”, which helped form his ideals for his empire of France and his hope for a better future (Arcamone-Makinano 53). Following the revolution of France, Napoleon began the process of restoring stability to his country, which include the centralization of government, the instituting of reforms in banking and in education, and improving the relationship between his country and the papal regime (History.com). The importance of literacy was not lost on Napoleon, who believed that a

French Nationalism has been defined as the collective will of most Canadian Francophones to live as a distinct cultural community, but there are many aspects of the Canadian Identity which come from the manifestation of French Nationalism (for example, a truly delicious and uniquely Canadian food: poutine). Between 1867 and 1945, French Nationalism had important political aspects, as it signified fighting for the recognition of their own culture during and after confederation. The Ultramontanes were one very important political group who fought hard to establish French culture into Canadian society. Ultramontanism is actually rooted in Europe, prevailing during the French Revolution. It became popular in Franco-Canada shortly after confederation

Through raison d’état, Napoleon Bonaparte sought hegemon over Europe by seeking France’s national self-interest. The effects of which altered international-relations and diplomatic systems engineered by historical figures

This book is divided into nine chapters, from the Ancien Regime to the Thermidor and the Director. There are essential maps with the years and the page number, such as France in 1789. France were divided between Pays D’états such Rennes or Toulouse and Pays d’élections such as Ile-de-France or Normandy. Also, there were seat of parlement all around the coast or borders. Neely gave us a list of important figures in the French Revolution such as the Jacobins Club or Robespierre.

By the end of Napoléon’s reign nationalism transformed, encompassing not only the ideas of loyalty and culture devotion but liberalism and ethnic pride. The violence that spurred as a result of the French Revolution and Napoléon’s reign instilled fear in the minds of the allied monarchies. The allies became fully aware of the devastating powers radical and progressive nationalism possessed, thus they formed the Holy Alliance. The Holy Alliance consisted of Russia, Prussia, and Austria. The alliance was a call upon Christian leaders to call off war and acted mostly as a gentlemen’s agreement. For most of the 19th century Britain aspired to not be restricted by any outside alliances or agreements; therefore, Britain did not partake in the alliance. The Holy Alliance formed in direct response to nationalism, for nationalism threatened their countries’ unities; they did not want control of their country to slip out of their hands. Another fear of those members involved in the Holy Alliance, was the nationalist uprising of the Poles. The Polish partition in the end of the 18th century between Prussia, Austria, and Russia, caused many of the Poles to form distaste against their conquerors. Since nationalism was linked with

The French Revolution directly affected the nineteenth century through the creation of many ideologies, one important one being nationalism. Nationalism is a very controversial ideology because of the many diverse approaches towards its true definition. A broad definition of nationalism could be perceived as a strong devotion towards the culture and identity of a nation. As well as the idea that nations will benefit more from acting as an independent nation opposed to multiple states working together as a collective. Its emergence completely changed the political map of Europe and resulted in the birth of many new nations. There are many different views towards the true reason for the emergence of Nationalism in Europe. Many historians believe the emergence can be credited to the French Revolution and later the continuation of ideas under Napoleon Bonaparte. While others believe the Industrial Revolution held more importance for the widespread arrival of nationalism. It seems better to encompass both and argue that the emergence of nationalism in Europe was caused by the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule, and the Industrial Revolution.

During the eighteenth century there was one central political cause for the French Revolution. King Louis XVI was a weak ruler who endured a lavish lifestyle. He disregarded the people’s needs, leaving much of the French population in discontent. Prior to the revolution the form of government was Absolute monarchy led by Louis XVI. The problem with absolute monarchy was that people were denied basic rights, and a say in government because the divine right theory was abused. The King ruled by the divine right of theory which

Nationalism is defined as collective groups that share a sense of belonging who identify themselves as a nation. All the sources depict at different aspects of nationalism, whether it be a force of unity, geographically, spiritually, culturally, civically, or even language all these can be the very few factors that lead to the ideology of nationalism and the roots behind the concept. Concepts of nationalism can be dated back to the French Revolution (1789-1799) where France’s civilians decided to overthrow the monarchy at the time, Louis XVI , but shortly afterwards a militant, Napoleon Bonaparte was a follower behind the idea of nationalism, and a strong pursuiter. The sources acknowledge the negative impacts such as the arrogance of nations,

Nationalism became almost a new religion becasue people wanted a self-identity, they wanted to belong somewhere, to be able to say they are where they come from. Characteristics and the goals of nationalism include having pride in one's country and showing that pride off. French nationalism was sparked by the change in French society. People were proud of the improvements France had made. German nationalists looked to Bismark as a key leader. He brought many new things to Germany like social security. People were proud of the strengthening army and wanted it to be known they were from the rapidly growing and newfound powerhouse of the world. Italy nationalism was growing especially under King Emmannual, the first king under a unified Italy.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité was the cry of freedom that countless people used to propel them through, and to the end of the French Revolution. This long period of social, political and economic change in France lasted 10 years, starting in 1798 and ended with Napoleon Bonaparte. The French Revolution greatly affected all of Europe at the time and continues to represent the embodiment of revolution to this day. This constant struggle between the heavily taxed, burdened, and unrepresented third estate and those higher created an environment of monumental change for everyone. In the years leading up to the French Revolution, new beliefs and ideas were reaching every corner of Europe creating the thought that men should live free of oppression. However, in France the leader Louis XVI lead like a tyrant leaving the people impoverish and angry. Through the analysation of numerous circumstance present during the Ancien Régime, such as an inferior fiscal leadership, massive debt, and the forthcoming of new ideas during the Enlightened period, it can be concluded that the means for this revolution were justified as it is in our essence to revolt for a change.