The French And Russian Revolutions

There are parallels between the French Revolution to the Russian Revolution in the 20th century. The Russian Revolution began due to peasants revolting against the leader due to tax burdens. Similar, to how the French Revolution started due to the heavy tax burden placed on the Third Estate. Both revolutions eventually got more radical and violent, the French Revolution with the Reign of Terror where citizens were guillotined, while the Russian Revolution had Bloody Sunday, where citizens were killed. Radical leaders eventually got control over the government, such as Robespierre with the Committee of Public Safety and they issued their own policies Then, the Russian Revolution eventually ended with the Soviet Union taking control of Russia, similar to how Napoleon took control of France in the French Revolution. Both the French and Russian Revolution share similar characteristics between each

The initial impulse of the French revolution was destructive. For those who lived through all, or even part, of these vast upheavals, the shock was overwhelming. Maximilien Robespierre was a proud disciple of the enlightenment and declared that no political writer had foreseen this revolution. Robespierre (1758-1794) was one of the leaders of the Committee of Public Safety, the effective governing body of France during the most radical phase of the revolution. The leaders of this revolution attempted, perhaps more than any other revolutionary leaders before or since, to totally transform human society in every way. (Supreme Being) Although Robespierre began with patriotic intent he still was the face of the Reign of Terror and was viewed as being a radical person.

In conclusion to the fall of the Romanov dynasty, it is shown that Nicholas had the biggest impact of Russia becoming a communist country as he did not have a greater understanding on the way to run his country, he also didn’t take full responsibility for his people and the soldiers in WW1,

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.

In 1905 and 1917 Russia was tormented by chaotic revolutions. The workers and the intelligentsia had arrived at the point of hating the autocracy because they could no longer endure the suffering, hunger and repression that the tsarist policies brought with them. Years later Lenin referred to the revolution of 1905 as a “dress rehearsal for the October Revolution” of 1917. In 1905 tsardom nearly fell. Nicholas II succeeded in remaining in power, stabilizing the situation, only thanks to various concessions. However, his continuing to rule harshly and unwisely brought him to be forced to abdicate in the February of 1917, signing the end of the Russian monarchy.

The American Revolution began for two reasons: political and economic, while the French Revolution began with domination and mismanagement that contributed to the French society. During the Revolution many events occurred having a major effect, such as the sugar act, currency act, and the Townshend act. The French began the Tennis Court Oath, the Storming of the Bastille, and the overthrown of Monarchy. The French Revolution followed in suit with the American Revolution, because the French were in favor for what the American Revolution was fighting for.

While many people may be familiar with the story of the French Revolution and history of Marie Antoinette, they may not fully comprehend the lively debate that continues to exist around Marie Antoinette. A debate over how Marie Antoinette should be remembered exists, with some arguing that Antoinette was spoiled and careless and others taking the stance that Antoinette was a victim of her harsh circumstances. Before delving into this controversy, background knowledge of Marie Antoinette’s life can assist in understanding the controversy. In 1770 at the age of fourteen, Marie Antoinette, daughter of Austrian empress Maria Theresa, was married to Louis XVI of France to strengthen French and Austrian relations. In 1774, Louis XVI became king and Marie Antoinette became queen. Dissatisfaction toward Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and economic turmoil led the French Revolution to begin in 1789, with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette eventually being guillotined in 1793 (Covington 56-65).

Despite the fact that French and Russian revolutions occurred over a century apart, both revolutions had two major similarities: poor economy and bad leadership. Poor economic conditions affected most strongly regular people who simply wanted justice and equality. As a result, both revolutions were sparked by the people’s desire to replace their autocracy governments. Although both revolutions had a lot in common, they had differences as well. The French revolution was deeply rooted in the ideals of Enlightenment and involved the overthrow of the monarchy. Russian revolution, on the other hand, had communist values and occurred due to collapse of government from the top.

The first of these tsars, Ivan III, also known as “Ivan the Great”, defied Mongol control and declared the autonomy of Moscow. Ivan III was soon followed by Ivan IV, also known as “Ivan the Terrible”, who declared his power by pushing aside his advisors, crowning himself tsar and crushing boyars, who were Russian nobles. At first, Ivan’s reign was successful as he added vast new territories to the Russian empire. Later, after his wife’s death, Ivan’s power and prosperity declined because he started persecuting those whom he believed opposed him. This resulted in the execution of many nobles and their families, friends, servants and peasants, in which he replaced with a new service nobility, whose loyalty was “guaranteed by their dependent on the state for land and titles.” [1] Ivan the Terrible nor Ivan III were never absolute rulers- their ways of ruling just helped lay the foundation for Russian absolutism. After Ivan IV and his successor died, Russia entered a “Time of Troubles”, which lasted from 1598-1613, in which the peasant warrior bands known as Cossacks, rebelled against their nobles who fought back and defeated the Cossacks. Ivan’s grand-nephew, Michael Romanov, was soon elected by the Zensky Sober- a body of nobles, and placed efforts toward state-building. He was succeeded by “Peter the Great”, the Russian king that truly consolidated Russian

The story of revolution and resistance in 18th-century France is a complicated one, and no two historians tell the story the same way. However, it is clear that for the revolutionaries, Marie Antoinette’s significance was mainly, powerfully symbolic. "She and the people around her seemed to represent everything that was wrong with the monarchy and the Second Estate: They appeared to be tone-deaf, out of touch, disloyal (along with her allegedly treasonous behavior, writers and pamphleteers frequently accused the queen of adultery) and self-interested"( Moore 17 ). What Marie Antoinette was actually like was beside the point; the image of the queen was far more influential than the woman herself.

In the year 1917, the war torn Russian Empire was falling to pieces, its people ravaged by war and stricken by famine, all while the royal family enjoyed the high pleasures of life. Russia’s people could no longer withstand it, so they revolted against the Russian Czar and his government alongside the Bolsheviks, who would take the Czar and his family hostage (Earle). These events occurred nearly one hundred years ago, when the Russian Czar Nicholas the II and his family were killed by revolutionists after being dethroned and held captive for over a year. The assassination of Czar Nicholas the II of Russia was just because he was an ineffective military leader, who persecuted certain groups of people, and chose the worse possible scenarios

France and Russia both underwent powerful revolutions. The French Revolution resulted in the overthrow of the long established Bourbon monarchy. The Russian Revolution resulted in the overthrow of the Roman Dynasty. Both the French and Russian Revolution were the direct result of poor economic conditions, government corruption, and unjust treatment of the lower class.

Throughout history, there has been a pattern of many political revolutions; some as complex and violent as the French Revolution, others as peaceful as the Brazilian, and others neutral, such as the Iranian Revolution. Revolutions in history always demonstrate similar fundamentals or principles. In this case, the French and Iranian Revolution were influential political revolutions commenced because of abuse of power and shared several similarities, but there are significant differences between the two. Both French and Iranian Revolution were remarkably involved and made up of several messy phases. Although both revolutions share various similarities, the French Revolution is not justified due to the fact that some of the main reasons or conditions that set forth the revolution worsened and drastically drifted; where as the Iranian Revolution differed from the French Revolution, because it began and focused on everyone, religion, and disobedience.

Revolutions represent most of the big changes in history. They can be classified as political, economic, or social, while some of them can be classified in more than one of these categories. Revolutions bring important changes that can have a worldwide impact, from industrial or sexual revolutions, to independence wars and governmental system related revolutions. Some of these events have a lot of things in common, but having numerous differences at the same time. The French Revolution was a social/political revolution which took place in 1789 until 1799, having as one of its most important figures Napoleon Bonaparte, and the objective of changing their governmental system.

Throughout history, there is a pattern of many political revolutions; some as complex and violent as the French Revolution, others as peaceful as the Brazilian, and others neutral, such as the Iranian Revolution. Revolutions in history always demonstrate similar fundamentals or principles. In this case, the French and Iranian Revolution were influential political revolutions commenced because of abuse of power and shared several similarities, but there are significant differences between the two. Both French and Iranian Revolution were remarkably involved and made up of several messy phases. Although both revolutions share various similarities, the French Revolution is not justified due to the fact that some of the main reasons or conditions that set forth the revolution worsened and drastically drifted. The Iranian Revolution differed from the French Revolution, because it began and focused on everyone, religion, and disobedience.