Political, economical, and social problems in France during the 18th century led to an uneasy state. With the nation in debt due to the Seven Years’ War, unnecessary spending of the government, and the American Revolution, chaos for stability erupted the country. Enlightenment ideology and the success of the American Revolution encouraged a revolt in France. Voltaire, Montesquieu, Smith, Locke, Rousseau, and eventually the principle of Deism affected one of the stages of the revolution. Their beliefs led to various stages of the revolution with different enlightened ideas for what fitted the country the best in terms of its political, and economic situations. The first stage of the French Revolution used the ideas of Montesquieu, Locke, Voltaire,
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French citizens realized that they need a government that could make quick decisions with authority but also had the support of the people. They needed terror and the strength of France together as a whole. Government bodies and specific people exemplified the enlightenment philosophies of Rousseau, Voltaire, and Deism. Revolutionaries, mainly the Jacobins, created a republic known as the Convention with a dictator group known as the Committee of Public Safety, led by Robespierre and Danton. The sans-culotte rose to power and worked with the Jacobins. They figured in a large state like France they power of the state had to be strong to control the country as a whole. To bring the citizens together, the Committee decided to start the reign of terror, a period in which anyone against the revolution died, including the king. The guillotine equalized death for all. Beccaria considered equality of punishment righteous. Although the committee believed in Beccaria’s ideals, they also realized that the terror brought the country together from the countless battles both from outside and inside forces. Rousseau, believed that for society to be at its best everyone had to work together and think of the group as a whole, and that in times of danger death is praise worthy. The government took over the economic system and made price ceilings specifically on food, which …show more content…
The first stage borrowed ideas from Smith, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Locke whereas the second stage got their ideas from Rousseau, principles of Desim, and Becccaria. Montesquieu and Smith influenced the Thermidorian Reaction the most. French citizens revolted against their government to due to the success of the American Revolution and enlightenment ideology. However, they too, will enlighten the rest of Europe with their
French citizens realized that they need a government that could make quick decisions with authority but also had the support of the people. They needed terror and the strength of France together as a whole. Government bodies and specific people exemplified the enlightenment philosophies of Rousseau, Voltaire, and Deism. Revolutionaries, mainly the Jacobins, created a republic known as the Convention with a dictator group known as the Committee of Public Safety, led by Robespierre and Danton. The sans-culotte rose to power and worked with the Jacobins. They figured in a large state like France they power of the state had to be strong to control the country as a whole. To bring the citizens together, the Committee decided to start the reign of terror, a period in which anyone against the revolution died, including the king. The guillotine equalized death for all. Beccaria considered equality of punishment righteous. Although the committee believed in Beccaria’s ideals, they also realized that the terror brought the country together from the countless battles both from outside and inside forces. Rousseau, believed that for society to be at its best everyone had to work together and think of the group as a whole, and that in times of danger death is praise worthy. The government took over the economic system and made price ceilings specifically on food, which …show more content…
The first stage borrowed ideas from Smith, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Locke whereas the second stage got their ideas from Rousseau, principles of Desim, and Becccaria. Montesquieu and Smith influenced the Thermidorian Reaction the most. French citizens revolted against their government to due to the success of the American Revolution and enlightenment ideology. However, they too, will enlighten the rest of Europe with their