Storming of the Bastille

Pacifism is defined as “opposition to war or violence of any kind”. In theory, pacifism is an abstraction that would make the world an idyllic place, but when several parties are on the opposite side of the spectrum and decide to take what they want from others by using brute force, is pacifism plausible if one wants to survive? Over the past nine centuries, empires from all over the world have been invading countries, slaughtering thousands to claim land and anything else that they felt is…

Prior to the French Revolution, the Age of Absolutism brought about several absolutist leaders in eastern Europe such as Leopold I of Austria and Ivan the Great of Russia. Although an age of constitutionalism had been occurring at the same time in western European nations, including France, some aspects of absolutism were apparent in the reign of Louis XV as he spent much of the taxpayer money on France on wars, which he would be unable to pay off. Not only that, he increased the power of the…

Sweeping changes impacted all of Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries; in fact, these two hundred years serve as the bridge between the Medieval Period and the “Modern Era”. Many antiquated systems and structures were eradicated, and in their place(s), new technologies emerged. One of the most significant changes occurred through the agricultural revolution. Ironically, these fundamental changes (in how people met their survival needs) most benefitted the already secure middle class and…

What does it mean to have equal rights? In an egalitarian society, all individuals are treated equally and are given the same opportunities and rights; no one is given special privileges simply due to their ethnicity, opinions, background, education, or social standing. Although this is relatively common in the 21st century, countries such as France in the late 1700’s had a difficult time achieving it due to a succession of abusive leaders. After many years under a feudal system, the people of…

ineffective absolute government. This dissatisfaction only increased when the Third Estate shared their opinions with the existing government, who chose to ignore them; thus the Revolution begins in 1789 with the Tennis Court Oath and the Storming of the Bastille. The…

History Assignment The study of the development of a revolutionary situation is also the study of crises of an existing government. The world which we live in today has been dramatically modernized due to the consequences which became of three major revolutions: the American Revolution 1775, the French Revolution 1789 and the Russian (Bolshevik) Revolution 1917. Revolution is defined as repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people…

The American Revolution and the French Revolution were very large events that shaped their own countries and affected the whole world. Being only eight years apart from the signing of the Treaty of Paris (which officially ended the American Revolution) in 1783, to the start of the French Revolution in 1789, they are very much integrated with each other. There are many similarities between these events, and just as many differences. As the causes and effects of these events are explored, it…

The Life and Times of Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France. Remembered for her dysfunctional marriage, ridiculous hairstyles, remarkable beauty by the times standard, and lavish spending habits she is attributed to causing the resent that started the French Revolution and labeled her ‘Madame Deficit’. Marie Antoinette is infamous from France to our own Canada, one of history 's most well known and controversial women. Marie Antoinette was born Maria Antonia Josepha…

Published in 1859, by Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities is a love story that focuses on both sides of the French Revolution and contains social commentary about the rise and fall of the third and second estate. Dickens, at the time, was influenced by Karl Marx’s ideals from the Communist Manifesto, published 11 years prior in 1848, which describes the class struggles between the bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. Dickens, influenced by the Communist Manifesto, wrote the book, A Tale of Two…

Humanities 1020 Study Guide Chapter 15-17. Identify each in complete sentences: 1. Council of Trent The main principal of the counter reformation, the Council of Trent was one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most regal councils 2. Jesuits A member of the Society of Jesus, which was a Roman Catholic order of priests, founded by Ignatius Loyola 3. Ignatius Loyola Ignatius Loyola was the founder of the Society of Jesus 4. Counter Reformation The reaction of the Catholic Church to the Protestant…