Essay about Positive Outcomes of the French Revolution

A common theme of the historical French Revolution of the 1790s is the bloodshed associated with a new execution device, the guillotine. This negative connotation of the Revolution resides in the minds of the French and foreigners alike. However, although the French Revolution has contained a fair amount of bloodshed, its aftermath on the French has been overall positive. To begin, there were several contributing factors to the Revolution. Even though theorists have divergent opinions on the factors that started the rebellion, there are three widely accepted causes: financial status of the country, rapid overpopulation, and the relative unfairness of the French political system (â€Å"French Revolution,† Columbia). The French government was†¦show more content†¦This traditional system consisted of three â€Å"estates†. All three factions voted on legal issues, ranging from laws to wages for different occupations. The three groups consisted of the nobility, the clergy, and the commoners. Because the nobility controlled the clergy, nearly all the voting in the old regime was done in favor of the nobility and clergy, who composed only five percent of the French population (â€Å"Social Causes†). The beginnings of the revolution started with the changing of the political workings of France. In 1789 at the city of Versailles, members of the three Estates had an argument on whether or not they should vote by head, thereby giving the common class the advantage, or by estate, as was customary. Because the representatives of the common estate was larger than the other two and often started arguments in favor of head count voting, the royal officials, who were in favor of the upper two estates, decided to lock the lower class representatives outside of their meeting hall on June 20. In retaliation, the third estate arranged for a rendezvous in the royal tennis court and pledged not to disband their group until their demands were met. Their m ain goal was to overthrow the old political system with a new constitution. This pledge, later known as the Tennis Court Oath, only temporarily paid off, though; the French King convinced the other two classes to join the side of the third group, but he also secretly called the military forces toShow MoreRelatedIndustrial, French, and American Revolutions: Common Social Revolutions?764 Words   |  4 Pageshistory there have been many important revolutions that have help to shape society as it is today. There are different causes, from political to religious, economic to social. Any revolution affects those in society, and creates changes for the people in the society. There are three important revolutions that took place in the late 18th century that changed the world for the better. The French Revolution, the American Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution all took place in the late 1700s. 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