More than 200 years after the French Revolution, scholars are still debating
the far reaching effects, both costs and benefits, to France and the rest
of the world. Ten years, 1789 to 1799, transformed the society and
politics of France by moving through a series of governments from
absolute monarchy to republic. While none of these individual forms
lasted very long, change was permanent. Even though France at this
time was hardly the most repressive monarchy in Europe, the movement
produced one of the bloodiest and most destructive periods in French history, setting back the economy for a
generation. Much more than a bloody tragedy, it abolished slavery
and inherited privilege, and led to a new civil code and judicial
reform. It left the world with the larger than life images of
the storming of the Bastille (July 14 is still celebrated as National Day
or Bastille Day although it was largely symbolic with only 7
prisoners being freed, 2 of whom were insane), and the beheading of
Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette. It left us with political
terms, e.g., "left" and "right" were first used
during this period to reference radicals and reactionaries seated on
either side of the National Assembly, terror & terrorist, bureaucrat
and ancien regime. Outside France, it impacted revolutionaries in Europe and
other parts of the world who identified with the same causes.
No discussion of liberty, equality of citizens or democracy can exist
without reference to the Revolution. Below you will find
books critical to your understanding of this world changing event.
(NB--the abbreviation "FR" will be used for purposes of
brevity). See also the Directory;
Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis
XVI to Louis-Philip.
