French Revolution - Fight For Liberty Essay - 1643 Words

Rousseau once said, â€Å"Liberty is a succulent morsel, but one difficult to digest.† What does the quote mean? Who is Rousseau? And most importantly, what is the French Revolution, and how does it have anything to do with succulent morsels? Rousseau is stating that liberty is indeed something that everyone desires, but for those who achieve liberty, it’s something that is difficult to handle, and without proper moderation, liberty can be more of a hindrance than an asset. The relationship between Rousseau and the French Revolution, however, may require some further research years prior to the revolution. Before the French Revolution that occurred during the late 18th century, France was considered one of the most advanced and opulent†¦show more content†¦The system had divided the citizens of Frances into three social classes, or estates – the Roman Catholic Church, the Nobility, and the Third Estate, which was further divided into the Bourgeoisie , the Workers, and the Peasants. The Roman Catholic Church had the most freedom in the country, and those that were considered to be in the estate were exempt from paying taxes, had access to high governmental positions, yet contributed only 2% of its income to the government. The Nobility also had access to the high official positions, and despite being only 2% of the French population, the nobility owned more than 20% of the land. The first two Estates scorned the Enlightenment ideals occurring at this time because they threatened their status and power in France. The Third Estate, with 92% of the French population, was separated into three more distinct groups, although these groups differed greatly. The bourgeoisie, which was made up of merchants and artisans, were highly educated and were often just as wealthy as the nobles, although they paid high taxes and lacked the privileges given to the 2nd Estate. What separated the bourgeoisie from the nobility was their strong be lief in Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality. The second portion of the Third Estate was the workers, which consisted of peopleShow MoreRelatedHistory : The American Revolution Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pagesalways been filled with individual liberty ideas. Liberty is known to be the idea that is firmly held by men in their hearts, as they were willing to fight or even die for it. It was an ecstatic feeling when they finally achieved it. The people had an idea of a constitutional freedom and the moral quality, which was strongly held in the people’s hearts in America, and it consequently spread to other countries in the world. It is believed that American Revolution was the most important chapter in humanRead MoreHistory : The American Revolution1442 Words   |  6 Pagesalways been filled with individual liberty ideas. Liberty is known to be the idea that is firmly held by men in their hearts, as they were willing to fight or even die for it. It was an ecstatic fe eling when they finally achieved it. The people had an idea of a constitutional freedom and the moral quality, which was strongly held in the people’s hearts in America, and it consequently spread to other countries in the world. It is believed that American Revolution was the most important chapter in humanRead MoreA New Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens785 Words   |  3 Pagestyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.† - Thomas Jefferson A quote from the book A Tale of Two Cities is â€Å"The Republic One and Indivisible of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or Death†. This quote was used by the revolutionaries during the time of the French revolution; however, this quote is ironic because it stands against what the revolutionaries wanted to change. 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The French Revolution practically destroyed its earlier absolute monarchy and caused the people to fight for social and political systems that treated themRead MoreThe American And French Revolutions1549 Words   |  7 PagesEnlightenment was a period of great thinkers trying to solve the world’s mistakes with logic. Their ideas eventually affected later Revolutions. The American and French Revolutions were very inspiring around the world. Enlightenment had an impact on the American and French Revolution in many ways. There were 3 main Enlightenment thinkers who affected the revolutions the most. John Locke believed people were reasonable and moral. He also thought we should have natural rights instead of a powerfulRead MoreNapoleon timeline Essay1026 Words   |  5 PagesFrench Revolution and Napoleonic Era Worksheet HIS/114 Version 3 1 University of Phoenix Material French Revolution and Napoleonic Era Worksheet 1. Essay Explain, in 1,050 to 1,400 words, how the following ideas and ideals influenced the events and motivated the participants in the French Revolution: †¢ Liberty †¢ Equality †¢ Brotherhood †¢ Hubris †¢ Fiscal irresponsibility †¢ Democracy †¢ Technology †¢ The French Revolution took place between 1789-1799. This war helpedRead MoreCompare and Contrast the American and French Revolutions800 Words   |  3 PagesBoth the American and French Revolutions were focused around liberty and equality. Both countries were trying to gain freedom. America was trying to gain freedom from the rules and taxes put upon them by Great Britain. Whereas the French wanted to abolish the French monarchy and create a better government in which the people could have more of a say in society. Although the revolutions of both started for very similar reasons, and both countries fought for the same thing, the outcomes of the two