To what extent did the successive rulers successfully avoid the Essay

To what extent did the successive rulers successfully avoid the principles of the Revolution between 1815 and 1848 - Essay Example By doing this, we will not only be able to understand this subject matter better, but we will also be able to attain a much more knowledgeable and informed point of view on this issue as well. This is what will be dissertated in the following. The French Revolution took place basically from the year 1789 to the year 1799, and it was a period in which serious political and social change took place in regards to the political history of France and Europe as a whole. As well, it was a period during which "the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on Enlightenment ideals of democracy, citizenship, and inalienable rights. These changes were accompanied by violent turmoil, including mass executions and repressions during the Reign of Terror, and warfare involving every other major European power" (Wikipedia, 2007). After the Revolution, and basically for the next century on, France would then be governed as a republic, a dictatorship, a constitutional monarchy, and an empire as well. There are many different causes that are considered as being influential on the start of the French Revolution, and in particular there are many economic factors that are involved here. After all there was an incredibly poor economic situation that was present as well as a rather unmanageable national debt, and not only that but there were also a high number of wars during the 18th century, a fact which also greatly contributed to the start of the Revolution. As well there was an incredibly high unemployment rate and food scarcity that was apparent, particularly so in the months immediately preceding the onset of the Revolution. However there were also many social and political factors that were involved here, and for instance, there was a resentment of royal absolutism, as well as a resentment of noble privilege and dominance in public life by that of the more ambitious professional classes. The French Revolution, rather ironically enough, is considered as being a failed revolution, as "Liberte, Egalite, and Fraternite quickly descended to the towering figure of Robespierre and his Reign of Terror as the revolution spun out of control and began to murder itself. First the royalists were beheaded, next the moderate girondists, and by then the violence and suspicion was totally out of hand as the revolution devoured itself" (French, n.d.). It was in the year 1789 when the National Assembly took a collective oath to draft a new and 'better' civil constitution for France, and this task was finally completed in the year 1791. "The new constitution declared France to be a constitutional monarchyandWithin this new government, all legislative powers would fall to a single Legislative Assembly, which alone had the power to declare war and raise taxes" (Hooker, 1996). There were many things that came from this new constitution, and one of the most primary matters was that of economic reform; as the Assembly was faced with the project of reforming the finances and economy of the country and, not only this, but as well, the government