French Revolution
EUROPEAN AT THE EVE OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Before the outbreak of the French Revolution Europe had several states both major (large) and minor (small) states. The largest states included Britain, France, Austria Prussia and Russia. The small states included Spain, Holland, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the declining Turkey in the Eastern Europe.
Europe experienced fundamental changes after the 1789 French Revolution in political, social and economic spheres of life however in order to understand how the French Revolution changed the French society, we need to understand the conditions before its outbreak. It should be noted that the political social and economic conditions of Europe before the French revolution were diverse and complex.
Political conditions
Politically with the exception of Britain most European states had absolute monarchies (Kingship) based on divine rights of their Kings. The Kings were not answerable to people but only to God whom they claimed to have got their powers.
There were no democratic institutions like parliament in most states, and where they existed, they were used as mere rubber stamps by the leaders to effect then dictatorship. The laws passed were greatly in favor of those leaders and people’s interests were no represented.
In Western Europe feudalism (superiority based on ownership) had been changed and crashed but the nobles still enjoyed many privileges. In central and Eastern Europe feudalism existed and the nobles enjoyed a lot of privileges at the expense of other classes.
There was a constitutional monarchy in England where the aristocrats (kings) shared political power with other groups of people. There were also republics in the city states of Geneva, Genoa, Venice faithfully there were elective monarchy in the Papal States.
Social conditions
Socially European states were organized into social classes based on birth. There were majorly 2 classes i.e. the privileged and then unprivileged class.
Before the outbreak of the French Revolution Europe had several states both major (large) and minor (small) states. The largest states included Britain, France, Austria Prussia and Russia. The small states included Spain, Holland, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the declining Turkey in the Eastern Europe.
Europe experienced fundamental changes after the 1789 French Revolution in political, social and economic spheres of life however in order to understand how the French Revolution changed the French society, we need to understand the conditions before its outbreak. It should be noted that the political social and economic conditions of Europe before the French revolution were diverse and complex.
Political conditions
Politically with the exception of Britain most European states had absolute monarchies (Kingship) based on divine rights of their Kings. The Kings were not answerable to people but only to God whom they claimed to have got their powers.
There were no democratic institutions like parliament in most states, and where they existed, they were used as mere rubber stamps by the leaders to effect then dictatorship. The laws passed were greatly in favor of those leaders and people’s interests were no represented.
In Western Europe feudalism (superiority based on ownership) had been changed and crashed but the nobles still enjoyed many privileges. In central and Eastern Europe feudalism existed and the nobles enjoyed a lot of privileges at the expense of other classes.
There was a constitutional monarchy in England where the aristocrats (kings) shared political power with other groups of people. There were also republics in the city states of Geneva, Genoa, Venice faithfully there were elective monarchy in the Papal States.
Social conditions
Socially European states were organized into social classes based on birth. There were majorly 2 classes i.e. the privileged and then unprivileged class.