The Extent and Impact of Revolutionary Changes

The Extent of Revolutionary Changes

Overthrow of the monarchy: In 1792, the French monarchy was abolished and replaced by a republic. This was an unparalleled shift in a country where the kings’ rule was traditionally seen as God-given.
Role of the Estates-General: The Estates-General, called by King Louis XVI in 1789, was transformed into the National Assembly by the Third Estate representatives. Here lay the birth of representative governance instead of absolute monarchy.
The Constitution of 1791: The National Assembly established the constitutional monarchy in 1791. The king’s power was limited, and the legislative power given to the assembly.
Land redistribution: The revolution led to the expropriation of Church lands, which were then sold off to the public. This was a significant move in a society intensely divided by wealth and access to property.
Introduction of conscription: The idea of ‘Levee en Masse’ was introduced, which included conscription of men into the French army. This shifted drastically from the previous model of professional, mercenary armies.

Impact of Revolutionary Changes

Shift of power: There was a fundamental shift from the king and nobility to the people, leading to the rise of the ‘Sans-culottes’ and the Paris Commune, demonstrating a significant power shift towards the urban working class.
Altered religion’s role: The Church was brought under state control, its lands confiscated and clergy became employees of the state. This was a striking departure from the pivotal role of religion in Ancien Regime France.
Growth of nationalism: As a result of revolutionary activity and the notion of ‘nation’, there was a surge of patriotism and nationalism.
Changes in societal structure: The system of order based on birthright was undermined and eventually replaced with one based on wealth and capacity.
Radical economic transitions: Changes were initiated to sort economic distress, such as the introduction of paper money (assignats), which led to inflation and eventually economic decline.
Legislative reforms: Landmark legal changes were introduced, including the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789) and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790), changing the foundational rights and laws of society.
Diplomatic Challenges: The revolutionary changes within France led to instability and war with the rest of Europe, as monarchies tried to stop the spread of revolutionary ideas, leading to the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.