Causes, Influencing Factors, and Events That Led to the French Revolution - Essay Example

History Midterm The French revolution exhibited diverse and complex properties, all of which have been interpreted, explained, and presented differently by scholars. The revolution holds one of the most critical social and political changes in the world, right from the eighteenth century to date. Implications of the French revolution remained uncertain before and during its occurrence. However, the aftermath of the whole process could not be hid from the eye of the public and any other party that had been caught up in that process. In a bid to account to account for the causes, influencing factors, and the events that led to the French revolution, critical differences in the arguments presented have been realized year to year. Edmund Burke cannot hide the hatred he harbored for France1. To Burke, the French revolution was set to be a total failure, and one that could see France move down the ladder in terms of social, economic, and political performance. Another person that closely moved towards this viewpoint is Alexis de Tocqueville. Alexis associated the French Revolution with some negativity across social, economic, political, and religious concerns2. Arguments and counterarguments on French revolution draw myriad claims as to what exactly the revolution was set to achieve. The anticipated ruins that the French revolution was set to realize did not come short of the expectations. If anything, these expectations were way much surpassed. In this respect, the concerns, arguments, and analysis of the situation were not expected to match or relate in any way. While some parties present before, during, and after the revolution felt that the revolution was actually set for a fundamental course, others felt that it was primarily destructive altogether. On the same note, personalities linked to the revolution had their personal issues and concerns to deal with in relation to the French revolution. All these combined brought for the discussions, debates, claims, and arguments made by Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, Alexis de Tocqueville and Napoleon Bonaparte among others. On his part, Thomas Paine was concerned about the uncertainty that surrounded the whole revolution process. It is important to highlight that French lasted for up to ten years, a period within which predetermining the upheavals involved would be critically uncertain. Most importantly, Paine focused on the actual aftermath of the French revolution on the society, religion, economy, and politics in France and all other nations that felt its impacts. On the other hand, Napoleon Bonaparte’s interest was the liberal aspect of the revolution3. Napoleon saw the revolution as a strong mechanism through which political progress would be realized. On the same note, Napoleon presented the revolution as a reform agenda and a practice that would see civil liberties protected. However, the anti-Christian tendency of the revolution was critically difficult to counter. The church and the state were seen to engage in constant competition over power and authority. For this reason, the French revolution presented a critical opportunity for the state to overthrow the church. The church-state struggle was not a one-time issue to deal with. As the state’s concern over the influence of the church in France, Europe, and around the world grew, an anti-Christian problem was increasingly looming. The church-state trends in their relations were seemingly set to affect the larger society. Based on this factor, Napoleon was for the idea of a liberalized society. This called for critical changes and reforms in the social, economic, religious, and political setting of France. Therefore, the French revolution would be timely in addressing the social, economic, religious, and political issues in France and across Europe. The French revolution was operated in a manner that seemed to destroy social, economic, political, and religious setting. However, the systems that were already running under these components could not be ascertained for efficiency and effectiveness. In this respect, personally, Napoleon’s arguments are the most convincing. France and all other countries that felt the effects of the revolution in Europe were in dire need of social and political change and/or reforms. On the same token, civil liberties needed to be harmonized and uniformly protected. Social, economic, religious, and political institutions were all collapsed by the French revolution. Political leaders, Christians, and the public at large plunged into a disorganized social system. An upheaved system erupted in France, adversely affecting the social and political setting. Arguments for and against this realization were felt close and far. Europe in general was highly influenced by France in more ways than just politically. For this reason, France was seen as a nation that was in the process of progressing, thereby being vulnerable to diverse and dynamic issues that shaped its structure over time. In order to bring all the aforementioned matters to rest, then the French revolution was an essential avenue. Church, state and society had to harmonize their coherence. Most importantly, the church and the state did not have to compete for power if the revolution addressed all the underlying issues and concerns. For this reason, subduing the liberalism spirit in accordance with Napoleon’s arguments positions the revolution in the church, state and society relations. The differences that Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, Alexis de Tocqueville and Napoleon Bonaparte exhibited were primarily based on their beliefs and the doctrines they stood for relative to church, state and society. The church, state and society had been dynamic in nature in France and all over Europe. On the same note, they significantly influenced one another to a point that the state and the church seemed to engage in critical struggle to dominate the society. As a result, the level of religious and political activity that was taking place in and out of France heightened. In the context of French revolution, France was highly influential in Europe. The diversity and dynamism of society, state, and the church allowed for change over time. For this reason, arguing for liberty in the light of the events that shaped the French revolution was a move that was deeply rooted in the current state of France and Europe in the broader aspect. Works Cited Abbott, Frank. Threshold to the Present Europe 1789-1914. New York: Pearson, 2012. Read More