Based on the outcome of the French Revolution, and its success in creating a lasting republic, our nation today can implement Enlightenment ideas that were favored in the 1700's and have lasted until the present day,

By Melanie Nielsen
  • 4.) John Locke published "Essay Concerning Human Understanding".

    4.) John Locke published "Essay Concerning Human Understanding".

    In his essay, Locke explained the people are automatically entitled to "three natural rights": life, liberty, and property. He also believed people knew when one of those things was violated, and it was the government's job to ensure they were not violated (Beck).
  • 1.) Voltaire

    1.) Voltaire

    Voltaire believed that government should be seperate from the church in order to foster greater religious tolerance (Beck).
  • 2.) Montesquieu publishes "L'Esprit des lois" (The Spirit of Laws).

    2.) Montesquieu publishes "L'Esprit des lois" (The Spirit of Laws).

    Montesquieu suggested a seperation of powers in the government in order to ensure no one branch became to powerful, and the government never infringed upon people's natural rights (Beck).
  • 6.) Diderot publishes the first encyclodpedia.

    6.) Diderot publishes the first encyclodpedia.

    His publishing the encyclopedia allowed many people access to information they would have never had the chance to learn before strictly due to its lack of availability (Anna).
  • 3.) Rousseau publishes "The Social Contract".

    3.) Rousseau publishes "The Social Contract".

    Rousseau expanded on his plan for a republican government in which the government's duty was to protect citizen's three natural rights and could be overthrown if the people felt their rights had been violated (Beck).
  • 2.) Louis XVI replaced the absolute monarchy system with a constitutional monarch system.

    2.) Louis XVI replaced the absolute monarchy system with a constitutional monarch system.

    Montesquieu's ideas provided the aristocratic social class with a large amount of power; therefore, aristocrats who participated in the early parts of the revolution identified with Montesquieu and supported converting France to his style of government (The French Revolution).
  • 1.) People of the third estate outlined a constitution for a new government.

    1.) People of the third estate outlined a constitution for a new government.

    In the French society, three estates existed: the aristocrats, the clergy, and the people. The third estate's desire to create a new government directly mirrored Voltaire's ideals as he was an opponent of the church and seeked a government seperate from the clergie's rule (Anna).

  • 4.) Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen is written.

    This declaration favored Locke's proposal that all people were born with three natural rights. This idea grabbed the Revolutionists as French soldiers the participated in the American Revolution saw the impact of placing importance on life, liberty, and property. This provided hope for people in lower societal classes; however, an authority later showed a "declaration" did not hold any power in law so people's rights remained unchanged (The French Revolution).

  • 3.) Rousseau's became widely recognized and reset the ideal governmental structure.

    Unlike Montesquieu who was only popular among those in his same social class, Rousseau was "idolised" and worshiped by people of all classes for his ideas pertained to the majority. This shift in popular opinion marked the beginning of the republican phase of the revolution (The French Revolution).

  • 6.) Georges Danton encourages people to attack the Tuileries.

    Georges Danton, an especially important figure in the beginning of the French Revolution, was inspired by the teachings in Diderot's encyclopedia and forced Louis XVI as well as his family out of Paris. France became recognized as a Republic merely one month later (Anna).
  • 1.) Napoleon's coup d'etat ended the First French Republic

    1.) Napoleon's coup d'etat ended the First French Republic

    After ending the First French Republic, Napoleon called on Voltaire's idea of enlightened absolutism which suggested that a single monarch have all power, and rule as they saw fit with the goal of breaking the church's influence (The French Revolution).

  • Works Cited

    Anna, Kat. "Revolutionary Philosophy." The France of Victor Hugo. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.
    Beck, Roger B. "Chapter 22." World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2009. N. pag. Print.
    "The French Revolution: Ideas and Ideologies." The French Revolution: Ideas and Ideologies. History Today Ltd., 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.