Political Violence and the French Revolution

            Unfortunately society has seen a great deal of political violence. Civil war, genocide, terrorism, and revolution mark the world’s history. According to David J. Samuels, political violence is “the use of force by states or non-state actors to achieve political goals.” (Samuels) One type of political violence that fits in this category is revolution. Perhaps the most famous example of revolution is the French Revolution. Based on the fairly accurate definition David J. Samuels provides, as the name of this significant historical event suggests, the overthrowing of the French absolute monarchy in the late eighteenth century would be considered a revolution.

            The French Revolution occurred in the late eighteenth century and was a time of drastic change for France. The revolution occurred over ten years, the true collapse of the French absolute monarch occurred over a three year period (Carlyle.) The revolution occurred when radical left-wing political groups, masses on the streets, and peasants in the countryside full of ideas of enlightenment and equality, banded together to overcame monarchy (Cole.)

            Samuels defines revolution as “armed conflict within a sovereign state between insurgents and the state, in which (1) both the insurgents and the state claim the allegiance of a significant proportion of the population; (2) authority over the state is forcibly transferred from the state to the insurgents, and (3) the insurgents subsequently bring about wholesale political change (Samuels) The French Revolution fits all of these criteria, and therefor revolution is the best word to describe the events in France beginning in 1789.

            The French Revolution was a conflict between liberal assemblies and a right-wing monarchy, each side of the revolution had wide spread support. The insurgents in this conflict led by the national assembly (later national convention) had a large support base. The storming of the Bastille was a conflict during the French Revolution where the common people of France stormed the Bastille (a fortress), they gained ammunition to protect themselves against the royal army. Both sides of the conflict had widespread support. This is evidence supporting the first point characteristic of a revolution that both the insurgents and state claim the allegiance of a significant proportion of the population.

            The king of France Louis XVI was killed by guillotine, and a reign of terror took place following this event. Eventually after much violence and conflict in September of 1795 a new constitution and bi cameral legislature, led by a five man directory was adopted in France.  (Cole). In 1799 a new form of rule was developed led by three consuls, one of which was Napoleon Bonaparte (French Revolution 101.) Fulfilling the second requirement of a revolution, authority over the state was forcibly transferred to the insurgents.

            With the transfer of power brought on by the French Revolution came a lot of reform and political change. “A republic based around elected – mainly bourgeois - deputies replaced a monarchy supported by nobles while the many and varied feudal systems were replaced by new, usually elected institutions which were applied universally across France.” (French Revolution 101.) Thus fulfilling Samuels third criteria for revolution “the insurgents subsequently bring about wholesale political change.” (Samuels)

            Although many characteristics of civil war and revolution are similar, ultimately the French Revolution differs from a civil war. Both are armed conflicts within the boundaries of a state, but in a revolution the insurgents and state both have a large support, authority is effectively transferred to insurgents, and political change occurs.

            The French Revolution is a correctly classified example of political violence, based on the definition Samuels offers of a revolution.

Works Cited

Carlyle, Thomas (2002) [1837]. The French Revolution: A History. The Modern Library.

ISBN 0-375-76022-9.

           

            Cole, Alistair; Peter Campbell (1989). French electoral systems and elections since 1789.

Gower

            "French Revolution 101." About.com European History. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012.

<http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/thefrenchrevolution/p/ovfrenchrev.htm>.

            Samuels, David. Comparative Politics. New York: Pearson Education, 2013. Print.