Question
Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Solution
The legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are described below:
(i)Impact on England: The French Revolution made deep effects on the neighbouring country of England. In the beginning English reacted very happily to the French Revolution. They gave it the name “Dawn of a new era”. But the ‘Reign of Terror’ in France frightened the English. Burke who was in favour of French Revolution began to oppose it. He adopted a policy of repression.
(ii)Impact on America: French Revolution made a great effect on American sub-continent. France abolished slavery from its colonies. Haiti, a colony of France, became a democratic country. Soon after, the revolutions spread in North as well as in South America to end the foreign rule and to establish republics. All the colonies under Portugal and Spain became independent. These had been encouraged by French Revolution about their success. In these independent countries also, slavery was abolished because it was against the principle of equality enunciated by France.
(iii)French Revolution inspired the world with the following ideas :
Equality: Equality was a principle of French Revolution. This removed the distinction between the poor and the rich. Every government began to give equal rights to the rich and the poor.
Liberty: Before the French Revolution, freedom meant political freedom but now freedom meant social and religious freedom too. The welfare of the people was to be the duty of the king. Therefore, they were no longer absolute kings.
Fraternity: The idea of fraternity also got an impetus from French Revolution.
Democracy: Monarchical systems yielded place to the democratic system.
Welfare of the people: Now every government began to think about the welfare of the people as its duty. The children were stopped from working in the factories. The conditions in the factories were improved. A number of steps were taken to improve the working conditions in the mines.
