User:Atcovi/AP European History/FrenchRevolutionSummary

The French Revolution was a civil conflict that began in May 1789 and ended in November 1799, lasting a whole decade. The most powerful regime in Western Europe, met with a stable enemy and the title of being the wealthiest country in the world at the time, were met with major problems. These problems were that the French people didn't like the monarchy, where all the power was stored into one man. The influence of the Enlightenment was obvious as the idea of "absolute monarchy" was met with wide disagreement. The United States revolution, where the people had not only freedom of religion (France was ruled by the Catholic Church, which inevitably led to religious oppression of other religious groups [such as Puritans]) but also power to influence their government, influenced the French people greatly. Lastly, France's title of "the wealthiest country in Europe" was bound to fall due to the costs of many conflicts, including the Seven Years' War and fighting the UK on the side of the US in the American revolution. The third estate, the common folk, were also not allowed to enjoy the same privilege's as the wealthy nobles. The French Revolution resulted in the Catholic Church having less power, destruction of absolute monarchy with the execution of King Louis XVI (1793) and major changes in the way the government and the common folk thought (due to the Enlightenment).