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In conclusion, the French Revolution introduced not only in France but the entire western world to the concept of political revolution at the hands of the lower classes. It also provided some hard-earned lessons on what exactly makes up a democracy where all citizens are treated fairly and equally. In addition, the revolution brought to light the idea that a nation such as France is constructed of more than just citizens loyal or disloyal to a particular monarchy, for it is in reality a social system where all the people must be free to choose their own destinies.
Of course, many scholars have taken on the question as to whether the French Revolution could have been prevented, but due to the conditions within France before the outbreak of revolt, it is clear that such a thing was impossible. Undoubtedly, the monarchy of Louis XVI was greatly responsible for the revolution as were the nobility and the aristocrats who only wished to retain the old system. In fact, King Louis XVI should have seen the revolution coming and should have done everything...
But he did not act accordingly, for at first he saw the uprising as nothing to be overtly concerned about. Surely, the French Revolution was something that did not happen all of a sudden, for the pressure, both political and social, had been building for many centuries. Thus, as Lynn Hunt points out, the French Revolution "was the result of the lower classes struggling against the mighty monarchy which was incapable of sustaining its old system based on outmoded thoughts and ideals" (1984, pg. 245).
References
Forsyth, Murray. (1987), Reason and revolution: The political thought of Abbe Sieyes, Leicester University Press, New York.
Gershoy, Leo. (1957), the era of the french revolution: 1789-1799, Van Nostrand, New York.
Hunt, Lynn. (1984), Politics, culture and class in the french revolution, Longman, London.
Lefbvre, Georges. (1969), the french revolution: From 1793 to 1799, Routledge & Kegan Paul, New York.
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