An Uprising of Knee Breeches, Chopped Heads, and Boats: A Brief on the French Revolution
The French Revolution, a violent uprising by the French people of the 3rd estate, was one of the most radical changes in government of history. It was set in an absolutist constitutional monarchy, where the 3rd estate people, accounting for 99% of the population, took up the heaviest burdens of the society for 300 years, while the rich 1% partied, oblivious of the sufferings. The 3rd estates farmed lands with all their efforts despite a desperate famine which ravaged their crops. Additionally, they had to pay an unfeasible amount of taxes, causing many of them to fall into heavy debt. Finally, with France collapsing economically and going bankrupt, the people couldn’t hold back anymore. They decided to take their fate into their own hands and start a furious revolution. The 3rd estate didn’t know this at the time, but their uprising engraved the words “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality” into the history books forever.
Throughout the French Revolution, we can see shadows of other notable revolutions in history. The Russian Revolution, the Mexican Revolution, the American Revolution, and the Cuban Revolution alike, all revolutions that occur in history happen because of an oppressive dictator who uses sheer violence to rule over their people. It occurs through a long span of time, but when the poor peasants realize that they are actually the majority of the society and could take their fate into their own hands, this becomes a catalyst to a radical change that will reshape history forever.