French Revolution: Causes, Phases, and Impact on 19th Century Ideologies
Causes of the French Revolution
In 1789, France was in a deep economic and social crisis. Poor harvests caused the price of food to rise, leading to popular discontent. On the other hand, the bourgeoisie, enriched by economic growth, were dissatisfied with their political marginalization. The monarchy was plunged into a deep financial crisis due to high state spending. The solution involved a tax reform that would compel the aristocracy to pay taxes.
The End of the Old Regime
Popular radicalization led the National Constituent Assembly to decree, on August 4th, the abolition of feudal privileges and issue the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
Phases of the Revolution
- The Constitutional Monarchy: Supported by the conservative bourgeoisie.
- The Democratic Republic: Prompted by the radical bourgeoisie and the popular sectors.
- The Bourgeois Republic: Marked a return to power of the conservative bourgeoisie.
Marxism, Anarchism, and Internationalism
In the mid-nineteenth century, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels denounced the need for a workers’ revolution. From the last third of the nineteenth century, Marxists proposed the creation of socialist workers’ parties.
Anarchism
Anarchism assembled a group of thinkers who had three basic principles in common: the exaltation of individual freedom, collective ownership, and the rejection of authority.
Internationalism
Marxists and anarchists defended the need to unite the efforts of the working class throughout the world to fight against capitalism. This led to the creation of the International Workingmen’s Association.
Causes and World War II
The Treaty of Versailles, rather than creating a climate of reconciliation between nations, encouraged humiliation and resentment. Many Germans and Italians did not accept the impositions of Versailles, and that stimulated revenge. Finally, due to the aggressive policy of authoritarian regimes, democracies were determined to stay out of world problems. The weakness of democracies and the failure of the League of Nations to address the aggressions of Nazi and fascist regimes stimulated the warmongering of these regimes and eventually led to war.
Francisco Franco
The Franco regime was a dictatorship characterized by opposition to communism and liberal democracy and the defense of traditionalism and the unity of Spain. Franco was the chief of state and held the title of leader of Spain. Fundamental laws included the Labor Charter, the Constitutional Law of the Spanish Courts, the Jurisdiction of the Spanish Referendum, and the Law of Succession.
End of Franco
In 1973, Franco was already seriously ill. He appointed Admiral Carrero Blanco as head of government, who was assassinated in December of that year in an ETA attack. In January 1974, a new government headed by Carlos Arias Navarro promised political opening, but the reforms announced were insignificant. The anti-Franco platforms coordinated and stated that they would not accept any change that did not entail the granting of an amnesty, recognition of freedoms, and the call for free elections.