Effects of French Revolution in England (1789-1799)

EFFECTS OF FRENCH REVOLUTION IN ENGLAND

(1789-1799)

FAHMIDA MATIN

ENGLISH 3120

7/23/13

BACKGROUND INFO

• 1789- The beginning of the revolution, a period in the history of France

• The monarchy was overthrown and radical restructuring was forced upon the Roman catholic church.

• Louis XIV was the king and Marie Antoinette was his queen

THE CAUSE OF THE REVOLUTION

• France was struck by financial problems for over a century. The wars during Louis XIV time, caused debts which grew and wars were being fought during the 18th century. These debts were not exceptional since Great Britain had the same debts as well.

WHY DID THESE DEBTS CAUSE A BANKRUPTCY IN FRANCE BUT NOT IN

GREAT BRITAIN?

ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURE

• The second problem was food scarcity. Crop failures caused shortages which then led to high prices for bread.

“A REVOLUTION CONTROVERSY” (1789-1795)

A British debate over the French revolution.Pamphlet war

Edmund Burke’s “Reflection on the Revolution”Burke supported French aristocracy/American Revolution

-Criticized British liberals

-Break relations with England

REACTIONS

• Angered British liberals• Liberals thought this as a new era• This was important to romantic writers

ROMANTIC WRITERS

William Wordsworth

Samuel Coleridge

Mary Wollstonecraft

THOMAS PAINE AND EDMUND BURKEControversy

THE HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION

• In 1795 a new constitution was drafted. The regime met with opposition from remaining royalists. Riots and counter-revolutionary activities were suppressed by the army. Through this way the army and its successful general, Napoleon Bonaparte gained much power.

• On November 9, 1799 Napoleon led to his dictatorship and eventually to his proclamation as emperor, which brought the republican phase of the French Revolution to a close.

REFERENCES

• “Burke, Paine, Godwin, and the Revolution Controversy” by: M. Butler. In Cambridge English Prose, Vol 1, (1989)

• “The French Revolution and Enlightenment in England” by: Seamus Deane. Harvard University Press, (1988)

• “Britain and the French Revolution, 1789-1815” (1989)