French+Revolution+Test+B3

=The Impact of the "Declaration of the Rights of Man" on the French Revolution =

The French Revolution (1789) was a sparked movement, demanding change in the government form. During the process of the French Revolution, a document titled "Declaration of the Rights of Man" has been created for the benefit of the people. Inevitably, this document led to some very important consequences of the French Revolution, which includes reduced social hierarchy, beheading of monarchs, fairer tax system, equal representation and freedom of religion.

One of the reasons for the cause of the French Revolution was people demanding equality, liberty, and fraternity. Thus, the main purpose of this document was to establish equality, liberty, and fraternity. "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights." (From Declaration of the Rights of Man-1789) This may be the most crucial amendment in this whole document. This first sentence guarantees that the social hierarchy system, which caused a lot of commotions within the Third Estate, would be reduced or even abolished. The 10th amendment, which talks about religious freedom, also led to many important consequences. First of all, the Christian church lost its huge power and money. Secondly, this kind of led to the beheading of the monarchs. King Louis XVI was definitely against this idea that christianity would not be the "absolute" religion anymore. Therefore, he vetoed the rule. However, he already vetoed so many other laws that he was notorious in the name of "Monsieur Veto." That is, because King Louis XVI was obliged to veto laws that were obviously only favorable for the third estate people. This made him become even less popular amongst the general crowd, which later leads to the public execution of him and his wife, Marie Antoinette. Another important factor is that since all people are supposed to have equal representation, (some through representatives) the third estate's delegates are finally granted equal representation with the first and second estates' delegates. Before the French Revolution, when the delegates of each estate were to have a meeting with the king, the king spoke with the first and second estates' delegates but not much with the third estate's delegates. No wonder the problems of the third estate were not being soled at all.

This brings up another important factor: taxation. Before the French Revolution, the third estate people were the only ones that were obliged to pay taxes. This outraged the third estate people after many repeated sessions. However, since individual equality was ever so clearly stated in this document, the unfair tax system came to an end. The nobles and clergymen were subject to pay taxes as well. Also, the lavishness of spending tax money on decorating their houses also led to public beheading of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The beheading of the monarchs meant a lot for the members of the third estate because it symbolized the ultimate end of monarchy. Eradication of monarchy was what the French commoners dreamed of the most. (Although the ultimate result still ended as monarchy).

Freedom of religion, equal representation, a fairer tax system, public beheading of monarchs, and reduced social hierarchy are all consequences of the French Revolution, influenced by the "Declaration of the Rights of Man". Even though the overall outcome of the French Revolution was still a monarchy, it became fairer and less corrupt. Knowing this, would the results of the French Revolution have been changed or stayed constant if the "Declaration of the Rights of Man" was never written nor published?