Research proposal on the Napoleonic period
Here is my question for my thesis:
What Led to the French Revolution?
Give cited evidence
Please answer 🙏
Title: The French Revolution: An Exploration of Economic, Social, and Political Factors in the Napoleonic Period
Introduction:
The French Revolution (1789-1799) marked a turning point in the modern history of Europe, leading to the end of the monarchy and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This research proposal identifies the factors that led to the French Revolution and considers its various causes from an economic, social, and political perspective.
Research question:
What led to the French Revolution?
Literature Review:
1. Economic Factors:
Baker, K. M. (1989). The Old Regime and the French Revolution: Reflections on the bicentenary. *French Historical Studies*, 16(4), 767-794.
Palmer, R. R. (1996). *The world of the French Revolution*. Psychology Press.
The economic causes of the French Revolution include the financial troubles of the monarchy, the inequitable tax system, and rising food prices. The French state experienced a severe financial crisis in the late 18th century, with bankruptcy as a real possibility (Baker 1989). The state's inability to raise taxes efficiently and fairly contributed to popular discontent, particularly among the middle and lower classes (Palmer 1996).
2. Social Factors:
Beik, P. H. (1965). *The French Revolution.* London: Methuen.
Dobson, M. G. (1998). *The Environment and the French Revolution: The social importance of the ecological effects of eighteenth-century industrialization.* Boston: Brill.
Social factors that led to the French Revolution include the burgeoning bourgeoisie, the hierarchical nature of French society, and the spread of Enlightenment ideas. The growing wealth and power of the bourgeoisie meant that they increasingly sought political representation and status, which was denied to them by an absolutist monarchy and feudal elites (Beik 1965). The Enlightenment and its critique of existing social hierarchies also played a significant role in fostering revolutionary ideas about social reform and individual rights (Dobson 1998).
3. Political Factors:
Schama, S. (1989). *Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution.* New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Tackett, T. (1996). *Becoming a Revolutionary: The Deputies of the French National Assembly and the Emergence of a Revolutionary Culture (1789-1790).* Princeton: Princeton University Press.
The political factors that contributed to the French Revolution include the failed leadership of Louis XVI, the influence of the American Revolution, and the rise of a revolutionary political culture in France. Louis XVI's indecisiveness and inability to manage the nation's financial crisis had a significant impact on further alienating both his subjects and the nobility alike (Schama 1989). The American Revolution provided a model for the French bourgeoisie and offered a vision of a democracy rejecting monarchy and class privilege (Tackett 1996).
Methodology:
This study will use a comparative historical approach to explore the economic, social, and political factors that contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution. It will analyze primary documents like government financial records, pamphlets, and speeches, as well as secondary sources like academic articles and books on the subject. By systematically cataloging and analyzing these sources, the study aims to enhance our understanding of the origins and causes of the French Revolution.
Conclusion:
This research proposal seeks to explore the multidimensional causes (economic, social, and political) that ultimately led to the outbreak of the French Revolution. Understanding these factors, and their interplay, is essential for making sense of one of history's most transformative events. Through an in-depth examination of the Napoleonic period's historical context, we can gain valuable insights into the social, political, and economic forces that shaped revolutionary France and beyond.