The Europeans suffered oppression from the institutions of the government. The oppressions ranged from unfair taxations to feudalism. There were economic hardships in the country due to ineffective rulers that led to political conflict. The economic hardships led to food shortages. There was social bitterness between the two rising groups: the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. The government was monopolistic and it made rules without consulting the citizens.
The Europeans upheld the enlightenment because there was an impulse for reforms. The enlightenment would introduce new system of government and the most important one was sovereignty. The voice of the people was one after French revolution.
The people had every reason to support the enlightenment because it brought changes in the political culture. The sovereignty rested with the citizens and not in a king or any single group (Gilbert, 2005). Equality that never existed before was now present after the enlightenment. People that had businesses were now honorable. The peasants acquired to become liberated proprietors.
The enlightenment had costs that people had to pay. The cost of waging the war and financing the army depleted the resources. The royal kings had also misused the resources. In addition, the other European governments and their rulers were not happy with the French after Revolution. The rulers knew that their own people had seen and realized the power the French citizens had wielded. This made these governments to feel unsecure in their rule after French Revolution.
The enlightenment empowered citizens everywhere and progressive changes occurred. The oppression ended after the French people realized the impact they could have over their government. The spirit of liberation that they developed was inspiring and no oppression would happen to them again. The people knew their powers and they upheld the enlightenment.
References
Gilbert, A. (2005). The French Revolution. Mankato, Minn: Sea-to-Sea Publications.
