The value of the French Revolution dating back to the XVIII century was not limited only to one country and one decade. It gave a powerful impetus to social progress around the world and determined the triumphant spread of capitalism as a new progressive form of social structure for those times around the whole world.
According to Theodoros Kolokotronis`s judgement, “the French Revolution opened the eyes of the world. The nations knew nothing before and the people thought that kings were gods upon the earth and that they were bound to say that whatever they did as well done”. (p.125) That means that those world-shaking events had a crucial influence on shaping the further history of a humankind. Its usual ways of thinking, principles and dogmas were radically transformed.
The Revolution of 1789-1794 was essentially inevitable as a permanent burden of feudal ideas and institutions of French society was too difficult to bear. The absolute monarchy was unable to prevent the steadily growing economic, social and political crisis. It is important to note that the main obstacle for the further development of France were the basic postulates of the state and government structure because it ceased to express the national interests and pretended to defended the privileges of the medieval class, including exclusive rights of the nobility on the ground, guild system, trade monopoly and other attributes of feudalism.
The bourgeois class led the French Revolution, but those noble results were achieved only with the help of the main driving force of the revolution mainly consisting of commoners such as peasants and urban plebeian. The French Revolution was so powerful because of its large-scale character formed by active and decisive participation of the masses.
The Great French bourgeois revolution determined the subsequent development of capitalism not only in France, but also in other European countries inciting bourgeois revolutionary movements even in Latin America. Inspired by this example, governments gradually began to abolish slavery and establish independent republics. For instance, under the influence of this movement the Austrian troops were driven out of Belgium in December 1789 because the reforms of Austrian Emperor Joseph II were aimed at the centralization of the monarchy. During these times Switzerland adopted a new constitution, which increased a number of cantons and eliminated the privileges of the "old" ones. Although the provisions of that document lasted only till 1803, it still contributed to the breakdown of the old social relations in the country. The German bourgeoisie was economically and politically weak to withstand a fragmentation of the country and lead the revolutionary movement, but it still supported the new and fresh ideas of like-minded elite abroad .
References:
Behr, H. (2015). The French Revolution: A tale of terror and hope for our times. Brighton ; Chicago ; Toronto : Sussex Academic Press.
