The Political Legacy of the French Revolution

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how, since the beginning of the 19th century, the legacy of the French Revolution has been ardently debated by politicians, revolutionaries, and political theorists. It looks at how the Revolution of 1789 was the origin of what soon became known as nationalism, liberalism, socialism, and eventually, communism. In particular, it explores its long-term effect on the American political system, Middle Eastern politics, and international terrorism.

From the Paper:

"Collectively, the Revolution was also significant. Without a doubt, society in France and to a lesser level in other parts of Europe would never be the same. Once the prehistoric constitution of privilege was shattered, it could not be pieced together again. The Revolution did not essentially modify the distribution of wealth, but that had not been the intent of most of the revolutionaries. Insofar as legal equality gradually became the norm in France and Europe, the revolutionaries succeeded. The cultural impact is harder to assess. The Revolution did not succeed in establishing the national school system it envisioned, but it did found some of France's elite educational institutions that have produced some of that nation's greatest leaders. Its attack on the church had profound repercussions, making the status of the church a central political issue, which even today divides France politically and culturally."

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