Popular Will in the French Revolution Essay by Stef

An analysis of the French Revolution illustrates the role of the popular will in dictating its course of action. This paper explains how the Revolution began with the aim of establishing a constitutional monarchy via internal reorganization, but the initial actions of the National Assembly were immediately met with suspicion and criticism, paving the way for the first turning point in the Revolution, which involved division and radicalization of the political culture. It discusses that, as the public became increasingly active and radical, it eventually achieved power over the Convention with the demise of the Girondins, the second major turning point in the French Revolution. After this, the Revolution's focus on preservation of the Republic and underclass concerns was expressed through hysteria and terror. The writer points out that the French Revolution is a clear example of how revolutions are created and sustained by the people. Thus, in any historical analysis of a revolution, a consideration of the public will is an essential component for fully understanding the causes or the course of a revolution.