Men and Women During the French Revolution
The impact of the French Revolution was felt not only in France and but in all parts of Europe. As the french people fought for equality and a new form of government, this period of social and political disorder also saw a new era of enlightenment, nationalism, and new rights for people. The revolution hoped to achieve a democratic government that would have internal and political changes, moral changes, and new appeals for nationalism within the french nation. During those years men were being influenced by new ideas, but as time went on, women were also being influenced by enlightenment ideas that were perpetrating against the monarchy and class division. Over the extent of the revolutionary period, the idea of the ineligible rights of man brought about many new rights and freedoms to the masses, including women, yet the men continued to retained the main rights. Class rights were dissolved but men still controlled power. Many of the revolutionaries, especially the ones that were a part of the Third estate, were the most concerned in creating a new social and political change. As illustrated in the pamphlet written by M. Dufourny de Villiers during the French Revolution just before the meeting of the Estates General in Paris illustrates this point. De Villiers wrote about how poor people were not being represented, which shows that the Third Estate was fighting for the elimination of taxes for the poor and more taxes for the nobles, or as he refers to them as the ones with “excess” (Doc 1). De Villiers uses his voice in an ironic way to when creating this pamphlet or as he refers to it as a “cashier” because it was very radical as he calls out the Estates General for the exclusion of the lower class people on the Third Assembly. The poor people were not the only one being excluded from this, also the women, as Olympe de Gourges explains in her book entitled “ Declaration of Rights of Women and the Female Citizens”1791, she discusses all the disadvantages that women had as not being considered part of the revolution the same way men were (Doc 3). In a radical way men did not oppose to women being part of the National Assembly, Gourges was trying to persuade all women to stand up for themselves and fight for their rights. As many of the revolutionaries fought for human rights and equality, …show more content…
In de Lafayette's document “Preamble of the Declaration of Rights of Men “ 1789, he proclaims the the protection for all men’s rights (Doc 2). De Lafayette's document, which was later opted by the National Assembly in the formation of the constitution, is considered bias as he is only considering men as part of the governmental body. Maximilien Robespierre in his speech done in February of 1794, also proclaims the importance of moral changes for the people of France. In his speech he emphasizes true democracy as virtue, and immortality and vices as being counter revolutionary (Doc 5). Robespierre as being one of the members of the Committee of Public Safety and the Leader of the Reign of Terror, he believes that violence is essential in order protect the nation and annihilate all the enemies in order to achieve a stable democracy and virtue for the people
The impact of the French Revolution was felt not only in France and but in all parts of Europe. As the french people fought for equality and a new form of government, this period of social and political disorder also saw a new era of enlightenment, nationalism, and new rights for people. The revolution hoped to achieve a democratic government that would have internal and political changes, moral changes, and new appeals for nationalism within the french nation. During those years men were being influenced by new ideas, but as time went on, women were also being influenced by enlightenment ideas that were perpetrating against the monarchy and class division. Over the extent of the revolutionary period, the idea of the ineligible rights of man brought about many new rights and freedoms to the masses, including women, yet the men continued to retained the main rights. Class rights were dissolved but men still controlled power. Many of the revolutionaries, especially the ones that were a part of the Third estate, were the most concerned in creating a new social and political change. As illustrated in the pamphlet written by M. Dufourny de Villiers during the French Revolution just before the meeting of the Estates General in Paris illustrates this point. De Villiers wrote about how poor people were not being represented, which shows that the Third Estate was fighting for the elimination of taxes for the poor and more taxes for the nobles, or as he refers to them as the ones with “excess” (Doc 1). De Villiers uses his voice in an ironic way to when creating this pamphlet or as he refers to it as a “cashier” because it was very radical as he calls out the Estates General for the exclusion of the lower class people on the Third Assembly. The poor people were not the only one being excluded from this, also the women, as Olympe de Gourges explains in her book entitled “ Declaration of Rights of Women and the Female Citizens”1791, she discusses all the disadvantages that women had as not being considered part of the revolution the same way men were (Doc 3). In a radical way men did not oppose to women being part of the National Assembly, Gourges was trying to persuade all women to stand up for themselves and fight for their rights. As many of the revolutionaries fought for human rights and equality, …show more content…
In de Lafayette's document “Preamble of the Declaration of Rights of Men “ 1789, he proclaims the the protection for all men’s rights (Doc 2). De Lafayette's document, which was later opted by the National Assembly in the formation of the constitution, is considered bias as he is only considering men as part of the governmental body. Maximilien Robespierre in his speech done in February of 1794, also proclaims the importance of moral changes for the people of France. In his speech he emphasizes true democracy as virtue, and immortality and vices as being counter revolutionary (Doc 5). Robespierre as being one of the members of the Committee of Public Safety and the Leader of the Reign of Terror, he believes that violence is essential in order protect the nation and annihilate all the enemies in order to achieve a stable democracy and virtue for the people