The French Revolution

The French Revolution had a long-term impact on nineteenth-century Europe, helping develop the way in which individuals and nations conducted their affairs.  The revolution changed how 19th century Europe viewed the religious, political and economic relationship between citizens and their government.

            The French Revolution helped detach religious practice from the affairs of the state. According to Davies, “Religion was resurgent.  It found expression in a rich corpus of theological writing, in the fervor of the masses, in the strengthening of Church dogma and organization.  The new climate was formed partly…through the termination of many earlier forms of religious discrimination” (Davies 794).  This contrasts greatly with Tocqueville’s description of a Europe under which society was disgusted by the politicization of religious authorities.  In addition, despite reactionary efforts against Jews in nations that had recently been invaded by Napoleon’s army, religious tolerance was increasingly common in 19th century Europe.  The Jews benefited greatly from this.  According to Norman Davies, in the 19th century, “The lead had been taken by revolutionary France…the legal emancipation of Jews became a standard article of European liberalism, and was gradually introduced almost everywhere except for the Russian Empire.” (Davies 843).  In this way, the French Revolution finally brought Jewish tolerance into the Western Europe and into the mainstream of religious thought.

            The French revolution brought about a shift in political ideologies as well. Malcolm Crook writes in the book, “The French Revolution of 1789 and its impact,” that “by rendering the nation, or the people, the source of sovereignty in France, the revolutionaries placed the question of…how they should [vote] at the center of the political agenda”.  Inspired by the yearning for change following the French Revolution, both conservatism and liberalism were developed in Europe.  Both ideologies shared a respect for democratic ideals, while disagreeing over what manner in which to institute change.  According to Davies, “[Liberalism’s] first lasting success may be seen in the American Revolution, though it drew heavily on…the Revolution in France…Its advocates stressed above all the rule of law, individual liberty, constitutional procedures, religious toleration and the universal rights of man.  They opposed the inbuilt prerogatives, wherever they survived, of Crown, Church, or aristocracy.”  (Davies 802). Conservatism also valued change, although it urged a more restrained outlook.  Davies writes, “Conservatism began to crystallize as a coherent ideology in conjunction with liberal trends.  It was not opposed to democracy or to change as such…What it did was to insist that all change should be channeled and managed in such a way that the organic growth of established institutions of state and society…should not be threatened” (Davies 812).