French revolution?

Question

When did the french revolution occur and ho9w did it progress? What were the ideals that drove it?

Answer 1

It occurred during the mid to late 18th century. People wanted change and they were tired of the absolutist rule in France (absolutism in France meant that the King was the sole authority and he only answered to God).

The ideas of liberty, freedom, etc. drove the revolution but then came the Reign of Terror under Maximillien Robspierre, a bona fide basket case who worked on the Committee of Public Safety. People were being executed right and left for allegedly being against the revolution. How were these people being executed? Well, they have this nifty little execution device called the guillotine that can sever one's head from one's body in one cut.

For more information, check out this European history podcast by UC Berkeley professor Thomas Laqueur. I'll provide the link. If you have an iPod, go to iTunes U., click on UC Berkeley and then look around under the Arts category for History 5. That's Prof. Laqueur's class.

Also check out "Days of the French Revolution" by Charles Hibbert. I haven't read it yet but it's a recommended read by another history teacher whose podcast I listen to on a regular basis.