How Did The Wars Of The French Revolution And The Napoleonic Period (1792-1815) Change European Society? (Give Examples From At Least Two Countries)

The revolution which broke out in France in 1789 changed the course of the French, the European society and of world history as it challenged established monarchical, aristocratic orders. The enormity of the impact has been widely explored by many supporters and critics; the creed of French revolution, ultimately gave a new meaning and a new dimension to war. Its intensity rose to a new level as society’s involvement became more comprehensive and hearty, more so than anyone had thought possible. Certainly it is well known that there were conflicts and revolts in late 18th century Europe; however, only France had a revolution that was able to defeat its existing political and social order, build something drastically new in its place and extend its new system into the rest of Europe. In the space of ten years, the political and social framework of European countries, in particular Britain and Ireland had changed. The consequences of such transformations are still experienced today, as it forms an essential part of modern political discourse.

Of course, the revolution had the biggest impact on the French. By the late 1780s, many of the privileged members of society were ready to sacrifice their benefits if the social system were to survive. The ancien regime debates were not only about money, but also about the rights of property, privilege and the definition of liberty (Doyle, 1989). Before the revolution, people were representatives of various interest and legal estates, not individuals - there were of course, long-standing social tensions between the privileged and unprivileged that increased during the 18th century. The rich continued to store grain and exploit the market, focusing on ensuring a return on their investment, whilst the standard of living for many peasants remained low, with their main concern being stability (Forrest, 1995).

However, upon revolution, the traditional French system experienced a series of changes between 1789 and 1795. France...