Marx predicted that capitalism within a socioeconomic system would inevitably create internal tensions between social classes leading to its demise and replacement by a new system, communism. For Marx, the concept of class has always existed in society. Historically, a society has always been arranged into various orders of social rank. A defining characteristic of capitalism however, is that “it has simplified the class antagonisms. Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat” (Marx and Engels 1848).
The monarchy treated its states people terribly and they were fed up, this is how the revolutionaries came to be, in general the revolutionaries were to an extent successful because they overthrew the monarchies however they were then beaten by the Austrian reinforcements that the monarchy asked help from. Mazzini was born in 1805 in Genoa; he became a nationalist after witnessing the Piedmontese refugee revolutionaries. I will be arguing whether or not Mazzini’s limited appeal was the main reason for the slow progress of national unity or whether it was down to the weak armies, little communication or with Metternia’s army. Mazzini believed that every man was equal which is why he was very unpopular with the middle, upper and aristocratic members of society as they did not wish to lose their power, influence and money. This made it difficult for Mazzini to obtain national unification as a majority of powerful and influential people in Italy were against his ideologies, this meant that the progress of national unification was very slow as a large amount of people opposed his views.
As the revolution proceeded and as power devolved from the monarchy to legislative bodies, the conflicting interests of these initially allied groups would become the source of conflict and bloodshed. Certainly, all of the following must be counted among the causes of the revolution: Resentment of royal absolutism. Resentment of the seigneurial system by peasants, wage-earners, and a rising bourgeoisie. The rise of enlightenment ideals. An unmanageable national debt, both caused by and exacerbating the burden of a grossly inequitable system of taxation.
Because of Napoleon’s selfishness when conquering other countries he is considered a tyrant. Even though Napoleon was a tyrant, he still had many accomplishments to help benefit France. Napoleon ended the French revolution, therefore ending many of the country’s problems. Before Napoleon, there was constant violence, acts for revolution, and economic instability. Napoleon overthrew the Directory in a coup d’etat in 1799 and was the beginning of the Napoleonic Era.
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION The French Revolution was a time when the poor fought for liberty and equality. It involved the whole population of France and impacted all. It affected the people involved due to the abolishment of slavery and absolutism. This gave the peasants of France equal rights and freedom. Before the revolution, the peasants had little to no power within the government and were oppressed by the rich; this event helped put an end to this and significantly changed their lives.
Communism in the Cold War "The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want, they spread and grow in the evil soil of the poverty and strife. They reach their full growth when the hope of a people for a better life has died. We must keep that hope alive." as said by Harry S. Truman on march 12, 1947 in The Truman Doctrine. While Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy all had the same same Cold War intention of ending communism, their ways of achieving their goal were different.The Cold War was an angry dispute between the United States and the Soviet Union about whether we should spread or contain communism (Ayres 817).
‘The French revolution broke out in 1789 because of the monarchy’s debts” To what extent do you agree? The French Revolution of 1789 had many long-term causes. Political, social, and economic conditions in France contributed to the discontent felt by many French people-especially those of the third estate. The ideas of the intellectuals of the Enlightenment brought new views to government and society. They thought of not an absolute monarch but a kind of democracy where everyone stated their views and everyone would listen.
Another reason feudalism lost power was the mercenaries that fought for the English king. After the first of the many treaties during the war was signed in 1360 by France, the English king did not want to release his unruly soldiers on his own land. Instead, they were loosed on France where they were free to loot and pillage as they pleased. Castles that belonged to lords took a beating as the mercenaries took them over and then sold them back to the lords for a large price. New weaponry made in the war made the king stronger against nobles.
Author Christine Di Pizan, used her book The Book of the City of Ladies to change society forever by standing up for feminism and equality against the male world (Spielvogel, 295). Society was yet again changed as tensions between classes heightened as peasants became fed up with society and their mistreatment. In France, the peasant revolt Jacquerie was caused by the ravages created in the Hundred Years' War, and the contempt by nobles over the postplague era. Finally peasants fought back destroying castles and killing nobles (Spielvogel, 279-80). In England, the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 was caused also by aristocratic frustration over the post plague era.
“BLOODY SUNDAY WAS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CAUSES OF THE 1905 REVOLUTION” To what extent do you agree? Although Bloody Sunday marked the breakdown of the Tsar and autocratic government, there were many other long and short term causes that provided the build up of tension and ultimately led to the revolution of 1905; Bloody Sunday was the final straw for the peasants and the other groups in Russian life, rather than a key cause. The most significant causes were mostly long term. Firstly, there was the terrible work and living conditions of the peasants, alongside the low wages they received. The lack of usable land in Russia and the subdivison of land between families both resulted in an incredibly low income, especially for larger families.