The Butterfly Effect: The French Revolution

The butterfly effect refers to the concept that small causes can have large effects that if a butterfly were to flap its wings at the right time in the right place an earthquake could occur on the other side of the world. The very same idea applies to world history that if people make a revolution, for example, at the right time and go about it the right way, it will cause an “earthquake” throughout the rest of the world. In the instance of revolutions, one revolution has caused one of the most monumental “earthquakes” in human history. The French Revolution, was a period from 1789 until 1799, which addressed social issues and instigate political upheaval throughout all of Europe, its “earthquake” took the form of Nationalism. Nationalism refers

It held an important place in the chaos that was to in-sue in 19th century Europe, as it swept across the continent transforming each of the countries. Some new nations, such as Germany and Italy were formed by uniting smaller states with a common "national identity". Others, were fueled by it to win their independence, such as Romania, Greece, Poland and Bulgaria. Before the butterfly flapped its wings, the only topic that could link a nation together was the belief of a monarchy and how it was the duty of a citizen to serve their king.

The first source given is a painting showcasing the storming of Bastille by the national assembly. Before the French Revolution, France was run under the Ancien Régime(old regime), a medieval political and social system, which encompassed the idea that everyone belonged to one of three estates. The first and second estates represented the clergy and aristocracy, in that respective order, while the third estate housed over 50% of the population holding the middle class, peasants, and anything in between. The third estate essentially held up the other two estates as they were the only ones expected to pay taxes, and issue that would only fuel the inevitable revolution. Ideas from the enlightenment period combined

Article Three of The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen states that ‘The principle of any sovereignty resides essentially in the Nation. No body, no individual can exert authority which does not emanate expressly from it.’ The third source is this exact quote taken from the French declaration, with a bit of a summary of it at the top. The constitution was passed by France 's National Constituent Assembly in August 1789, and a fundamental document of the French Revolution and in the history of human and civil rights. It was influenced by the ideas expanded by the Age of Enlightenment, such as individualism which shifted the focuses of populace to that of the individual. Another Influence for the Declaration was doctrine of "natural right", the rights of man are held to be universal: valid at all times and in every place, pertaining to human nature itself. It became the basis for a nation of free individuals protected equally by law. The second source focuses on Article three of the constitution, which goes along with the the storming of the Bastille. The strength of the people reside in the nation, their togetherness, versus that of a singular citizen. Without the people joining together the Bastille would have not been a victory and the Revolution as well, would not have succeeded. The Declaration was the answer to the National assembly’s cries, their victory had arrived, they had received their new constitution and france was beginning to reform from