- Joined
- May 20, 2001
- Posts
- 897
It seems that today's liberal democratic traditions trace its roots to teh French revolution more so than the American revolution by the mere fact that most Europeans paid attention to it rather than the independence of some colonies in the New World. The revolution lasted for about 10 years with events like Robespierre's reign of Terror and the Directory which preceded Napoleon's takeover via a cop d'etat. During the years of the revolution, the French were fighting a defensive war against the European monarchs because they too feared revolutions would happen in their countries. But when Napoleon took power, France started going on the offense defeating alliance after alliance and becoming Emperor of France and Master of Europe. He eventually got defeated with events starting from a poorly performed campaign into Russia and ending at the battle of Waterloo. Despite the fact that he ultimatley got defeated and the monarchy was re-established in France, the French revolution created the spark for liberal democracies that were to come later especially this century. As can be seen with the revolutions of 1848. DISCUSS!!!
