Page 94 - History of Christianity - Student Textbook
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Study Section 18: Writers of the French Revolution 1694-1784
18.1 Connect
You’ve probably heard of the French Revolution (1789 to 1799). A French doctor named
Joseph Guillotin proposed using an angled blade that would drop from a height and sever
the head of one being executed. He considered that a more humane and almost painless
form of execution. During the French Revolution against the monarchy, the execution of
thousands became a form of entertainment that attracted crowds of spectators. About
2,639 people were guillotined in Paris, most of them over nine months between 1793 and 1794. Over
50,000 people were shot or died of sickness in prisons.
The French Revolution lasted 10 years. It began on July 14, 1789 when revolutionaries stormed a
prison called the Bastille. The revolution came to an end in 1799 when a general named Napoleon
overthrew the revolutionary government and established the French Consulate with Napoleon as
leader.
Why did the French revolt? The people were influenced by the writings of various authors. They believed what
they wrote and acted upon what they believed. Even though their beliefs were not true, they acted upon them.
As a result, thousands died!
Today we will see the sad philosophies that invaded the minds of Europe, but at the same time, see those who
stood for truth as a light in the dark times. Let’s learn together….
18.2 Objectives
1. The student should be able to explain the philosophies of Rousseau and Voltaire and describe how
their ideas lead to the French Revolution.
2. The student should be able to present a biography of John Bunyan and describe how God mightily
used him in bringing people to Christ.
3. The student should be able to describe the Great Awakening and those individuals involved in its movement.
18.3 Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) –
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer and composer. His
political philosophy influenced the progress of the Enlightenment throughout
Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the development of
modern political, economic and educational thought.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau strongly believed in the innate goodness of man and in
basic human rights founded upon universal natural law; in addition, he believed that
both rulers and the citizens have natural human rights as well as obligations to each
other which should be bound in a social contract.
His book entitled, Emile, strongly influenced the course of education even today. He developed the idea of
Kindergarten (kinder = child, garten = garden). He believed if you placed a child in a beautiful environment (a
garden), the child would, by his very nature, automatically be inquisitive and learn on his own. Given the right
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