Before 1789, people in France lived under absolute rule—the king had total control of the government. The people fought the revolution to gain rights such as freedom of speech and greater participation in the government. The revolution was the start of a new era for France. But soon after, Napoleon Bonaparte came to power. He ruled with little input from others and conquered neighboring countries, while generally preserving the revolution’s changes, such as freedom of speech and religion.
In a sense, the revolution came full circle—it started and ended with one leader having nearly total control of the country. What does this indicate about the revolution? Did it succeed or fail? Explain your views in a short paragraph of four or five sentences.
