The militaristic inclination of France during the late 18th and early 19th century was the culmination of the idealism of the newly adopted French political system, and the abrupt character of French people's motivation to implement these ideals. As discontent with the despotic system of government in France increased in magnitude and scale, the will to fight in order to achieve equality became gained momentum. Factors such as the rapid spread of enlightenment ideals, the socio-economic inequity of the three estate system, and leaders’ utilization of French citizens’ new sense of justice to incite warfare, all come together to create an militaristic, imperial French nation.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, enacted July of 1789, provided the foundation
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It became easier for French citizens to act violently against authority once these factors provided a unifying external justification to their hope for more fair treatment and more just governing conditions. By the time of 1791, King Louis XVI was subject to the will of the National Assembly. Document 3, the National assembly’s Address to the King in regards to how he should respond to the Declaration of Pilnitz, exemplifies how the discontentment of French citizens incites the will to go to war. It also highlights the ideals of the National Assembly, who consider “[the King’s] interest, [the King’s] dignity, [and] the glory of [France]” as reasons to declare war on Austria. and and that of the French monarchy. Although the Declaration of Pilnitz was a threat of war as an anti-revolutionary effort to maintain the current regime in France, due to the ideals of the National Assembly, and those of the French people, the Declaration of Pilnitz is seen by the French as a threat to Liberty itself, and therefore, they urge King Louis XVI to declare war of