The Economy, Society, and the Environment

Abstract

There is abundant evidence of the ways in which the French Revolution and protracted wars had a crippling effect on the economy of coastal cities, while providing a stimulus for certain branches of industry. The uncertainties caused by wars and blockades and the abolition of slavery in 1794 hit overseas trade hard. Such was the short-term impact of the revolutionary wars on commerce that in some areas France became, if anything, more rural. In the longer term, changes which were to facilitate capitalist practices were accelerated by the Revolution. The Revolution reinforced the state dirigisme which has distinguished French political economy. The Revolution was a watershed in rural-urban rel..