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The French Revolution marked the beginning of prodigious changes that would affect world history. Despite the revolution occurring internally in France and only lasting twelve years (1787-1799), the lasting effects would be felt worldwide, with direct repercussions reaching from areas as far as North America to the Dutch East Indies (Taylor, 2006). Despite some of the Revolution's consequences being short-lived, it is obvious that after viewing the cultural, social, and political effects of the French Revolution it should be regarded as successful. Effects of the Revolution range from as refined as the spread of the metric system to as paramount as the shift from absolutism to republicanism.

An important precursor to the spread of perpetual effects of the French Revolution was both the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, also known aptly as The Great French War, which lasted longer than the Revolution itself (1792-1815). The Revolutionary Wars were fought between the French Revolutionary Government and the Austrian government; however they were not so inclusive. The nations of Great Britain, Prussia, Spain, the Russian Empire, and Sardinia were all included in the massive bloodshed. The French Revolution was not only at stake, the European balance-of-power was being threatened, a threat they did not want to succumb to. The French Revolution allowed the French army to promote based on sheer talent and merit. An alteration that allowed a common army cadet, Napoleon Bonaparte, to rise to the rank of General because of his ambition and military genius; which consequently would have him lead the wars that bore his name. Leading the French army through extensive campaigns, he expanded the French Empire to its peak in 1810, reaching from Spain to Poland. The Great French War allowed the effects (as I will later mention) of the French Revolution to spread throughout Europe.

The most meager effects of the French Revolution can be displayed in the category of culture. The French Revolutionary government adopted the use of the metric system, and the use spread to other countries, (Corzine, 1995:113). Now only three countries: the U.S.A., Myanmar, and Liberia do not use the current metric system (SI, or System Internationale), (Metric System, 2006). During the French Revolution, the French national flag changed from the fleur-de-lis to the tricolore. This change has affected many other national and ethnic flags, most notably the Acadian flag (Flag of France, 2006). A more

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