Discuss the role of print in the French Revolution.

I think that the contribution of print, or the printed
word, had a huge impact on the French Revolution.  The "rise of Enlightenment" ideals
played a massive role in the initiation of thought that led to the French Revolution's
beginnings.  This involved the embrace of democracy, the rejection of absolutism, the
belief that all problems can be solved, and the notion of rights being applied to
everyone, universal to all and denied to none.  Voltaire's assertion of individual
rights in such a zealous manner was in printed form so that the French citizens could
understand his point being made.  Rousseau's conception of human nature, put forth in
works like Emile, caused reading and application of such reading to
political contexts to hold meaning.  At the same time, the printed word that showed how
successful the American Revolution was also helped to inspire those who wanted to start
revolution.  The documents in each were extremely significant. Jefferson's "Declaration
of Independence" was countered with the French Revolution's "Declaration of the Rights
of Man."  Here, the printed word holds much in way of importance in playing a
significant role in the French Revolution.