ABSTRACT
The people's general indifference toward political issues permits them only a minor temporary role in revolutionary efforts. The factors that make the people strong are the necessity to shift for themselves and the opportunity to advance on their own initiative and determination. The failure of the people to benefit from expanding opportunity can be attributed to two conditions: their lack of sustained interest in the affairs of the body politic and their lack of ability to take advantage of opportunity. Thus, the people become the willing though often unwitting instrument of purposes that may be of no personal interest to them. The French Revolution was preceded by nearly a century of localized riots. When organized and properly led, the riots became a rebellion. The "riots" have in common not only the people's violent protests against extreme exploitation and abuse but also the failure of their efforts to obtain a measure of relief.
