Final answer:
John Green views the French Revolution as mainly about socioeconomic crises and Enlightenment-inspired political demands, culminating in the violent Reign of Terror and resulting in significant European conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Green suggests that the French Revolution was about a complex blend of financial crises, social inequality, and the push for political change inspired by Enlightenment ideas. The Revolution began as a moderate movement advocating for the primacy of the common people and for a constitution to limit the king's power. However, it rapidly escalated into a period of violent upheaval known as the Reign of Terror where the king was executed, and radical groups like the Girondins and Jacobins fought for control, leading to broader European conflicts.
Edmund Burke, a British conservative, contended that the French Revolution showcased the dangers of rapid political change and the value of tradition and gradual reform. The economic hardships due to poor harvests, the monarchy's extravagant spending, and France's support of the American Revolutionary War were catalysts for a demand for reform among the peasantry and the growing middle class. French society during this period was influenced by Enlightenment thinkers who emphasized human rights and questioned existing political systems.