French Revolution Dbq
Before a revolution over the Absolutist State happened, it had to be conceivable. The Age of the Enlightenment saw cultural and intellectual forces emphasize reason, logic, analysis and individualism, changing the perspective of traditional medieval society. It fostered the critique of society and institutions, especially of despotism and the Church, laying the foundations for a new order. The French Revolution is a movement that is very widely studied amongst historians. It therefore has many interpretations as to its causes and effects. A classic interpretation, predominant in the work of Marxist historians, view the French Revolution in terms of a class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the landowning nobility, leading to the transition
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The upper bourgeoisie had more in common with the nobility, the former’s wealth often lead them to run within the same circles. While the bourgeoisie would resent the nobility for their exclusivity and political power, there was still a sense of aspiration towards them. There were frequent inter-marriages between the two, further complicating the social structure in terms of power. The bourgeoisie grew in power and influence of rising commerce and finance, which somewhat threatened the status of the nobility. As social mobility and moveable wealth expanded, privilege was on the increase and there were more, and perhaps often embittering, divisions in society. While the nobility utilized their easily acquired privileges of office, the bourgeoisie was beginning to feel more self-confident in its own privileges and merits. This amount of tension within the French social classes, along with an Enlightened society conflicting against their Absolute leader Louis XVI, lead to the infamous social and political revolution of 1789. To say that the class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy caused the French Revolution would be inaccurate as to dismiss many other contributing factors. However there is no doubt the French Revolution marked a major transitional stage for the rise of the bourgeoisie into modern
The upper bourgeoisie had more in common with the nobility, the former’s wealth often lead them to run within the same circles. While the bourgeoisie would resent the nobility for their exclusivity and political power, there was still a sense of aspiration towards them. There were frequent inter-marriages between the two, further complicating the social structure in terms of power. The bourgeoisie grew in power and influence of rising commerce and finance, which somewhat threatened the status of the nobility. As social mobility and moveable wealth expanded, privilege was on the increase and there were more, and perhaps often embittering, divisions in society. While the nobility utilized their easily acquired privileges of office, the bourgeoisie was beginning to feel more self-confident in its own privileges and merits. This amount of tension within the French social classes, along with an Enlightened society conflicting against their Absolute leader Louis XVI, lead to the infamous social and political revolution of 1789. To say that the class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy caused the French Revolution would be inaccurate as to dismiss many other contributing factors. However there is no doubt the French Revolution marked a major transitional stage for the rise of the bourgeoisie into modern