How Did The French Revolution Changed The World

The French Revolution changed the world. France indeed would not have been the way it is now if its revolutionary actions were not taken. To understand the revolution and why it came to be, we must examine the events leading to it, and the conditions of its people. Prerevolutionary France was under the leadership of Louis XVI (reigned 1643 to 1715) in a form of government known as an absolute monarchy. All power is given to the king. They exhibit the right to make laws and to enforce them, the right to appoint judges and officials, and the right to make war and to sign treaties. The power to issue lettres de cachet or imprisonment without trial was especially disliked by many citizens. The powers of the king were, however, limited to ruling by tradition as laws and customs have accumulated through the years. Despite the immense concentration of power at the disposal of the king, the absolute monarchy system proved to develop weaknesses. The monarchy showed an inability to balance income and expense. Laws and customs required a large expenditure of the French government. These expenditures actually served to hinder the king from supplying the funds for these obligations. The obligation for the king to protect France from enemies required the establishment and
Despite the king’s right to collect taxes without going through a legislative process, it was not an efficient process. He lacked a regular mechanism for negotiating an increase in taxes as the kingdom’s needs grew. He could only collect those taxes that had become customary over the years. Even then, many citizens were able to avoid paying the tax due to equally customary exemptions. New taxes were often placed on the lower class and poorest citizens. They were thought to have the least chance of protesting effectively. This proved to be ineffective as the poorer people could not afford the pay the tax. The poor outnumbered the