Every system has its own merit. However, Louis XVI, the king of France, was too…
I believe several factors, such as Feudalism, unfair taxes, years of oppression, inequality in the French society, the bad harvest of the summer of 1788 and the increasing economic crises contributed and lit the fuse of the French revolution. The calling of the Estates-General in May 1789 was aimed to solve the economic crises, however mistreatment of the lower classes for centuries led to them wanting change. This event led to the Tennis Court Oath, in which the lower classes, who were represented by the third Estate declared themselves a National Constituent Assembly. This could be seen as the start of the French revolution, as it is the first time that Louis is not in full control and gives away part of his power to the population. Furthermore the increasing economic hardship led to anti-government feelings among the population and a rise in popularity towards the popular movement.…
The Social causes for the French Revolution were varied. One such problem was the well being of the 3rd estate. According to Travels in France by Arthur Young the conditions of the 3rd estate were terrible as people could not purchase bread due to the high prices and the ragged conditions of the children (Document #1). Because of these factors the people were forced to fight each other for a piece of bread alone. Another problem was the middle class’ knowledge of the Enlightenment. According to The French Revolution historian Albert Mathiez, the middle class’ knowledge of the Enlightenment made them start the revolution rather than the unintelligent working class (Document #3). The social world of France was a front for the revolution to begin because of the people who were mistreated by the government.…
When it came to equality, the French Social structures was bitterly unfair. The middle class was denied political representation and participation. Concepts of equality and society were reinforced by the success of the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence.…
The French Revolution started in 1789 and concluded in 1799; the war lasted ten years for numerous reasons caused by the hierarchy. There were social, political and economical causes that Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI made irrational and poor decisions that lead to the French Revolution. Majority of the reason all associate with having power. Power is the ability to direct or influence others; however, the person behind the power is who determines if it will affect the situation negatively or positively. The French hierarchy had a vast amount of negative, selfish power within their kingdom. The three main causes of French Revolution were Marie and Louis greediness and carelessness of the hierarchy, they were too young to rule, and France…
There were many reasons that the French Revolution started. One reason is the political was not the way people wanted it. The political government was beginning to weaken because of King Louis XVI and Queen Antoinette.…
The American and French RevolutionsThe French Revolution had many causes. The main causes were due to political, social, and economic conditions in France that contributed to the discontent felt by many French people-especially those in the third estate. The ideas of the intellectuals of the Enlightenment brought new views to government and society. The American Revolution also influenced the coming of the French Revolution. The philosophies planted the seeds for the French Revolution. Their goals were to expose and destroy the inequalities of an ancient regime and both revolutions did just that. The American and French Revolutions were caused by political, social, and economic factors.…
There were many issues that led up to the French Revolution. For example, the unfair tax burden. According to Document two, the Third Estate paid all of the government taxes. There were three estates. The 1st estate was all of the clergy; they had wealth because they collected taxes from the 3rd estate and they also owned land. They had power, food, liberty, and freedom. The 2nd estate was the rich titled nobility. They derived their wealth from land ownership, and they collected some taxes. They also had power, food, and freedom. The 3rd estate was separated into three different classes. The Bourgeoisie was the highest of the third estate; they had cash wealth since they were made up of the merchants, bankers, and artisans. The Bourgeoisie paid very high taxes, and had very little power, they had a food supply, but they had no power. The peasant farmers, and the city workers had no wealth, power, or liberty, and they had to pay taxes. The 1st and 2nd estate only took up about 3% of the population. The Bourgeoisie thought that the taxes were unfair to the entire 3rd estate. Document three explained how a peasant had 7 children, and couldn’t support her family, but she still had to pay taxes. This shows how unfair the tax burden was.…
The French Revolution is considered to be one of the most significant events in world history. It drastically changed the face of France, which at the time of the Revolution was the most powerful country in Europe, as well as altered the society and government. The causes of the French revolution are attributed to several intertwining factors. Socioeconomic, political, and intellectual events before and during the revolution fueled it from the start.…
The Enlightenment of the eighteenth century inspired revolutionary ideas in France in the 1790s. During the French Revolution time, the rulers of the revolution, the bourgeois, promoted liberal, enlightened ideas like equality before the law and religious freedom. With the idea of natural rights for a couple years, feminists such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Olympe de Gouges began to stand up for women's right. However it was felt that the bourgeois were not capable enough to survive in a free society. Throughout the revolution liberalism and nationalism were growing and the people were becoming known as highest citizens in politics. The ideas and objectives of the people during the French Revolution changed throughout its Declaration of the Rights of Women, National Convention and the National Assembly.…
The term French Revolution is a term that represents a series of horrifying events between 1789 and 1799. In 1792, tension in France erupted into war, which tore apart the Bourban monarchy and was the first time in history we saw a republic emerge in France. Many historians think that the causes of the French Revolution had heavily to do with social class conflict. The three main causes of the French Revolution was caused by social class conflicts in France, political theories from the Enlightenment period, and the campaign for change by economic reformers.…
The French Revolution occurred in 1789 and was orchestrated by the French citizens. They “razed and redesigned their country’s political landscape, uprooting centuries-old institutions such as absolute monarchy and the feudal system” (History). Like the American Revolution, the Enlightenment ideas and values affected it, mostly the notion of popular sovereignty and the idea of inalienable rights. At the end of the eighteenth century,…
The French Revolution evolved to be a very important time in history because it forever changed the face of France. The revolution was caused by several conditions which greatly impacted the change of France. The causes that contributed to the French Revolution were the political, social, and economic conditions of the years leading up to 1789. Those factors not only induced many events during the revolution but also the ideas from the Enlightenment era sparked the minds of many French civilians. It is clear that the French Revolution was inevitable due to the many circumstances lingering at that time.…
The late 1700's were a period of great social and political revolution in Western civilization. The French Revolution was a major part of this sweeping change in the way Europeans (and the newborn Americans) perceived the function of government and the most effective ways of governing. The French Revolution had many long term and short term causes and effects, and was one of the most violent periods in the history of the country. There were many factors that contributed to the spark of the revolution. There were three main causes of the French Revolution: gross mishandling of governing duties and incompetence in the leadership of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the large and very unjust social and economic gap between the first two privileged estates and the poor third estate, and finally the revolutionary ideas of the enlightenment and their influence on the philosophies of the people.…
However, unlike the American Revolution, the French weren't a colony, they couldn't just stop taking orders from the King. They had a massive armed revolt against him; peasants and the poor rose up against the aristocracy, the King and other aristocrats were executed by the "will of the people". The French revolution was supposed to be the beginning of a "liberalization" movement across Europe. However the Kings and Princes of France's neighbors helped to militarize the new state (even more), the ideas of liberty began to be secondary to the needs of security in the new embryonic state. From this point onwards there was massive upheaval in Europe, wars were fought on Ideological, rather than dynastic terms.…