The later 18th century was a time of crisis for the old regimes of Europe and their economic systems and political agitation sometimes breaking out into revolts. English Industrial Revolution vaulted Britain to the fore. France was the most powerful and the most typical of the old aristocratic absolute monarchies of Europe. (lower taxes off backs of lower classes).
Major inequities, inflation and lack of food, very minimal reforms, rising aspirations of middle classes -bourgeoise. Among 23 million Frenchmen, there were 400,000 who formed the nobility -and army officers and clergy.
French Revolution extraordinarily important:
occurred in the most powerful, largest and populous states of Europe
2. It alone, of all the revolutions, was a mass social revolution and immeasurably more radical than any other (including the American). For instance, Tom Paine who was revolutionary in America was seen as a moderate when he went to France.
French Revolution was ecumenical--its armies set out to revolutionize the world.
It became a landmark in all the countries it touched: Belguin, Austria, Spain, Prussia, Italy and Russia
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France had to declare bankruptcy after the American Revolution--war and debt helped bring down the monarchy. King, in 1787, called the Estates General, an assembly of noblemen buried since 1614. Thus the Revolution becan with an aristocratic attempt to recapture the state. "Men born and live free and equal under the law." Not democratic, but constitutional. The King was not King of France, but King of the French!!
1789--Fall of the Bastille--a state prison--symbol of royal authority, oppression and privilege; July 14 even today is a national holiday in France "Bastille Day."
Tom Paine, Declaration of the Right sof Men and Citizens (1789), a manifesto against the hierarchical society of noble privilege, but not in favor of democracy, does provide for social distinctions. A belief in constitutionalism. Sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. (In the US, in "we the people). "The People " identified with the nation was a radical concept.
Aided by bad harvests of 1788 and 1789, so that a riotous people stood behind the Third Estate.
Jacobins= radical revolutionaries
San culottes=urban masses of laboring poor
Feudalism abolished in 1793
Events:
-1791 moderate bourgeoisie victorious (Metric system, emancipation of Jews)
war breaks out with Britain and other monarchies
-4 Jacobins..."Alon les enfates de la patrie...Le Marseilles, "Egalite, liberte, fraternite (ended by rise of Napoleon. Regin of Terror, including escaping King Louis XVI, Danton, then Robespierre, 17,000 to guillotine -"Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens.
The French Revolution was a period of political upheaval that occurred in France during the latter half of the 18th century. This revolution marked an end to the system of feudalism and the monarchy in France and a rise to democracy and new Enlightenment ideas. By 1789, when the revolution began, France was in a deep financial crisis due to the debt they had obtained over many years of reckless spending and France was nearly bankrupt. These financial issues fell almost completely on the bottom social class or the Third Estate which made up a majority of the country. Because of this financial trouble the common people were heavily taxed leaving many of them in poverty. In addition to the economic issues, France also held an Estate System that led to heavy
The French and American revolutions are both very significant in the world’s history. The American Revolution happened first, around the last half of the 18th century where the Thirteen Colonies became the United States of America, and gained independence from the British Empire. The French revolution on the other hand, was from 1789 until the turn of the century 1799. For the French people this was a period of political and social turmoil. The idea of Enlightenment stuck a large population of the French people and led to many changes in society. These two individual revolutions have many comparisons and although they are not identical they become intertwined with separate philosophies on politics and economic expansion.
People of France were suffering because taxes were high and food was low. “The King and Queen treat us unkindly.They treat us as if we are animals instead of humans.” stated a French citizen. On June 17 1789, rumors of King Louis sending the military force to attack the National Assembly, spread like wildfire. The French people were outraged and decided to rebel. This is now known as the start of the French Revolution. “I was on duty when it all went down. I was looking out the doors when I see this huge mob coming towards the Bastille.” said Bernard-Rene Jourdan. “ We were on our way to attack, but we realized we had no way of starting our guns and cannons without gun powder, so we went to the Bastille.” another French citizen stated. While
The French Revolution evokes many different emotions and controversial issues in that some believe it was worth the cost and some don't. There is no doubt that the French Revolution did have major significance in history. Not only did the French gain their independence, but an industrial revolution also took place. One of the main issues of the Revolution was it's human costs. Two writers, the first, Peter Kropotkin who was a Russian prince, and the other Simon Schama, a history professor, both had very opposing views on whether the wars fought by France during the Revolution were worth it's human costs. Krapotkin believed that the French Revolution was the main turning point for not only France but for most other countries as well. On the other hand, Schama viewed the French Revolution as unproductive and excessively violent.
The excesses of the French Crown meant that the third estate was being crushed by the financial burden. They were taxed in almost every co...
The French Revolution was a nightmare for the European political and government system. The French revolution happened because of bad decisions made by past monarch, high taxes, and inequality. Then Napoleon had gradually became a dictator of France and tried to take over all of Europe. After Russia had defeated Napoleon the Great powers wanted no more revolutions or war. The conclusion of my decision is the the revolutions of 1848 was not a turning point in European political and social history;monarchy stayed a primary government.
During the eighteenth century, France was one of the most richest and prosperous countries in Europe, but many of the peasants were not happy with the way France was being ruled. On July 14, 1789, peasants and soldiers stormed the Bastille and initiated the French Revolution. This essay will analyze the main causes of the French Revolution, specifically, the ineffectiveness of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, and the Enlightenment. It will also be argued that the most significant factor that caused the French Revolution is the ineffective leadership of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
The French and American Revolutions were both revolutionary then and still today. There are still lasting effects from both the French and American Revolutions. The French Revolution had lasting effects such as the birth of Nationalism and making a huge move away from Monarchism. To us Americans the lasting effects are obvious from the American Revolution. We still live in freedom with the same system of government set up by our early political leaders.
In order to understand the causes of the French Revolution we must first understand the separations within the French society at the time. The population was divided into 3 states, the Clergy and the Nobility which were the first and second Estates, both of whom did not have to pay taxes and were given privileges such as high positions in the army and civil service. The Third Estate consisted of everyone else, the pheasants, farmers, landless labourers, serfs and the emerging middle class called the bourgeois. 80% of the population was rural and were very highly taxed by the king, like the rest of the ...
The economic and social problems in France as well the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment were the main triggers to the French Revolution. The troubles the majority of the people, who were members of the third estate, suffered because of the economic collapse and social inequality brought about discontentment towards the monarchy, the church and the nobility. The spread of the Enlightenment ideals challenged the authority of the monarchy and changed the way the people viewed the government. These factors further fuelled the anger and frustration of the majority towards the state of affairs which lead to revolts and later on the revolution.
A second underlying cause was the raising of taxes. The third estate was already being taxed enough, and the nobles refusal to pay taxes only worsened the problem.
Throughout history there have been many important revolutions that have help to shape society as it is today. There are different causes, from political to religious, economic to social. Any revolution affects those in society, and creates changes for the people in the society. There are three important revolutions that took place in the late 18th century that changed the world for the better. The French Revolution, the American Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution all took place in the late 1700s. Although each had a different purpose, they all lead to a better way of life for many. The French and American Revolutions are examples of some which are brought about and enforced solely by the people. Although they had different reasons behind them, both had the same idea behind them- social change. The Industrial Revolution was different, it was a technological revolution which had positive social outcomes. While one can easily compare the French and American Revolutions because of their social causes and outcomes, the Industrial Revolution can only be compared to the other two when examining their outcomes.
The people of the Third Estate were also being treated unfairly and unjustly. The tax system was another contribution of the revolution. The nobles and clergy would tax the rest of the people by voting. Since the people were divided into sections, each section would count as one vote, despite the fact that the First and Second Estate was only made up of two percent of the population. Also, the nobles and clergy were usually exempt from paying the taxes. This made the people angry. The tax system resulted in the Tennis Court Oath. Members of the Third Estates met there to gather and talk about the problems.
In 18th Century the peasant population increased dramatically. This growth in population increased the demand for more land. Land was being divided into smaller and smaller sections to cope with this problem. Eventually some sections of land were not even enough for a peasant to support his own family. The wars in America left France in huge debt. To try and pay this debt the nobility increased taxes on the peasants, which further increased their resentment towards the nobility. Poor harvests in 1787 and 1788 led to a food shortage. The peasants could barely feed themselves let alone pay taxes. The peasants started to threaten violence if their situation wasn't improved. There was an increased competition from British textile manufacturers. This left many people without jobs, and a huge increase in unemployment.
The bad living conditions of France and its depressed economy was one of the primary drivers for the French Revolution. The people of France were so poor that they had no shoes to wear and no food to eat. The poverty of France breaks its economy at its root. The economy got so bad that “By December 1788, there was a nationwide revolt against food shortages and rising prices, which continued to spread till the summer of 1789, when there was another bad harvest”(Todd 528). One ...