Cause Of The French Revolution

A year has nearly passed since the revolution and we look back at how the events unfolded. In this special edition, we have added in advertisements and wanted posters from the revolution as well as biographies of two very important people to the movement. We begin our flashback at why the revolution came about. The Bourbon monarchy had an absolute monarchy over the French government. King Louis XVI came into the throne in the year 1774, along with his wife Marie-Antoinette. The France he inherits is in a desperate economic state with large margins between the social classes. Although the commoners and peasants greatly outnumbered the nobility and clergy, they had very few political power or rights. France’s dangerous economic state was

At this time, the Enlightenment was spreading in Europe. This movement was made of intellectual ideas as well as the liberty and equality for all people. It had its roots in the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century which had disproved the earth-central beliefs of the Church. It also brought about advancements in physics, math, natural sciences, and navigation. One such development was the scientific method. The scientific and cultural advancements were of the Scientific Revolution were not the only part of the Enlightenment. Exploration of Africa, Asia, and the Americas also brought economic and social reforms. Explorers of these parts gained knowledge of territories and civilizations unknown to Europe, in addition to new scientific discoveries and an exposure to new cultures. This exploration, however, caused colonization, enslavement, and exploitation of the new cultures (Mercadal 2013). This movement shone a spotlight on education and social mobility. Because of this, literacy rate rose and the merchants and commoners formed a powerful middle class with the ability to demonstrate influence. The Enlightenment also called for social and political reform. The government attempts to reform by easing the censorship of the media. This causes many pro-reform pamphlets to spread (Issit 2014). The Enlightenment represented progressive ideas that would change Western civilization and focused on rationalism,

However, the third estate convenes at a nearby tennis court instead and it is there that they create the Tennis Court Oath. They state that they will not disband until a new constitution was made. In response and with a hope for future support, King Louis XVI instructed the first two estates to cooperate with the National Assembly. He does, nonetheless, send troops to Versailles to terminate the National Assembly should the need arise forcing tensions to their limit. Although tensions are already high, King Louis XVI dismissed Jacques Necker, his liberal finance minister and known ally of the National Assembly (Issit