Dbq French Revolution

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Before the French Revolution, France was going downhill with a poor economic state and a corrupt society. The third estate revolted against their government emerging the revolution. They created a motto of liberty, equality, and fraternity which they vigorously attempted to achieve. They emerged the National Assembly, protested against the king and queen, and eventually ended up doing the opposite of their motto. While trying to take two steps forward, they would end up taking a step backwards. Unfortunately, the revolutionaries never really accomplished their goals to a full extent. They might’ve have destroyed the estates to provide equality, gotten rid the Ancient Regime in the name of liberty, and attempted to have everyone in one agreement …show more content…

The king would only tax the third estate and not giving any privileges. They would spend 80% of their income on bread. While the lower class would work extremely hard to pay for food, the king and queen were enjoying life and spending money over irrelevant things such as luxuries and wigs. The anger held in by the third estate eventually turned into strides towards reformation and liberty. Those strides started out as coming up with the National Assembly and publishing the Declaration of the RIghts of Man and Citizen but ended up as bloodshed. In Robespierre's speech to the National Convention (source 4), we see that Robespierre mentions in his speech that terror and bloodshed is needed for France to obtain its liberty. He says, “Liberty cannot be secured unless criminals lose their heads.” What he is essentially saying is that the sentence to …show more content…

During the pre-revolution stages, the first and second estate were like heavy baggages the third estate had to bear around. The first and second estates had privileges, didn’t pay taxes, and were under the favor of the king. Meanwhile, the third estate barely made it through the year paying 80% of their income for bread. The people were at an unfair state. The upper class could pay their way into office and the third estate didn’t had a say in the government. Eventually, they decided to revolt making certain changes against the king’s approval. As we see here in in the decree of the Ancient Regime (Source 1), it is mentioning the destruction of the Ancient Regime. It says, “The National Assembly completely abolishes the feudal system. It decrees that all rights and dues, both feudal and personal, and all those originating in personal serfdom, personal servitude… are abolished”. In those two sentences, the National Assembly has destroyed everything that basically has kept the third estate from being treated equally. Following on, in the document it explains how the National Assembly completely destroys the feudal system and any unfair rights. When it mentions the decree of any rights that originate in personal serfdom and servitude, the source is basically saying that any rights that are considered selfish are completely abolished. This was one of the big steps toward achieving equality

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