The French Revolution started with the attack of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, and ended in 1799. It is believed that the French Revolution occurred in response to political conflicts in the country between the Aristocrats and the Monarchy. One of the primary reasons for this conflict had to do with the reform of the state’s tax system, which inevitably led to the bankruptcy and paralysis of the government. Another cause of the French Revolution can be attributed to the West’s social structure. Various scholars have argued that the social antagonism that existed between the two rising social groups, the bourgeoisie, and the aristocrats, played an essential role in causing the French Revolution.
The third cause of the revolution was economic
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hardship experienced throughout the country, especially during the Agrarian crisis that occurred from 1788 to 1789. The crisis, partially due to an increase in population, generated widespread discontent and disorder which was a direct response to a country-wide food and consumer goods shortage. The fourth cause of the French Revolution was a struggle for power in the Empire, which led to the depletion of crucial fiscal resources. Moreover, the French Revolution was necessitated by the fact that the country needed to apply the ideas of Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire. For example, Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws led to the reinforcement of the traditional aristocratic constitutionalism, while Rousseau had a lead role in the introduction of new perceptions of government, which argued in favor of popular sovereignty. The French Revolution occurred in four phases.
The first phase, which is known as the National Assembly or the Moderate Phase, was significant since it led to the transformation from an absolutist monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. During this period, there was a debate concerning the role of the aristocracy, as well as the monarchy within the new system. The second phase, which occurred from 1792 to 1794 can be described as a blood and radical phase of the French Revolution. During this period, the revolution led to the elimination of the monarchy, the execution of Louis XVI in 1793, and the establishment of the French Republic. Moreover, it marked a time when the revolutionary tribunal was at the forefront of imposing laws and suspending a variety of basic rights. The second phase also paved the way for corruption and impunity under the leadership of Napoleon. The third phase, which is known as the Thermidor and the Directory phase occurred from 1794 to 1799. This was a reactionary phase in response to the extremes and excesses of terror and radical republicanism. Finally, the fourth phase of the revolution occurred in 1799 and is most often characterized by the Napoleonic coup d’état, in which the revolution ended through a military coup. Furthermore, there was a restoration of peace and order through the authoritarian
regime. In the context of Western Civilization, the French Revolution was important since it led to the creation of the modern democratic republicanism and the establishment of a representative government. Moreover, the French Revolution contributed to the strengthening of the central state, as well as the emergence of the nation-state. It was also significant in Western Civilization in the sense that it strengthened the bourgeoisie or the middle class as an integral part of the political and social elite. Through the French Revolution, the Western nations realized that revolutions were essential in bringing about progressive change in the form of popular sovereignty and participation.
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.
The French Revolution started during 1789, it allowed for the people to have a better government that actually protected the natural rights of the people. This toke a nearly a decade of rioting and violence for the Third Estate to have their way and get the rights they deserved. From all the causes like the famine of wheat, long debts because of wars, the heavy taxes, and their rights not being protected, some causes stood out more than the others. It is noted that these reasons had to play a major role in order for the French Revolution to occur. The three most important causes of the French revolution are the ideas that came from the Enlightenment, the Old Regime not being an efficient class system, and the heavy taxation.
The three main contributory factors that I am going to focus on are the aristocracy, rising debt levels and inequality amongst the people of France. The role that King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette had before and during the revolution was a key factor in starting the revolution. His attitude towards his role as king was poor. He was shy, indecisive and disinterested in politics from a very early age and this continued throughout his reign. During the years leading up to the revolution, France was in massive debt after the Seven Years War. Combined with this, there was a famine which increased the price of bread and brought a lot of the country to the brink of starvation (Kinser, 1999). Louis and Marie Antoinette's eating habits did not help reassure the French people of Louis' competency as a ruler. They gorged themselves on fine cuisine as their people starved all around the country (Cavallaro, 2001).
The French Revolution, also known as the revolution of 1789, was a movement that helped shape France into what it is today. The Revolution may have started in 1787 but it wasn’t till 1789 when the revolution actually started to become worse. The Revolution had many reasons for why it started, but it was only a few major things that really made it happen.
Cause of the French Revolution The essential cause of the French revolution was the collision between a powerful, rising bourgeoisie and an entrenched aristocracy defending its privileges”. This statement is very accurate, to some extent. Although the collision between the two groups was probably the main cause of the revolution, there were two other things that also contributed to the insanity during the French revolution – the debt that France was in as well as the famine. Therefore, it was the juxtaposing of the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy as well as the debt and famine France was in that influenced the French Revolution. Many people were making a case for a new concept of society, in which commoners, especially the educated middle classes (bourgeoisie), had.
The French Revolution was a bloody civil war that lasted from the years 1789-1799. [1] The revolution arose out of hard economic times that had befallen France. Widespread famine and hunger, due to a grain shortage, rampaged through sections of the country. The economic crisis led to an increase in taxes on the lower classes, known as the third estate, to upkeep the lavish lifestyle of the nobility. [1] All of these are the known factors that led to the rise of the French Revolution.
The French Revolution started in 1787 because the country was going through financial difficulties and there was unrest between the classes of citizens in the country. The differences between the lower class citizens and higher classes, being nobles and the monarchy were great. The citizens had heard of the revolution that went on in the colonies and they also wanted freedom and independence. The real start of the French Revolution was on July 14, 1789, with the storming of the Bastille. Between 1789 1793, a constitution was written, feudalism was abolished, war had broken out, and King Louis XVI was put to death. In late 1793 and early 1794, Maximilien Robespierre became the head of the Committee of Public Safety in France. This was the new governing body in France; it could be compared to the executive branch of a government. Robespierre was a great leader, he ins...
The Real Cause of the French Revolution For hundreds of years historians have tried to find out the real cause
The French Revolution can be seen as a beginning of new age. It was a disastrous event that changed the history. French Revolution went through a different steps and each event was influential moment. This huge movement started in 1789 and affected on various European countries and North America. The debate about the causes of the French Revolution will never ends. There are numbers of reasons why it has different interpretations. First reason is evidence, historical evidence sometimes has conflicts and it is snippy. Second reason is historian way of exploring the evidence; some do it through writings and others through paintings and sculptures. Last and important reason of debate about the causes of the French Revolution is political, economic
True the ideas that were promoted by the philosphes were a contributor to The French Revolution but they were not the cause. The cause was the economic and social problems that faced France in those years of turmoil. There are many people who choose to disagree the Peyre thesis, I included. I believe that The French Revolution was caused by The Social and Economic woes of the days.
“Revolutions never go backwards.”-Wendell Phillips. It is true that revolutions never go backwards; an example of this would be the French Revolution. Before 1789, France was ruled by a monarchy. Before the France revolution, the monarch was King Louis XVI. His family had ruled France for many years, however King Louis XVI, was an ill-suited leader who lost his country to the National Assembly. During the French revolution, France went through countless reforms by switching back and forth from republics to dictatorships. France eventually thrived under the rule of Napoleon, who was a dictator chosen by the people. Because of the sacking of King Louis XVI and the monarchy, France had become a better nation. Therefore, the citizens for France were justified in overthrowing King Louis XVI because King Louis XVI was not a competent leader, he treated the third estate poorly and King Louis XVI let Marie Antoinette have an impact in political affairs.
The French Revolution was one of the larger social revolutions. It can be considered a revolution on the political, social, religious, and economic front, although the biggest causes were social. The French Revolution began on July 14, 1789, with the fall of Bastille and continued until the rise of power of Napoleon Bonaparte. The main reason behind the revolution was the unfair treatment of classes in France.
Causes of the French Revolution On July 14, 1789, several starving working people of Paris and sixty soldiers seized control of the Bastille, forever changing the course of French history. The seizing of the Bastille wasn’t caused by one event, but several underlying causes such as the Old Regime, the raising of taxes, the American revolution, and the idea and beliefs of the philosophers. The immediate causes of the revolution were the rising price of bread and the locking of the third estate out of its meeting hall. Finally, the spark was the ordering of the Swiss guards to Paris by Louis the XVI. The first underlying cause of the French Revolution was the Old Regime.
Revolution? The major cause of the French Revolution was the disputes between the different types of social classes in French society. The French Revolution of 1789-1799 was one of the most important events in the history of the world. The Revolution led to many changes in France, which at the time of the Revolution, was the most powerful state in Europe. The Revolution led to the development of new political forces such as democracy and nationalism. It questioned the authority of kings, priests, and nobles. The Revolution also gave new meanings and new ideas to the political ideas of the people.
The French Revolution, which occurred from 1789 to 1799, was a time where the monarchy was overthrown, a republic was formed, and limits were put on the church. The French Revolution ended with the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The French Revolution created France’s legislative assembly, which is still in place today. Many would argue that the Enlightment was a cause of the French Revolution, but the Enlightment was not one of the main drivers for the Revolution. The bad living conditions, France’s monarchy, and the involvement in the American Revolution and other wars caused the French Revolution.