“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one 's ignorance” (qtd. in “Brainyquote”). The period of enlightenment was a time when many French wanted to apply laws of science and logic to life, and began seeking even more answers to things in ways that no one had thought of before. One such inclusion of logic was when philosophers disagreed on the idea of an absolute monarch, and what position it should have in society. During this period, the idea of something drastic such as a revolution was blooming, and making its way into reality. The French Revolution was predominately caused by political, economic, and sociological discontent in France. The French Revolution was partially caused by political disdain in France during the time of Louis XVI’s …show more content…
France’s Third Estate proportionately owned far less land then either the First or Second Estate, even though there were far more commoners. Even so, this Estate was forced to pay taxes, while the other two were tax exempt. Also, the Third Estate contained members of the Bourgeoisie, who made up the middle class and whose classes were not mobile to become a noble or clergy. “The members of the bourgeoisie are kept down by these useless members of French society” (qtd. in “Causes of the French Revolution”). If a group of people don’t work well together, and a class system is not mobile, then there will most likely be conflict among these people. Sociological discontent was one of the key factors in causing a major revolutionary war that cost many lives. In conclusion, one can see that the key factors initiating the French Revolution were political, economic, and sociological discontent. Louis XVI failed to solve many sociological, political, and economic problems in France. In doing so, it would lead to him being beheaded in the country that he once ruled. The revolution pushed for change, and that was obviously present after the French Revolution, for better or for worse. The world can learn many things from the French Revolution, such as the fact that an absolute monarchy will never work, and the people it oppresses will always be pushing for their
The French Revolution was a drastic time for the people of France. In 1789, the majority of people were living in poverty and dealing with terrible conditions. People were split into three estates: the first, second, and third, the first being the wealthiest. Political, economic, and social situations were what contributed to people’s desire for change. The three main, or biggest causes of the French Revolution, were taxes, inequality, and lack of reform.
The high taxes, high prices on goods, and unequal distribution of wealth in France were reasons why the French Revolution started. There were three estates in France; the first estate was the clergy, the second estate were the nobles, and the third estate was made up of of three groups; average French workers, Bourgeoisie, and peasants. The French Revolution led to many wars; Louis XVI was a very weak leader, and he was executed. Napoleon Bonaparte became emperor, and the revolution came to an end. The main causes of the French Revolution were the difficult life of the peasants; the issues between the three estates; and the unfairness of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
In the third estate were the bourgeoisie, the urban lower class, and the peasants. These people made up 98% of the population. The people were poor and starving, and the country was in debt. Until people fought against the monarchy. The French Revolution began on May 5, 1789, when people finally had enough of being tired of having no food, high taxes, and just being miserable, so
This all in all led up to the French Revolution after years of inequality and unfairness in the country. Although the French Revolution had come from many different elements built up over time, the primary cause of it was ideas from
During the Eighteenth Century, France had an absolute monarchy with Louis XVI as king and Marie Antoinette as queen. In that time period, French society was based upon a system of Estates where the clergy made up the First Estate; the nobility comprised the Second Estate, and everyone else including professionals, peasants, and the bourgeoisie made up the Third Estate. The Third Estate was immensely unhappy with the old regime, the Estates General, and Louis XVI’s leadership. France was also in the midst of a fiscal crisis due to the American Revolution, Louis XVI’s lavish lifestyle, the Seven Years War, and the tax exemption of the First and Second Estate. Following the surge of new ideas and impactful philosophers from the Enlightenment,
The French, Haitian, and American Revolutions were all sparked from the minds of the colonists, slaves, or lower classes who were treated with inequality by their own governments. In each location, there was a noticeable trend of mistreatment between government and people. In Haiti, slaves brought over by the French who captured the island, and forced them into brutal labor in what was the most valuable and wealthy are at the time. The government and leadership in France was corrupt as they were in much debt. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette lived in Versailles far from the other forms of government, abusing the country wealth.
The French Revolution was one of the most significant wars that changed France’s history. The Revolution started in 1789 and ended in 1799 and was mainly initiated by the conditions affecting the Third Estate. Louis XVI was predominately the king during this time period but little did he know that an uprising among the peasants was happening. The French Revolution was caused by the Enlightenment ideas because of the American Revolution, the knowledge of rights, and the questioning of France’s government. The American Revolution was basically the “fire” that ignited the change the Third Estate wanted to see in their country.
To what extent was the French Revolution sparked by long term political factors from the years 1689 – 1789? Whilst looking at the origins of the French Revolution from a Marxist viewpoint, it becomes apparent that economic and social factors resulted in society becoming the pivotal factor in the start of the revolution. The classic approach showing class antagonism and conflict between the rising middle class, named the bourgeoisie and the already established aristocracy. The historian Albert Soboul wrote that, “The essential cause of the Revolution was the power of a bourgeoisie arrived at its maturity and confronted by a decadent aristocracy holding tenaciously to its privileges.”
How revolutionary was the French Revolution? Did the Revolution simply replace the old ruling elite with a new bourgeois one? What were the major effects on different groups of people, including nobles, priests, peasants, urban workers, slaves, and women? This essay will address the French Revolution and the degree to which it can be aptly described as “revolutionary.” How revolutionary was the French Revolution? Was the storming of the Bastille, the destruction of feudalism, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of a fundamental and radical and revolutionary nature, or, alternatively, simply a series of historical events that results in the supplanting of one authoritarian regime for another and at great cost in
The French Revolution was a bloody and widespread event that occurred in the eighteenth century. This event had a huge impact on the future of Europe and would change the lives of millions. The French Revolution had a number of causes that will be discussed in this essay. Some of the major of the French Revolution were high taxes, three estates, and enlightenment ideas. The first major cause of the French Revolution was financial crisis.
The French Revolution was bound to happen. With the oppression of the lower class, a broke government and nobility questioning the government it was only a matter of time before the people fought back. Crane Brinton in The Anatomy of Revolution says that oppression and a broke government are just some of the reasons that the revolutions happen. Brinton argues that every revolution especially in the western hemisphere follows a pattern. He believes that the French revolution is clear example of that pattern.
There were three estates of the Ancien Regime that made up the French society. The three estates that made up the French society was the Clergy, the Nobles, and the commoners or everyone else. Each estate had an important role in the French society, but one estate was treated very unfairly. The estate that was treated the most unfair was the third estate of the commoners. They weren’t given privileges like the other estates and this caused many problems for the French society.
In 1789, France was precariously balanced on the edge of chaos. King Louis XVI was ruling monarch of France. King Louis’ youth depicted him as reckless, thoughtless, and unwise. A series of bad financial and political decisions, lead to his unpopularity among the people of France. King Louis was young, distracted and misguided.
Everyone has dreams and desires, but achieving those dreams and desires usually ends up hurting others and creating something unwanted. It is seen throughout our history like the French Revolution and displayed in many sources of literature such as “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein was published in 1818, sometime after the French Revolution ended which was in 1799 and both the war and the book have many instances that relate to each other. Although Shelley had published the book quite some time after the Revolution, there are ideas in the book “Frankenstein” that come from the French Revolution.
Anastasiya Balandina Step 2: The French Revolution And Napoleonic Era One main cause of the French Revolution was that the peasants were treated unfairly. They had to pay a large amount of taxes, which were almost impossible for them to Pay. The separation of the classes left them isolated. The economic and social gaps between the Third Estate and the other Two Estates grew leading to the French Revolution. They were inspired by the American revolution, and started to revolt themselves.