The substantial taxation, discrimination, and overall unjust treatment of the less fortunate was too much to just be ignored. The French citizens held riots and even stormed a famous fortress in revolt. It was suggested that the Declaration of American Independence inspired the people of France. When the American citizens broke away from England because of a disagreement with how things were being ran, it served as an example to the third estate of what could be (Doc. 5). No change taking place in society really lit a fire within French citizens.
The economical cause that started the French Revolution was unfair taxes on 3rd estate and high prices on
The French Revolution was the third estate’s fight against the government of France in an attempt to get rid of unfair taxation and their bad leader, Louis XIV. It happened because there was a bad harvest, financial crisis, other countries and areas were introducing democracies, Louis XVI was a bad leader, and society itself was unfair. The goals of the revolutionaries were to gain a say in government, have a more equal divide in social classes and their responsibilities, and to have a better ruler, which were not achieved for over 25 years. Because of this, the French Revolution was not a success, as the events and government in France that followed the revolution directly contradicted the main goals people fought for.
Although there were probably many factors that contributed to the start of the French Revolution, the three most important causes were taxes, the American revolution, and the spreading of the philosophes’ ideas. A very prominent cause of the French Revolution was the unfair amount of taxes for the Third Estate. According to Arthur Young, who traveled across France while it was still under the Old Regime, wrote about this in his book, Travels in France. An excerpt from his journal reads “Lands held by the nobility are taxed very little.
The cause of the French Revolution was said to be because of the French government's extreme debt they attempted a insane taxon the third estate. The third estate revolted and this caused the ideas of liberalism and nationalism in Europe. Another thing that was caused by the French Revolution was the attack of the Bastille.
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.
It stated Prussia and Austria would intervene to protect the French royal family. The king of Prussia used this document as a bluff to frighten the revolutionaries; however, they took the warning seriously and prepared for war. As a result, the French Revolution entered a new, more radical stage. French patriotism and tension heightened as the well-trained Prussian army caused deaths of countless French soldiers. Bloodthirsty radicals and ordinary Parisians headed the new assembly, the National Convention, which was more radical than any other assembly prior to itself.
Lands held by the commoners are taxed very heavily” (Arthur Young). The King and Queen were seen as the “Two-Headed Monster” which is illustrated in document 2. The common people were getting fed up with the reckless spending and weak leadership that the King had shown them. They were at the tip of their anger and when the Third Estate Gad been locked out of their meeting room it pushed them over the edge. They shortly after Stormed the Bastille, the Bastille was a Paris prison that housed most of the country’s gunpowder.
During the French Revolution it changed many things and as well as people. Many people from the middle class struggled as the French Revolutionaries' were plotting some changes. In the French Revolution many causes happened like many unfair conditions, the Monarchy being thrown, and the ideas from the enlightenments. A cause for the revolution to start was that middle-class people start to struggle, unfair conditions, and taxes.in document 1 it says, "the poor people seem very poor indeed." (document 1).
The first main cause contributing to the Revolution can be cited as the imposition of various harsh acts and taxes to generate more revenue from the American colonies in order to meet the expenses of the French-Indian wars. Sugar Act, Stamp Act, etc. are some examples of these acts. With these impositions of such unacceptable acts, the unrest in the colonies started brewing which ultimately led to the great Revolt. Boston Massacre was another important reason/cause and contributing factor behind The American Revolution. All these causes were fuelled by the fact that no representatives were allowed to represent American colonies to raise their voice in the British parliament, and their needs were continually suppressed by the British administration.
The writings, philosophies, and theoretical debates among the educated and aristocrats may have small provoking influences but it is the disruption of the individual?s livelihood that is the required source. A publication will create vigorous discussion and debate but take away a bread maker?s ability to bake, destroy the churches and remove religious rights, or force communities into starvation and that is the true trigger of a revolution. In my reflection I would further suggest that had the leadership in France been more fiscally responsible and more responsive to the outcries of the people, the revolution may never have occurred. Many historians believe the revolutionaries wanted to work harmoniously with Louis XVI and were apposed to violent upheavals.[footnoteRef:5] The month of October 1789 may have been one of the most devastating errors in leadership ever committed by a political figure.
Many reasons triggered the people’s general discontent, over taxing, inequality, years of feudal oppression, and corruption which led to eagerness of rebellion. Politically speaking, the autocratic monarchy, excessive spending and poor administration. On the social aspect, common people became rebellious after learning their rights and feeling treated unequal. Economically, the country was left in bankruptcy after poor administration and useless wars. All this contributed to a French society that was eagering for revolt, catapulting the french to a downward economic spiral in the late 1700’s.
In the first place, both the American and French Revolution had their causes that would change history. The American Revolution was caused by the greed of the British and the thoughts of the enlightened people. All the peasants wanted to be free of the unfair taxation on items such as tea and stamps considering they had no say. This coincides with James Otis’s phrase, “taxation without representation is tyranny,” which led to, “no taxation without representation.”
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.
The French revolution is considered to be the most significant and effective event in the history. It changed the lives of many peoples and changed the future. Since people of France were under the control of the King they wanted to get rid of French government to eliminate power of the king. There were numerous other factors that also lead the French to the revolution. There were also many social unfairness among the taxes between the estates.
