Causes of the French Revolution
The French Revolution had many causes. Some of the causes were dealt with political, social, and economical reasons. Out of the three estates, the third was the most dissatisfied with the conditions. The ideas of the Enlightenment lead to new views of the government and society.
In France the nobles and clergy enjoyed special privileges. They did not have to pay taxes. The common people worked hard and had to pay heavy taxes. The nobles and clergy made up the First and Second Estates in the Estates General. The common people made up the Third Estate. The nobles and clergy could outvote the common people easily though the Estates General was always not called by the king, who ruled as an absolute monarch. The common people became dissatisfied with the privileged classes.
King Louis XVI of France married Marie Antoinette, and together they lived in luxury, at the palace of Versailles while his people suffered. King Louis ruled as an absolute monarch.
Louis XIV had spent too much. His successors did not cut down expenses. Louis XVI also failed to improve the financial situation. He dismissed ministers who tried to introduce financial reforms. By 1789, the government was bankrupt. The ideas and writings of Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau became widespread. The French people were inspired to go against their king. The success of the Americans to overthrow British rule encouraged the French to fight for their freedom.
When Louis XVI finally called the Estates General to solve financial difficulties, the Third Estate did not agree with the unfair system of the Estates General. They formed the National Assembly to make a constitution. People were afraid that the king would suppress the National Assembly. They were also discontented that the king dismissed Necker, the popular Finance Minister. The...
More The French Revolution
essays:
Legacies Of The France Revolution
... the French Revolution stimulated profound political controversy and equally profound rethinking of the nature of government itself. Because the revolutionaries aimed to rebuild government from the foundation upward, substituting reason for tradition and equal rights for privilege, they ...
A Comparison of the French and Russion Revolutions
... both revolutions, the monarch was killed, and then someone rose to power. In Russia, the entire royal family was shot to death in their own home, where they were then dismembered and taken away. In France, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette ...
How important was the role of ideas in the outbreak of the French and Russian Revolutions?
... The French Revolution of 1789 which lead to the sacking of King Louis XVI occurred mainly due to the war-torn state of the country and the long-term abuse of lower classes. While the Enlightenment was ...
Was Napoleon the son or the enemy of the French Revolution? In this essay, I will try and investigate whether Napoleon Bonaparte brought a positive change to France or was he just another tyrant.
... rule of the Bourbon family, King Louis XVI, until the French Revolution occurred in 1789 which ended to the Bourbon dynasty. France was in a state of chaos ...
Napoleon--the greatest player of the balance of power
... balance of power is destroyed. Why did the other powers in Europe form a coalition against France in 1793? The reason originated from the French Revolution. Before the revolution, among ...
French Revolution - What were the causes of the downfall of Louis XVI?
... social, economic, political conditions. Also reasons such as the Age of Enlightenment when some philosophers had new ideas of how the country should be ruled, the inequalities between estates, the bankruptcy of the government, the attitude and behaviour of Louis XVI ...
The Extent of Louis XVI's impact on the French Revolution.
... luxurious palace of Versailles. In addition to pursuing wars, Louis XV spent money on his mistress' (Social Causes of the Revolution). Both kings added more to the existing debt pushing France into an economic downward ...
The French Revolution: Downfall of Louis
... The French Revolution was the start of King Louis XVIs downfall, overthrowing the absolute monarchy of France. Ascending to the throne of King of France at the age of 20 ...