Causes of the French Revolution

Causes of the French Revolution

The Enlightenment

Financial Difficulties

The American Revolution

Absolute MonarchyMother Nature

Enlightenment

Challenged the Absolute Right

to Rule

Appealed to bourgeoisie grievances

Led to the questioning of “everything”

The Estates GeneralFirst Estate – The Church/clergy

Second Estate – Nobility

•3% of the population•Special rights and privileges

Third Estate – Everyone else –

•97% of the population•Poverty-stricken peasants (75% to 80%)•Wealthy, educated bourgeoisie (8%)•Skilled craftsmen (12% to 17%)•Medieval obligations still pertained

Financial Difficulties

• Large Debts– High Interest Rates– Spending on Wars– Extravagant

Spending at Court

• Attempts at Reform– Assembly of

Notables (1787)

• Need For Tax Reform

• The nobility didn’t want to give up its tax exemptions

• The Third Estate resented paying most of the taxes

• Uneven distribution of wealth

American Revolution

• Added to the French Debt

• Ideas– Taking up arms against tyranny– Political freedoms for all men– No taxation without representation

Absolute Monarchy

• Louis XVI– Preferred personal interests to court

interests– Had a difficult time making decisions

• Vocabulary– Ancien Regime (Old Regime)

• French political and social system prior to the Revolution

Mother Nature

• Harsh Winters– Failed Harvests– Increased the price of flour (bread)

• ¾ of the diet – 1/3 to ½ the income

The poor “should eat grass, like my horses.” Foulon

Bastille Day -- RushOoh, there’s no bread,Let ‘em eat cakeThere’s no end to what they’ll

takeFlaunt the fruits of noble birthWash the salt into the earth

But they’re marching to Bastille Day.

La guillotine will claim her bloody prize.

Free the dungeons of the innocentThe king will kneelAnd let his kingdom riseOoh, there’s stained velvet, dirty

lace,Naked fear on every faceSee them bow their heads to dieAs we would bow as they rode byAnd we’re marching to Bastille

Day

La guillotine will claim her bloody prize

Sing, oh choirs of cacophonyThe king has kneeledTo let his kingdom rise

Lessons taught but never learnedAll around us anger burnsGuide the future by the pastLong ago the mould was castFor they marched up to Bastille

DayLa guillotine claimed her bloody

prizeHear the echoes of the centuries Power isn’t all that money buys.