Causes French Rev

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Class Notes 5:3 Causes of the French Revolution

Modern World History, by Dan McDowell. Teaching Point, ©2003

Social Inequality

French social structure divided into three estates

1st Estate (Clergy) Made up about 1% of the population Upper clergy held many privileges, taxed the

3rd estate Poor parish priests go against Church,

support revolution

Social Inequality 2nd Estate (Nobles)

Made up about 2-3% of the population Nobility acquired titles by virtue of birth and

through the holding of important government positions

Only ones to hold important positions in the government

Maintained modified feudal system allowing them to tax peasants

Paid no taxes themselves

Social Inequality

3rd Estate (Bourgeoisie, peasants, and workers) Made up remaining 96-97% of the

population Paid taxes to the king, nobles, and Church In years preceding the revolution, many

paid as much as 1/2 their income in taxes

Influences from America and Enlightenment

Myth that all Americans were part of the political process

It’s right and just to take up arms against tyranny (Locke)

No taxation without representation

Influences from America and Enlightenment

The signing of the U.S. Constitution.

All men should have liberal freedoms

A Republic is superior to a monarchy

Louis XVI His father had been a

weak ruler, Louis XVI had not known a strong king

Preferred personal interests to court interests – delegated authority

Weak leader Incapable of decisive

action Ignored economic woes

until too late

Economic Crisis French commerce weakening over the last 100

years Significant amount of money spent assisting the

United States of America in its own revolution Rich were not taxed, and refused on principle to

be taxed – it was a status symbol Crop failures in the 1780s resulting in both

urban and rural food riots

Economic Crisis Debt! Half of government budget went to pay

interest on debt Banks were unable to loan any more money to

government Several attempts at fixing the problems, but

nobles blocked any real changes to the system Bourgeoisie began questioning the authority of

the government, soon joined by many peasants

Art of the French Revolution

Causes French Rev

Technology

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