What were the causes of the french revolution?
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Transcript of What were the causes of the french revolution?
1.)Political factors
a.) absolutism• Louis XVI was an absolute monarch
• Louis inherited the French throne in 1774
• He was unaware of the needs of his subjects (people)
• He was family man, but he was more interested in making clocks and locks (inventions) than affairs of state
• His great passion was hunting
b.) Complaining about laws and government
• Different people were complaining about how France was run – especially the power the king had
– power with no limits: absolute authority
– divine source of power
– no Parliament: Estates General called by king
• King could not interfere with rights and privileges of 1st and 2nd Estates
c.) Cahiers de Doléances
• Books recording lists of grievances and suggestions for reform – Every village, town guild, corporation body in France made one
• Key issues 1789:
- More equal taxes
- Measures to facilitate
Trade and commerce
d.) Voting by Estate
• Each Estate met separately
• One vote per Estate
– Thus 3rd could always be outvoted
– Disliked by bourgeoisie and some liberal nobles
– Argued for voting by head
– double vote for 3rd Estate
• 3rd Estate outraged: Clergy and Nobles usually had similar interests and voted together
3.) Economic factors:
a.)problems in the economy:• Government unable to pay national debt –state’s bankrupt
• 1780’s are a time of bad harvests, rising unemployment, rising prices, and poverty
• Ordinary people were disturbed to hear rumors that the King intended to increase taxes restlessness of the masses
Economic factors:
b.) debts and expenses:• Louis and Marie Antoinette entertained
lavishly at the Court of Versailles
• Sometimes Nobles and their families and entourage would spend as long as half a year being entertained there at the taxpayers’ expense.
4.) New ideas:
a.) The Enlightenment• Scientific revolution
• Educated people
• Criticisms about the government and the royal power
• Belief that is possible to create a better society
• Need of freedoms for people (speak, write, act)
• Educated, well-off members of the Third Estate learnt about the new ideas
• Many noblemen believed the king had too much power
New ideas:
b.) American War of Independence• American declaration of independence inspired the French soldiers
– everyone was born equal
– every man had rights that could not be taken away
– the government should act in the interests of the people
• Some people started to say that a country should be run by the government chosen by the people