Royal AbsolutismRoyal Absolutism
In the late seventeenth century, the king of France, Louis XIV, declared his rule to be an absolute monarchy.
An absolute monarchy is when the king or queen controls every aspect of their citizen’s lives.
This concept was designed by a man by the name Jacques- Benigne Boussuet
Royal AbsolutismRoyal Absolutism
Initially the citizens and parlements came to the king with proposals for civil liberties and other amendments to the king’s will, however the king disregarded them and said he held all the power in the kingdom.
Royal AbsolutismRoyal Absolutism
After hearing these proposals, the king dissolved parlement and instituted his own courts that would rule the way he wanted.
The kings decisions, which did not have the influence of his citizens led to unnecessary war, famine, debt and ultimately a revolution
National DebtNational Debt
Another main cause of the French Revolution was the horrible debt that the country was beginning to fall into.
This national debt caused for a major uproar in the demand for change, this change brought about the Revolution
Debt Cont.Debt Cont.
The National Debt problem was a direct result of the Inequitable System of Tax and how it was so poorly managed by the financial systems
Because of this the government plummeted into even deeper debt since no system could relieve the country of its debt.
Types of DebtTypes of Debt
Internal Debt- this was the money that was owed to the lenders with the Country. This lead to a type of civil distrust amongst the government and the people due to the large amounts of overspending.
External Debt- money that is owed to foreign lenders. To compensate for the debt the Government attempted to issue securities in return for the money they were given such as government bonds and bills. These external spendings affected France’s foreign affairs in a major way.
Enlightenment IdealsEnlightenment Ideals
Discontent of the Discontent of the BourgeoisieBourgeoisie
Power in Paris
Royal gov’t
March of the Bourgeoisie
Raising money
Taxes abolished
Church not opposed
Oath of allegiance to the Constitution
Pope puts an anathema on Revolution
FamineFamine
Main Reason – Shortage of Grain
Prices Rise
Poor/Lower Class (Majority) Cannot afford
Starvation
Another reason - El Nino
El NinoEl Nino
Periodic Change in atmospheric pressure (Heat rises or lowers based on water temperature)
Laki Eruption 1783
Raised Temperatures – irregular harvests
Works CitedWorks Cited
"1789: France." World Socialist Movement. July 1989. Web. 08 Sept. 2009.<http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/etheory/
1905-1985/89French%20Revolution.htm>.
Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack R. “Monarchy Embattled.” Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution. 2001. George Mason University and City University of New York. 8 Sept. 2009 < http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/ credits.html>.
Works CitedWorks Cited
"Causes of the French Revolution." Tgv reservation: timetable, maps and tgv tickets reservation on bonjourlafrance.net. Bonjour La France. Web. 08 Sept. 2009. <http://bonjourlafrance.net/ france-facts/france-history/causes-of-the-french-revolution.htm>.
"Causes of the French Revolution." Wikipedia. Web. 5 Sept. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_the_French_Revolution>.
"El Nino - Southern Oscillation." Wikipedia. Web. 6 Sept. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_nino>.
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