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Causes of the French Revolution Ryan Foringer 12/13/09 A The French Revolution was a historical marking point in French and European history. Under the old regime in France the king was the absolute king or monarchy. The king Louis XVI controlled all of France and he played a significant role in Frances economy and history. He created a tax system the only benefited the wealthy. Society was broken down into three estates the first estate was the clergy and the church. The second estate was the nobility and the third estate who was most of every one in France, the peasants urbane workers and the middle class. During this time the French were defeated in the seven years war against Britain. They were largely in debt. The French debt led to the taxation of the people of France especially the third estate. There was also a rumor going around that since they were so largely in debt that even the price of bread was going to increase and this enraged the bourgeoisie and the rest of the third estate. The nobles and the clergy crossly resisted any attempt to end their exemption from taxes. King Louis XIV called for the estates general, which was the government body that represented the three estates. The estates general had not been called since 1614. The third estate was sick of being taxed and treated like slaves, that they demanded economical change. During the course of the Revolution, France was temporarily transformed from an absolute monarchy, where the king held and abused his power . The causes of the French Revolution were widespread, inside and outside of France. The unfair taxes, high bread prices and the inspiration from the American revolution caused the French people to reacted and hold a revolution of there own. The common French people was unfairly taxed on such staples like bread and income taxes that it caused a revolt of the people against the monarchy. The people of the third estate were in ragged and awful condition. The price of bread was rising and there was now little to eat. The King Louis XVI was unfair in his taxes and this sparked outrage and riots. In an excerpt travels in France by Arthur Young. He wrote that “The lack of bread is terrible. Stories arrive moment from the provinces of riots.” He said that “There is an injustice in levying the amount each person must pay. Lands held by the nobility are taxed very little. Lands taxed by commoners are taxed heavily.” People who were starving and could barely afford to survive can only pay so much before the refuse to pay at all. It is not surprising that the third estate was driven to riot and revolt against leader and its country. Ideas sprang up about liberty and equality and the third estate felt enough was enough and it was time for a drastic change in the way things were being done in the government it was only a matter of time till the people of France called for a revolution. When the French people saw what happened during the American Revolution, They were inspired to take the same action and take back their government . This sparked the idea of The French Revolution it provided proof that a government could function without traditional power classes of the monarchy and the nobility. This gave revolutionaries confidence that their own establishment of a republic could work. Lord Acton believed that this is what caused the French revolution he wrote that “The ideas of the philosophs were not directly responsible for the outbreak but the spark that changes thought into action was supplied by the declaration of American Independence. The American example caused the revolution to break out”. Things had been bad before but the American revolution gave them the final reason to change. The American Revolution showed the French that instead of taking the abuse from the monarchy they could turn their thoughts and ideas into reality and a revolution The revolution wasn’t just wanted by the third estate and the peasants it was wanted by the second class or the middle men. Although the third estate was in need of the revolution the most. Most of the second estate wanted it as well. The Third estate gave the revolution numbers and people but the middle class gave the revolution intelligence and determination. The third estate had numbers and they were able to overtake the French government and the first estate, since they accounted for 97% of the people. The middle class though was inspired by the ideas of Enlightenment and the American Revolution want for freedom and equality. The bourgeoisie were also becoming more educated and they were ready to act. Historian Albert Marthiez wrote “The revolution came from them the middle class. The working classes were incapable of starting or controlling the Revolution. They were just beginning to learn to read.” Owning land was a sign oh high social status. The first estate made up 1% of the people and they owned 10% of the total land. The second estate made up 2% of the people and they owned 35% of the total land. The middle class and peasants made up 97% of the total population and they own just over half the land. The first and second estate compared to the third estate own a lot more land then they have people. In document two you can see how unfair the comparison is. It further more helped spark the revolution. The people of the third estate wanted very badly for their to be equal rights they thought that land ownership shouldn’t be a special privilege and that’s what helped push for the Revolution to start The French Revolution was a historical marking point in French and the European history. The French Revolution helped people of France gain the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happens as it says in the constitution. They helped bring them monarch government to a free republic with equal rights. Most importantly they started the processes of breaking the barrier between the three estates. The French Revolution was so significant in history because it gave people the idea that if they tried, they could reorganize a society whenever it was needed. The greatest effect of the French Revolution, though, was that people could change anything that they wanted with laws, words and political views. The French Revolution paved the way for other revolutions across Europe and most importantly showed that if you put your mind and heart to something you can accomplish it.