The French Revolution!

The Causes of the French Revolution

1, The absolute control of the king and his court was an unfair system of government, and a government that was also bankrupt.

-Following the Enlightenment, people began questioning the reasoning behind the Old Order, including the idea of an Absolute Monarch. The people began to demand equality, liberty and democracy. -For years, they had watched French government overspend due to wars (helped finance the American Revolution) as well as due to rulers who were extravagant spenders.

A strong leader may have been able to solve the economic problems and unrest, but the next king, Louis XVI was not the strong leader they needed. He was well- meaning but weak and indecisive. What to do….? what to do….?

King Louis XVI had stop putting off dealing with the economic struggle of France and face the problem. He began to bring in financial advisors, each one advised the same thing: France needed to radically change the way it taxed it’s people…

2. The rich people of the First and Second Estates paid few taxes, while the Third Estate, the common people paid most of the taxes.

The solution was suggested to begin taxing the nobility (who were exempt from taxes before). The nobility refused and demanded that Louis XVI call a meeting of the Estates-General (an assembly of representatives from all 3 estates) to approve the tax.

The Second Estate knew however that they were at an advantage because neither they nor the First Estate (who was also exempt from taxes) would agree to be taxed now. Since each estate was given a single vote- despite the fact the Third Estate was much larger than the First or Second Estates- the new tax would be outvoted: 2 to 1.

3. The extravagance of the rich and the misery of the poor were extreme. When the king needed even more taxes, the commoners refused. WE’RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT!

The Third Estate had watched it’s government overspend and the First and Second Estates lead grand, extravagant lives. Meanwhile they worked hard only to be paid low wages. Half of these low wages were then spent on the dues to the nobles, tithes to the Church, and taxes to the king’s agents. Just when they thought things couldn’t get worse and were beginning to hunger for change, they began to hunger for food as well… I just can’t catch a break…

4. Due in part to France’s feudal arrangements, food was scarce. Bread which was the main part of the peasants’ diet, was very high priced by the summer of 1789.

As the cost of bread rose, many of the Third Estate went hungry. Mobs of these workers would attack grain carts and bread shops to steal what they needed.

FUN FACT! -Many stories tell that Louis XVI’s wife Queen Marie Antoinette said “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” (Let them eat cake) when she heard the peasants were starving without bread. -However, there is no record that she spoke this phrase. In fact it appeared first in Rousseau’s autobiography which was written when Marie Antoinette was nine years old. -She was though, very unpopular with the French because of her spending (on gowns, jewelry, gambling and gifts), her controversial court affairs, and because she was a member of the royal family of Austria, France’s long time enemy. =aS5A1jVuqUE

5. The National Assembly was formed to break from the king and form a new government based on a constitution.

The Third Estate realized that they could not beat the First and Second Estates this way. They requested that each delegate was given a vote (inspired by ideas from the Enlightenment) which would give them the advantage as they had more delegates that the other two Estates combined. The king sided with the nobles and held that each estate only receive one vote. Why I oughta…

Angered and even more insistent on being heard, the Third Estate (inspired by a sympathetic clergy man, Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyés) decided to declare itself the National Assembly and pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people.

On June 17, 1789, they voted to establish the National Assembly, which challenged and announced the end of the absolute monarchy and the beginning of representative government. This was the first deliberate act of revolution.

-Three days after this vote, the Third Estate delegates were locked out of the hall where the voting had been occurring. They broke down the door to an indoor tennis court. -Once inside they promised to stay until they had created a new constitution. This pledge became known as the Tennis Court Oath. -Those in the First and Second Estate who favored reform joined the National Assembly’s cause.

King Louis XVI began to bunker down to prepare for the storm that was brewing…