The French Revolution

Causes Ideological Political Social

Ideological Causes Origins- Thoughts and works of Enlightenment thinkers Locke Rousseau Montesquieu Diderot Voltaire

Jean-Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract, 1762 People in society entered into a contract or agreement People are the only source of legitimate rule People are subject to the ‘General Will’ What’s best for the whole is best for the individual…

Baron de Montesquieu Spirit of the Laws, 1748 Argued against absolutism Was in favor of separation of powers Politically conservative 3 types of government: –Republics: virtue –Monarchies: honor –Despotism: fear

Denis Diderot The Encyclopedia, 1772 Promoted ideals of: –Toleration –Reason –Progress –Equality before the law The state was the agency for progress

Francois-Marie Voltaire Candide, 1759 Promoted: Free Speech, Civil Rights and Toleration Hated the Church and Aristorcracy Praised Louis XIV and thought that Enlightened Despots were best

Thomas Jefferson The Declaration of Independence, 1776 All ‘men’ are created equal…

Ideological Causes The American Revolution French soldiers fought in the war Ideas were inspiring to the French Overthrowing a monarch, establishing a Republic Treaty of Paris, 1783

Social Causes The Estate System The Ancien Regime Similar to Feudalism of the Middle Ages Inequality between estates and within estates Growing resentment between classes

The 1st Estate The Clergy 1% of the population Issued taxes on the peasants called a tithe These taxes often left the local church Exempt from taxes from the crown

The 2nd Estate The Nobility 2% of the population Issued taxes on the peasants and charged rent, feudalism Noblese d’epee- Old money, inherited Noblesse de Robe- New money, bought offices Exempt from taxes from the crown

The 3rd Estate Everyone else 97% Split into three groups: The Bourgeoisie The Peasants The Urban Poor

The Bourgeoisie Often thought of as the middle class Most important political group of the 3rd By 1789 they were well-educated, rich and large No real say in the government but economically powerful

The Peasants Huge portion of the population Paid the most tax- dues to feudal lords, the taille and the tithe Oppressive poverty and little power

The Urban Poor Artisans, factory workers, journeymen High literacy rates Highly political Easily frustrated with inequalities

The Political Causes Economic hardships Inability to reform Weakening of Absolutism

Economic Hardships The cost of wars The inequality of tax distribution Dependence on Loans Versailles and The Royal Court

Inability to Reform Louis XVI- not interested in Government Competing interests between estates Calling of the Estates General

Weakening of Absolutism Louis XVI- no longer had the authority of his predecessors Growing distrust and resentment of King and Queen Calling of the Estates General further deteriorates the King’s power

Other Causes The Volcano of Laki erupts for 8 months in 1783 Ergot poisining- Like the Salem Which Trials. PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY