- "Usually, they acknowledge the presence of several interlinked factors, but vary in the weight they attribute to each one."
This topic encompasses all the political, social, and economic factors that led to the outbreak of the French Revolution. The causes include the absolute monarchial rule, financial crises, food shortages and high taxes, Enlightenment ideas, and the influence of the American Revolution.
Absolutism in France: An overview of the French monarch's absolute power and its impact on French society, economy, and politics.
Social inequality in France: A review of the social structure in France, with its big divide between the poor and rich, which resulted in the emergence of social unrest.
Enlightenment in France: An exploration of the philosophical movement that questioned the role of the monarchy and changing societal values that provided a framework for revolutionary ideas.
French economy: A comprehensive study of the French economy, including its main sources of wealth, trade practices, and the impact of taxation policies on the populace.
French military and wars: An analysis of the French military establishment and its major conflicts, including the American Revolution and French involvement and detrimental effect on funding.
The role of the Church in France: An overview of the Catholic Church's influence in French society and its opposition to revolutionary thinking.
The Estates General: An in-depth examination of France's most significant parliamentary body and its role in politics, including the factors that led to its dissolution and being ignored.
French Revolutionary Ideas: A discussion of the major thoughts, movements and ideologies that defined the French Revolution.
French Society under Louis XVI & Co.: On Louis's unpopularity amid the nobility, the financial collapse of gov't and issues of national security that led to dissatisfaction among citizens.
The fall of the First Estate: A review of the rejection of privileges of the Church, Jews, and Protestants, which led to the downfall of the first estate and the formation of the National Constituent Assembly.
The Reign of Terror: A consideration of the most violent phase of the French Revolution, much of which manifested in the excesses of the Committee of Public Safety and the totalitarianism of Maximilien Robespierre.
The Convention and the Directory: A study of the governmental framework that emerged after the fall of the monarchy and the phases of the Revolution that got France to their conclusion.
International impacts of the revolution: A discussion of the far-reaching effects of the French Revolution and its influence on the wider European continent.
The legacy of the French Revolution: A reflection on the importance of the French Revolution in modern society and how it has shaped French society today.
French Society Today: A consideration of the status of different sections of French society today following the efforts of the revolution.
Political Causes: The French Revolution was caused by political instability, which was driven by the weakness of the Bourbon monarchy and the corrupt nature of the French political system. The political elites were divided and unable to work together, which led to the inability to make critical decisions required to address the country's economic problems.
Economic Causes: France was in dire straits in terms of its economy. There were food shortages, high taxes, and an enormous national debt. Most of the country's population was poor, while the nobility lived in luxury.
Social Causes: French society was divided into three estates – clergy, nobility, and commoners. The commoners were the largest group but were denied political power, which created unrest and resentment towards the ruling classes.
Intellectual Causes: The Enlightenment ideas, which originated in France in the 18th century, played a significant role in the French Revolution. These ideas challenged the traditional authority of the monarchy, encouraged individual liberty and equal rights, and promoted representative government.
Cultural Causes: The French Revolution was also fueled by cultural factors, such as the rise of nationalism and a desire for change in cultural norms. The French people were looking for new ways to express themselves and their identity as French citizens.
Military Causes: The French army played a critical role in the French Revolution. The military was suffering from a lack of funding and equipment, which led to problems with morale and discipline. Many soldiers were also drawn to the revolutionary cause due to their shared grievances with the civilian population.
Religious Causes: The French Revolution was influenced by religious factors, such as the conflict between the Catholic Church and the state. The Revolution saw a decline in the power of the Catholic Church, with many priests and bishops being executed or expelled from the country.
Environmental Causes: Climate and natural disasters played a role in the French Revolution. The years preceding the Revolution saw crop failures, which led to food shortages and higher prices. This, in turn, contributed to the general discontent among the population.
- "The first estate, the highest class, consisted of clergy." - "The second estate consisted of the nobility." - "The third estate consisted of the commoners."
- "The first two estates together were 10% of the population."
- "It included businessman, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, landless labourers, and servants." - "The third estate was 90%."
- "The society was based on the old French maxim 'The nobles fight; the clergy pray and the people pay'."
- "Marxist historians...see the social tensions described here as the main cause of the revolution."
- "The Estates-General allowed them to manifest into tangible political action."
- "The bourgeoisie and the lower classes were grouped into the third estate."
- "Marxist historians, such as Lefebvre and Soboul." - "François Furet is a prominent proponent."
- "Others see the social issues as important, but less so than the Enlightenment or the financial crisis." - "Simon Schama... of the latter."
- "Cultural changes, normally associated with the Enlightenment."
- "Financial and economic difficulties."
- "Usually, they acknowledge the presence of several interlinked factors, but vary in the weight they attribute to each one."
- "Beyond these relatively established facts about the social conditions surrounding the French Revolution, there is significant dissent among historians."
- "The nobles fight; the clergy pray and the people pay."
- "It included businessman, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, landless laborers, and servants."
- "The bourgeoisie and the lower classes were grouped into the third estate, allowing them to jointly oppose the establishment."
- "François Furet is a prominent proponent."
- "The first two estates together were 10% of the population."
- "...less so than the Enlightenment or the financial crisis."