Causes of the French Revolution

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Raven Dhillon

World Civilizations II (G)

Ms. Schlesinger

December 3rd, 2012

For the Want of a Change: The Quest for a Republic

        The social unrest in France allowed for Enlightenment ideals of democracy to instigate revolt and eventually, a revolution. The Enlightenment thinkers significantly influenced France and their ideas regarding a democratic state flourished during a time of turmoil because the people of France were dissatisfied with the current administration. This led to revolt and revolution. The events occurring in France during the late eighteenth century forever altered the nation.  One of the most crucial changes in France was that it was no longer an absolutist state, but instead a republic. “it was the great revolution of the eighteenth century, the revolution that opened the modern era in politics (McKay 615). The French Revolution also had many repercussions that would tremendously affect the whole of Europe. One of these repercussions the ideals established by these events would transform the way Europeans thought of ruling themselves.

        The Enlightenment preceded the revolution. The main thought behind the Enlightenment was that society should be governed by reason instead of faith. Enlightened thinkers believed that the government of France should be reformed. These thinkers disapproved of absolutism as a way to govern (France). “no political system could claim divine sanction” (France). In their eyes, divine right was not a viable rationale for sovereignty. They wished for France reformed into a freethinking democracy.

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        Social unrest among the people was aroused after the financial crisis. The royal government was unsuccessful in its attempt to reform the tax system. Consequently, they were forced to fund the American Revolution with borrowed money, which culminated in debt (615). A poor grain harvest for the common people also resulted in an economic depression. The economy was unfortunate and people fell on hard times. Demand collapsed and thousands of people were dismissed from their jobs. Hundreds of thousands of people were unemployed. French people under this economy were exceedingly poor and oppressed (616).

The political tension among the ...

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