The phrase “an obstinate woman” needs to be explained as it is unclear as to who the author was referring to. Was he referring to Marquise de Pompadour whom Louis XV adored or was it referring to the country1 as a whole?
The phrase ‘disasters of an unfortunate war’ is vague. We need to know what kind of disasters the war brought and its effects on the French society at that time.
The term ‘great machine’ is ambiguous. It may refer to the absolute system that was in place during that period of time or it could also refer to the country itself.
The phrase ‘continued disagreements in the administration’ has to be further explained in detail to help us understand what caused the disagreements as well as the effects they had on France.
The phrase ‘financial disorder’ has to be explained further to let us know what sort of disorder was that and how it affected France at that time.
In short, all these clarifications are vital to ensure that we fully understand the text intended information before we can make use of it.
Wat can be learnt about the state of pre-revolutionary French society from this extract? Distinguish between the witting and unwitting testimony?
This document contains witting and unwitting testimonies which can be learnt and distinguished.
Wittingly, this document is trying to tell us about the chaotic and unstable conditions of the French society during the pre-revolutionary period. France, at that time, was heavily in debts caused by the costly and unsuccessful wars and the extravagance lavished by the royalties themselves. ( Resource Book 2, A19, p.36 ) These financial disorders coupled by the continued disagreements in the administration brought about many disturbances to the absolute system in place then as the French government was not able to manage their finances so that the economy would improve and the people would feel fairly treated. General discontent of the people was caused by the practice of feudalism. The nobles and clergy enjoyed special privileges. They did not have to pay taxes. The common people did not have power and freedom in politics. They worked hard and had to pay heavy taxes. The nobles and clergy made up the First and Second Estates in the Estates General. The common people (i.e. the middle class (bourgeoisie), peasants and artisans) made up the Third Estate. The nobles and clergy could outvote the common people easily though the Estates General was always not called by the king, who ruled as an absolute monarch. The common people became discontented with the privileged classes.
Unwittingly, this document is trying to suggest that the kingdom was not well-governed because of its heredity system, where the throne is succeeded by a line of successors, instead of one’s capability. Hence, there was no guarantee that the throne would be succeeded by someone who is truly competent. There was no uniformity in the courts too as ministers openly opposed one another.
This document also unwittingly shows that the ruler, Louis XV was a weakling and lazy man who had no control over the state affairs, leaving them to the hands of his mistress and councils of ministers. Had he been a capable, enthusiastic and fair ruler, there wouldn’t be so much oppositions and disorders in his court and there would be a fairer system in choosing the right candidate to hold the suitable position in the office.
Wittingly
- Break up of constitution
- disasters of the unfortunate war -
- Financial disorders
system of 'progressive taxation' whereby people were taxed in accordance with how much they earned. The taxes which were imposed restricted the growth of industry and trade and the increase in food prices led to riots among the lower classes. The French government did not seem to be able to manage their finances so that the economy would improve and the people would feel fairly treated. In conclusion, the ancien regime was clearly an outdated, old fashioned system which was biased towards the wealthy and did nothing to improve the French economy. Instead of making France more powerful the ancien regime heightened tensions within the country and created unrest among the peasants who began to resent the government for taxing them, the landlords for treating them badly and the King for failing to do anything to rectify the situation, resulting in discontentment which increased over the years until it came to a head in the revolution of1789. ...continued disagreements in the administration
- general discontent of the people
- stubbornness of the queen to sacrifice intellectual powers
- keep the positions in the office for her favourites
Unwittingly
- Kingdom was not governed well because of it heredity system
- No uniformity because continued disagreement-Minister opposed each other
- No system of fairness – favourites were chosen, capable man were out of office
- king was a weakling who had no control over the courts affairs, left to the hands of his mistress.
- tax corruption
rousseau towards government and woman
This document seems to stress on the witting testimony. However, underlining it is a series of unwitting testimony that can shed light on areas of importance in studying this period of history.
It also showed that there was no system of fairness.
tax
French society had been corrupted. Rulers had corrupted general reason by bending it to their own individual interests. They claimed to be acting in the general interest, but were really acting in their own selfish interests. Society could be made healthy again if it was based on the general will of the people.
Kingdom was not governed well because of it heredity system
No uniformity because continued disagreement
Minister opposed each other
No system of fairness – favourites were chosen
capable man were out of office
This document unwittingly shows that the ruler, Louis XV was a weakling and lazy man who had no control over the state affairs, leaving them to the hands of his mistress and councils of ministers. Had he been a capable, enthusiastic and fair ruler, there wouldn’t be so much oppositions and disorders in his court and there would be a fairer system in choosing the right candidate to hold the suitable position in the office.
Causes of the French Revolution
Political and Social Inequalities
France still practised feudalism in the 18th century. The nobles and clergy enjoyed special privileges. They did not have to pay taxes. The common people did not have power and freedom in politics. They worked hard and had to pay heavy taxes. The nobles and clergy made up the First and Second Estates in the Estates General. The common people (i.e. the middle class (bourgeoisie), peasants and artisans) made up the Third Estate. The nobles and clergy could outvote the common people easily though the Estates General was always not called by the king, who ruled as an absolute monarch. The common people became discontented with the privileged classes.
Bankruptcy of the Government
Louis XIV had spent too much. His successors did not cut down expenses. Louis XVI also failed to improve the financial situation. He dismissed ministers who tried to introduce financial reforms. By 1789, the government was bankrupt.
Influence of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution
The ideas and writings of Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau became widespread. The French people were inspired to go against their king.
The suucess of the Americans to overthrow British rule encouraged the French to fight for their freedom.
Leaving they poor minority to fund the country. The governments strong arm tactics had boxed their countries in leaving the people no choice but to violently oppose the those oppressing them. The idea of a free nation in France was brought home with returning soldiers from the war of independence in America. The third estate or working class were responsible for the push for revolution, the government and society provided the necessary ferment to bring the public to the brink.
The working class or the third estate was heavily taxed in both Russia and France and provided the luxurious lifestyle that the people 'classed' above them entertained. King Louis had attempted reform of the tax system in his own manner, but not French society and when reform failed he was left with a country open to outside influence with no faith in their own ruling power. There was no way the respective rulers could expect the people of their countries, the majority, to live under the harsh set of living standards placed upon them.
Outbreak of revolution 1789
When Louis XVI finally called the Estates General to solve financial difficulties, the Third Estate did not agree with the unfair system of the Estates General. They formed the National Assembly to make a constitution. People were afraid that the king would suppress the National Assembly. They were also discontented that the king dismissed Necker, the popular Finance Minister. The hungry Parisians, who suffered from bad harvest, burst out their anger by attacking the Bastille prison (for political prisoners). The Fall of Bastille started the French Revolution. It spread out to other parts of France.
She made and unmade generals during the Seven Yearís War and helped to bring out the famous change of alliances. She wanted peace within France so it could be a strong world power. Although she was very ambitious, her life was still filled with frustrations, bitterness, and unhappiness. Throughout her life in the court, Madame de Pompadour was many times looked down upon by the French people. Coming out of the bourgeois class, this mistress and friend of the king was taking a role usually reserved for the aristocrats. Others saw her as a woman trying to seize power.
Louis was lazy, and Madame de Pompadour prepared all business for the king's eye beforehand with the ministers, who met in her rooms at Versailles.
