FRENCH REVOLUTION

France was an absolute monarchy. Louis XIV (1643 - 1715) was the envy of all other rulers in Europe. During his reign he had centralised the government and had encouraged trade and manufacture. But France had suffered defeat in the Seven Years War against Britain (1756 - 63). A fatal weakness in the French absolute monarchy system, was its inability to produce strong monarchs. Louise XVI was not strong.

On the eve of revolution all sections of French society had reason to be unhappy:

* The nobles wanted power that was taken from them by the monarchy

* The bourgeoisie resented the privileges of the nobles

* The Bourgeoisie and the Peasants criticised the tax system

Causes of the French Revolution

. The Background or Long Standing Causes

a. Negative Features of the Ancien Regime

b. An Absolute Monarchy can falter if the monarch is weak

Ancien Regime refers to the old order in France; the social and governmental system that lasted until the Revolution. The Government order in France was an Absolute Monarchy.

The population was divided into three states, two privileged

The First Estate comprised the clergy. The Lower Clergy related more to the Lower Estates. The First Estate numbered around 100 000. The Second Estate was for the nobility. The Third Estate was made up of the bourgeoisie, wage earners and the peasantry. They were the majority of the population. The first two states enjoyed privileges over the Third Estate and the Commoners were left behind.

Economic Inefficiencies of Feudal Survivals (tolls, guilds)
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There was great need for taxation reform in France before the Revolution. The inefficiency of only taxing the lower estate showed in the Government's budgets.

Financial Difficulties grew under Louis XIV and Louis XV

Due to over ambitious wars and extravagant spending on courts, Louis XIV and Louis XV had been successful in helping to bankrupt France. The worst war was the Seven Years War as this economically drained France and saw France lose most of her colonies to Britain.

The peasants had many grievances

This system allowed for greater income disparity in ...

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