The French Revolution

Introduction

The French Revolution is as one of the most important events in the world, it began the history of the modern world. The major cause of the French Revolution was due to the disputes between the social classes in French society. The evolution led to many changes in France which, at the time of the Revolution, was the most powerful state in Europe. The Revolution led to the development of new political forces such as democracy and nationalism. It questioned the authority of kings, priests, and nobles. The Revolution also gave new meanings and new political ideas to the people.

Analysis

The French Revolution was spread over the ten-year period between 1789 and 1799. The main cause of the revolution was the dispute of people's different ideas of reforming the nation. At the end of the seventeenth century, King Louis XIV's wars began decreasing France's royal finances dramatically; this worsened during the eighteenth century. The use of the money by Louis XIV angered the people and they wanted a new system of government. They believed that not one official in power was corrupt, but that the whole system of government needed some change. At this time in French history, the social class played an important role in the lives of the people. The social structure of France was divided among three groups: the First Estate, Second Estate, and Third Estate. Each social group had a varied type of people within their structure, which presented the different views of the people. The major cause of the Revolution was the differences these three groups had (Woloch, pp 1444-1452).

What Caused the Revolution?

The French Revolution of 1789 had many long-term causes. Political, social, and economic conditions in France contributed to the discontent felt by many French people, especially those of the third estate. The ideas of the intellectuals brought new views to government and society. The American Revolution also influenced the coming of the French Revolution. The Philosophers planted the seeds for the French Revolution. Their goals were to expose and destroy the inequalities of the old order and bring about change (Spang, pp 109-119).

For more than a century before Louis XVI was given the throne, the French government had gone through periods of economic crisis. However, Louis XVI father, Louis XV had indebted the country greatly with his many wars, like the French and Indian War in 1756 to 1763. His generous loans to the American colonies during the American Revolution also helped indebt the country. His financial mismanagement could be linked to his sons problems. When Louis XVI took over office from his father, the government was under an absolute monarchy. With this system, he had almost unlimited authority and access to resources. He used these resources to the full extent, living a lavish, expensive lifestyle. This habit lead to the economic downfall of the country, and because of his absolute power, he raised taxes to pay for his expensive lifestyle. Still, the country fell further into debt (Schaeper, ...