Causes of the French Revolution Long Term Causes

Causes of the French Revolution

Long Term Causes • French Revolution was partly influenced by the American Rev – French soldiers had served in America – French bourgeoisie and lower nobility intrigued by American ideas of liberty – Massive aid from France to America resulted in debt

Long Term Causes • Increased criticism of the French gov’t was spurred by rising expectations of the Enlightenment – Political theories of Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu – Laissez-Fire – Gov’t corruption, legal system was chaotic – Divine right

Long Term Causes • Three Estates did not reflect the realities of wealth and ability of the French Society

Long Term Causes • Class conflict led to French Rev – Bourgeoisie was united and rose up to lead the Third Estate in the Rev

Immediate Causes • During the reign of Louis XVI, France was nearly bankrupt – By the 1780’s half of France’s income went to pay debt • Colonial wars • American Rev – France had no central bank, no paper currency, and no means of creating credit • Only way to make money was to raise taxes

Immediate Causes • Gov’t was dependent on the poorest classes in society for revenue – Third Estate was taxed to its limit

Immediate Causes • Inflation between 1730 and 1780’s resulted in dramatic price increases while wages did not keep up – Price of consumer goods rose 65% while wages only rose 22%

Immediate Causes • Privileged classes refused to pay increased taxes – Second Estate (Nobility) – Jacques Necker, Louis XVI’s director of finances tried to raise taxes but was dismissed

Immediate Causes • Louis XVI summoned the Assembly of the Notables hoping they would either approve the king’s new tax program or consent to remove their tax exemptions – Assembly denied both and was dismissed by the king

Immediate Causes • The Parlements controlled by the nobility, blocked tax increases as well as new taxes in order to force the king to share power with the Second Estate – King reluctantly called for Estates General meeting about tax issue • Only third time since 1302 • Ultimately this initiated the Rev