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Causes of the French Revolution - Coggle Diagram
Causes of the
French
Revolution
Long-term causes
(at least 5 years before the Revolution)
Debt and Taxes
Huge social divide between the wealthy and the working class
Peasants had bad harvests and ineffective tax laws which taxed lower classes heavily but exempted the rich
The government borrowed money to help the colonists in the American Revolution
Poor Economy
Huge social divide between the wealthy and the working class
The Bourgeoisie (a new wealthy group in the city) wanted more power.
Meanwhile, the working class was tired of working hard for the nobles or the wealthy
Significant Figures
King Louis XVI
The citizens of France
Working Class
Nobles, Royalty, Wealthy
Aristocrats and the Roman Catholic Church
Trigger causes
(less than 1 year before the Revolution) - 1789
The king (and the royal family) running away to the border of France as a servant and allying with the "enemies" of France
Quick political change from different assemblies and policies which lead to many politicians beginning to stop representing the people's current needs and opinions.
A lot of side wars with countries beside them (e.g. Persia, Austria, etc)
Short-term causes
(1-5 years before the Revolution)
Famine and Bread Prices
France at that time was going through a famine. The working-class had to eat plain bread to survive. This caused the cost of bread to increase which made many people starve.
Changes in Culture
For hundreds of years, the French followed the king and their culture. However, in the 1700s, the
Era of Enlightenment
began which presented ideas like "liberty" and "equality."
Politics
King Louis XVI was losing power with the French government as he was a weak and close-minded king who didn't know what it was like for the working class in France. The members of the Third Estate also made the National Assembly force the king to make reforms but the king and the nobles could not agree on reforms.
War
The American Revolution which the French army fought in inspired a new type of government where the people ruled. The economy was also growing worse during that time and many people in France were weak and starving.