Causes of the French Revolution
"Absolute Monarchy"
Total Power
Divine Right to rule
Extravagant lifestyle
AM only works with strong competent king
Louis XVI was weak and incompetent
Marie Antoinette extravagant
Economy Worsens
Gov debt grows
Royal family begins to be criticised
The Enlightenment
Movement of thinkers
Reason over Faith
Science over Authority
Criticised the 'ancien regime'
(the old system of absolute monarchy
Voltaire
Rousseau
Montesquieu
Essays / Books / Newspapers
Ideas are spread about Power Sharing
Social Divisions in France
Society divided into Three Estates
First Estate
Clergy Bishops Priests
Second Estate
Nobility
Third Estate
Common People
100k people
Pay no tax
Own 10% of land
400k people
Pay no tax
Own 60% of the land
25 million people
Pay all the taxes
Peasants often still under feudal law
Impact of US Revolution
France aided Americans in War of Independence
French people inspired by American overthrow of British rule
Massive debts from military support
Bankrupt - King forced to recall the Estates General
"The Social Contract"
Freedom of thought