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Essay Question: Key Question - Was the French Revolution a spontaneous…
Essay Question: Key Question - Was the French Revolution a spontaneous revolution?
New Philosophies in France
Voltaire
Jean Jacques Rousseu
"Man is born free but everywhere is in chains..."
Speak against hierarchy; promote the ideas of liberty, equality & fraternity
American War of Independence
Happens '1776'
Americans want independence from Frances old enemies, Britain
Britain seen as being tyrannical and hierarchical. Ironically, France was similar to Britain
France would send troops/money/supplies to Americans forces
1) Did not like Britain; 2) wanted to expand power in American (Louisiana); 3) wanted to better trade relations with the 'New World'
By sending French troops to fight against Britain, Louis XVI showed the French masses the new philosophies are actually attainable, and France might be able to overthrow their own corrupt regime.
French Social Structure
First Estate
Made of up Clergy
0,5% population; own substantial land
Do not pay tax
Only nobility can become clergymen
Second Estate
Made up of Noblity
1% of population; also own land
Feudal overlords to the third estate who would make up the bulk of the kings army
Pay 'military tax', not income tax
Nobility is only accessible through bloodright
Third Estate
Made up of peasants & bourgeoisie
80% of the population; peasants cannot own land
3rd Estate are heavily taxed and are the backbone of the French Economy
Bourgeoisie were skilled professionals (teachers, lawyers, bankers) but had no upward social mobility.
King Louis XVI is above all the estates, owns all the land and has the divine right to rule
Economic Situation
Louis XVI has oversight of the economy
Louis XVI continued to spend lavishly, despite the poor economic situation
France had a peculiar taxation situation in which the wealthy paid little tax whereas the poorest of the poor were overly taxed.
This means that Frances economy was weak due to its reliance on taxation of the poor.
Louis XVI demonstrated that he was against economic reforms by continually removed finance ministers who proposed a fairer tax situation