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LONG TERM CAUSES - Coggle Diagram
LONG TERM CAUSES
Economic
Empty treasury: Extravagant spending by monarchy.
War debts: Massive expenses from American Revolution.
Feudal burdens: Peasants paid the "Taille" tax.
Cost of living: Prices rose by 45%.
Unfair exemptions: Nobility and clergy exempt.
Salt tax: Strict indirect tax called "Gabelle".
Church tax: Compulsory tenth called the "tithe".
Low wages: Salaries rose only 22%.
High taxes: Only Third Estate paid.
Social
Land inequality: Wealthy 2% owned 35% of land.
Bourgeoisie anger: Had wealth but zero political influence.
Privileged minority: Nobility and clergy held power.
Three Estates: Society divided into unequal groups.
The 98%: Third Estate made up the majority.
Population boom: Grew from 19 to 26 million.
Starving urban poor: Bread took most income.
Ideological
Self-government: Rousseau's ideas on democracy.
Age of Enlightenment: New ideas of equality and liberty.
Power of reason: Logic replaced blind tradition.
Natural rights: Demand for life, liberty property.
Separation of powers: Montesquieu's theory of three branches.
Political
Louis XVI: Weak leader controlling all decisions.
Divine right: Monarch claimed authority from God.
American Revolution: Inspired French soldiers fighting for freedom.
Desire for democracy: People wanted to overthrow the King.
Absolutism: King held total, unchecked power.