Tracing The Roots of The French Revolution: Main Causes & Consequences

Introduction

Did you know that a loaf of bread cost a week's salary for 98% of the population, which mainly included peasants, in France during the French Revolution? The French Revolution, one of the major revolutions in all of Europe highlighting the concept of inequality, started in June 1789 under King Louis XVI’s rule, when revolutionaries stormed a prison called the Bastille. It ended ten years later with Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule. One of the causes of the French Revolution was rooted in the social structure. The French people were divided into three social groups, often called the “Estates” (Doyle, 1989).

The Estates System

The First Estate was made up of the entire clergy, who were responsible for the spiritual and moral welfare of the nation, including educating the children. They also owned land but were not responsible for paying taxes on this land. However, they did send a small amount of money to the government each year as a gift. The Second Estate consisted of nobles, who were born into this prestige. Despite their wealth, this class paid very little in taxes. The nobles had rights over peasant lands and received priority in obtaining top government jobs. The Third Estate consisted of 80% peasants, which made up most of the population. People in this Estate varied from the middle class to the poor. Some were doctors and lawyers, while others were homeless. Since the French exempted the clergy and nobles from taxes, the burden was placed on the peasants. Peasants paid a land tax to the state and a 5% property tax (Lefebvre, 1962).

Economic Struggles and Political Unrest

One of the general causes of the French Revolution was the social structure and the inequalities, leading to a social and political rebellion in France. The influence of the American Revolution also played a significant role. When King Louis XVI became king, France had helped America’s 13 colonies in their struggle for freedom from Britain. France had also wasted money on past wars and maintaining the King’s Court in the palace in Versailles, which was made with expensive goods and had about 700 rooms, where approximately 700 people could live comfortably. This led to France becoming financially unstable. King Louis XVI decided to increase the tax rates for only the Third Estate to help his financial crisis. Because of this, it was very hard for the Third Estate to survive, making it difficult even to buy bread. Consequently, the middle class and philosophers began to speak out (Schama, 1989).

The Rise of the National Assembly

In 1789, the Estates-General assembly was called to discuss tax issues. On May 5, the Third Estate demanded a one-man-one-vote right. When this right was not granted, on June 20, 1789, the Third Estate declared itself a National Assembly at the tennis court. As food prices increased, the Third Estate attacked the Bastille Prison on July 14, 1789. King Louis realized that French society was not going to remain silent. Even women had started revolting at this point. This caused King Louis’s situation to become so desperate that he had to leave the palace and live in Paris. By then, the food price and tax issues were addressed, and all the privileges of the First and Second Estates were removed. In 1791, the National Assembly weakened King Louis’s power and divided it equally into different institutions, creating legislative, executive, and judicial branches. France began transitioning from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy (Rude, 1988).

The Fall of Monarchy and Rise of Republic

In French society, men also began regaining basic human rights, such as the right to life, freedom of speech, and equality before the law. In 1792, France began to take the aid of political clubs. These were held for people who wanted to discuss government issues and plan forms of action. The most famous club was the Jacobin Club, led by Maximilien Robespierre. On August 10, 1792, the Jacobin Club gathered and attacked King Louis’s palace, holding him hostage. On September 21, 1792, France became completely free of the monarchy and established a republican society. In 1793, King Louis XVI was executed, and France was led by Maximilien Robespierre, a very strict dictator. Anyone who opposed him was immediately harshly punished. His rule led to further turmoil and rebellion against him (McPhee, 2012).

The Aftermath and Napoleon's Rise

In 1794, Maximilien Robespierre was executed by the guillotine, just like King Louis XVI. The Jacobin power was abolished, and the rich began to regain power. A new constitution was established, creating two legislative councils and a directory with five men. Soon after, the directory and the legislative council started having conflicts. Napoleon Bonaparte, a military officer, took advantage of these disputes. Slowly rising to power, Napoleon Bonaparte finally ruled France in 1804. Bonaparte followed a strategic plan after he became the ruler of France. First, he conquered France’s neighboring countries and installed his family members as rulers. In 1815, Bonaparte lost the Battle of Waterloo. His army suffered a crushing defeat, so he stepped down from his throne and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died at 51 from stomach cancer. The French Revolution was caused by social, political, and economic problems and left a lasting impact on France. Since France spent more than it earned, the Third Estate was suppressed with taxes while the First and Second Estates remained privileged. However, in the end, the result favored the Third Estate, and their problems regarding inequality were addressed, marking an official end with Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule (Furet, 1981).

References

Doyle, W. (1989). The Oxford History of the French Revolution. Oxford University Press.

Lefebvre, G. (1962). The French Revolution from 1789 to 1793. Columbia University Press.

Schama, S. (1989). Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution. Alfred A. Knopf.

Rude, G. (1988). The French Revolution. Grove Weidenfeld.

McPhee, P. (2012). Robespierre: A Revolutionary Life. Yale University Press.

Furet, F. (1981). Interpreting the French Revolution. Cambridge University Press.