French Revolution

The Coming of the French Revolution

On July 14th France celebrates its independence day. In 1789, it was the day Parisians stormed into the Bastille, a jail for political prisoners. The angry revolutionaries released the prisoners and killed off the guards. It was the first act of violence and revolt against the monarchy of Louis XIV, and an event that sparked a revolution that lasted for over twenty years. Yet even before this day, anger and frustration were bubbling within the people of France. The monarchy was oppressing the French people, and life for the working class was a rigid tumble down an endless a hill. As the disadvantages brought on by the government built up the French people ultimately stood up and fought for the rights they thought they finally deserved. Deepening debts of the government, an unfair division of economic classes, and the extreme poverty of the working class led to antagonism, injustice and ultimately, the people's revolution.

To begin with, the monarchy itself was in debt beyond its ability to control. Debts eventually lead to weak and indecisive governments that can not help their people. A major cause of this was the deficit spending, or when the spending of money exceeds that of the earnings. King Louis XIV had brought upon France deep debts from the Seven Year's War as well as the American Revolution. Also, as costs of luxury increased in the 1700's, the lavish life of the court cost millions. To help pay their debts the government borrowed more and more money causing France to be indebted even further. Louis XV's economic advisor, Jaques Necker, proposed an increase of taxes and a reduction of spending. Yet, the upper classes, nobles and clergy, refused to do either. Their decisions reflected the unmatched powers they had over France.

This inequality among the different classes in the country eventually lead to rising resentment and conflict between the sects of people. Taxes were on the rise to help pay for France's huge debts. Yet, the upper class turned a blind eye to these problems and refused to give up some of their special privileges. Such as, under the king's rule the clergy and the nobles were exempt from taxes. The working classes were the only ones that had to pay them. This as well as other benefits were offered to the upper class. For instance, the clergy, who represented 1% of the population of France, owned 10% of the land (document 2). Where as, the third estate which contained 97% of the French population owned 55% of the land (document 2). The unfairness of this was this continued for the sole reason that the third party was not represented fairly in votes. Each party got one vote on the governmental decisions made. The 1st and 2nd estates were always able to over ride the vote of the third party. In 1788 the Cahiers were drawn to ask the people of reforms needed in France, the third party stated "in order to assure the third estate the influence it deserves because of its numbersÐ'... its votes in the assembly should be taken by head" (document 3). This however was not consolidated for by the monarchy. The injustices in the system deeply hampered the third party of working, middle class men and women.

The poverty of the third estate was probably the major tipping point to the French Revolution. The taxes that the clergy and nobles refused to pay got dumped on the workers and middle class people. One of the requests by this class in the Cahiers was "the taille (tax) be borne equally by all classes" (document 3). Of course this also was not carried out by the King's government. If this was not enough, nobles tried to impose old manor dues