The causes of the French Revolution:
· Social
· Political
Political/Social system of France:
The political system of France was old-fashioned and in many ways deeply unfair for some people. People were divided into three groups, or ‘estates’. The first estate consisted of the clergy, Church and the King. The second estate consisted of the nobility and the third estate consisted of mainly peasants and poor city dwellers; middle class. The first and second estates enjoyed many privileges whilst the peasantry although being the largest group lived in hard-working conditions and many families were in poverty.
Social and political causes of the Revolution:
· Social stress- there was a large population
· Large expansion of overseas trade and longer-term development of domestic trade and the economy experienced continuous growth which led to intrusion of capitalism into everyday life.
· Food shortages and mortality rates declined.
· Amid these broad economic and population shifts, daily life in the country side remained much the same, particularly on small family farms. This impacted especially peasants as they earned only enough to feed their families.
· Poverty
· When the King called for an Estate-General in 1789, the social tensions plaguing the old regime emerged as a central issue of the revolution.
· Distinction between ‘active’ citizens, who were granted full rights to vote and hold office, and ‘passive’ citizens.
· New political elite which excluded lower classes from the optimistic prospects for change.
Socio-economic changes:
· Abolition i.e. workers’ rights to organise ‘unions’.
· Peasants acquire land and more peasants become independent proprietors.
· Increase in the size and influence of the bourgeoisie, through the acquisition of church lands, greater wealth and offices as political representatives and government officials.
Changes in ideas and political culture:
· Liberty, equality, democratic republicanism, nationalism, decline of influence and authority of Church.
· Formation of revolutionary tradition centered on the belief that revolution was a means for bringing progressive change and further extension of popular anticipation and popular sovereignty.
· Discontent at these economic and social problems was fuelled by the principles of the age of ‘Enlightenment.’
· As population increased, peasant landholdings tended to become smaller and the gap between rich and poor grew.
· Political
Political/Social system of France:
The political system of France was old-fashioned and in many ways deeply unfair for some people. People were divided into three groups, or ‘estates’. The first estate consisted of the clergy, Church and the King. The second estate consisted of the nobility and the third estate consisted of mainly peasants and poor city dwellers; middle class. The first and second estates enjoyed many privileges whilst the peasantry although being the largest group lived in hard-working conditions and many families were in poverty.
Social and political causes of the Revolution:
· Social stress- there was a large population
· Large expansion of overseas trade and longer-term development of domestic trade and the economy experienced continuous growth which led to intrusion of capitalism into everyday life.
· Food shortages and mortality rates declined.
· Amid these broad economic and population shifts, daily life in the country side remained much the same, particularly on small family farms. This impacted especially peasants as they earned only enough to feed their families.
· Poverty
· When the King called for an Estate-General in 1789, the social tensions plaguing the old regime emerged as a central issue of the revolution.
· Distinction between ‘active’ citizens, who were granted full rights to vote and hold office, and ‘passive’ citizens.
· New political elite which excluded lower classes from the optimistic prospects for change.
Socio-economic changes:
· Abolition i.e. workers’ rights to organise ‘unions’.
· Peasants acquire land and more peasants become independent proprietors.
· Increase in the size and influence of the bourgeoisie, through the acquisition of church lands, greater wealth and offices as political representatives and government officials.
Changes in ideas and political culture:
· Liberty, equality, democratic republicanism, nationalism, decline of influence and authority of Church.
· Formation of revolutionary tradition centered on the belief that revolution was a means for bringing progressive change and further extension of popular anticipation and popular sovereignty.
· Discontent at these economic and social problems was fuelled by the principles of the age of ‘Enlightenment.’
· As population increased, peasant landholdings tended to become smaller and the gap between rich and poor grew.