Thursday, September 27, 2007

The French Revolution: Social Causes

The Causes of the French Revolution :
Giving power and priviledge to other classes (nobility and the clergy) who prevented the French citizens from advancing socially and politically. The higher class refused to give up their priviledges of not paying taxes to help their country. Participation in the Seven Year's War and the American Revolution having a large effect on their minds

The Three estates consist of the first estate (clergy), second estate (clergy), and the third estate (Rest of the French citizens). Both the first and second estates were linked to royalty and shared many similar priviledges. Some members of the third estate were peasants and laborers, whereas others had the occupations, wealth, and lifestyles of nobility.

The Third estate felt used because the first and second estates weren't paying any taxes even though they made more money than the third estates. The third estate also felt like they were being used because when they voted the first and second estates usually voted the same way while the third estate voted another way meaning the third estate's vote didn't really mean anything.

The Enlightenment thinkers influenced the French Revolution beacause among the third estate different views of power and authority were being talked and thought about. They began questioning the structure of the society knowing that they were not being treated equally.

On July 14, 1989 the French citizens began to walk the streets of Paris and assaulted the Bastille. The revolutionaries gained a symbolic victory over the Old Regime and conveyed the message that they were not to be messed with.

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