FRANCEBEFORETHEREVOLUTI

ON

Bef
oret
heout
breakoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on,
Francewasdi
vi
dedi
ntot
hreecl
assesor
est
atesnamel
y:

TheFi
rstEst
ate.
 Thi
swasmadeupoft
hecl
ergy

 Thi
swast
hemosti
nfl
uent
ial
groupi
nFr
anceandi
tenj
oyedv
ari
ouspr
ivi
l
eges

 TheRomanCat
hol
i
cChur
chwast
hemostdomi
nantr
eli
gioni
nFr
ance.I
t
cont
rol
l
ededucat
ionandwasal
sogi
venr
esponsi
bil
i
tyf
orr
egi
str
ati
onofbi
rt
hs,
deat
hsandmar
ri
ages.

 I
tisof
tendescr
ibedasast
atewi
thi
nast
ate

 I
thadi
tsowncour
tsofl
awandowned10%oft
hel
and.

 I
tcol
l
ect
edt
it
hesandpai
dnodi
rect

ThesecondEst
ate

 Thi
swasmadeupoft
henobi
l
ity
.

 Ther
ewer
ethr
eemai
ndi
vi
sionoft
henobi
l
ity

 t
hegr
eat
ernobi
l
ity

 Thel
essernobi
l
ityandt
henobi
l
ityoft
her
obe.

 Thegr
eat
ernobi
l
ityownedt
hel
argestandweal
thi
estl
andedest
atesi
nFr
ance.
Theyhadt
hemostpr
ivi
l
egessuchashol
dinghi
ghestposi
ti
onsi
nthear
myand
nav
y.

 Thel
essernobi
l
ityhadl
i
ttl
epoweri
nthepr
ovi
nces.I
twasnotsur
pri
singt
hat
mostoft
hem wer
esuppor
ter
soft
her
evol
uti
on.

1
  Mostenv
iedt
hegr
eat
ernobi
l
itybyt
hei
rexcl
usi
onf
rom hi
ghersoci
alandpol
i
tical
l
i
feoft
het
ime.

 Thenobi
l
ityoft
her
obewer
ethosewhohadbeengi
vent
het
it
tl
esasr
ewar
dsf
or
t
hei
rser
vicest
othest
ate.Ther
efor
ethenobi
l
itywasdi
vi
dedagai
nsti
tsel
f,l
ong
bef
oret
her
evol
uti
onbegan.

Thet
hir
dEst
ate

 Compr
isedt
hev
astmaj
ori
tyoft
hepopul
ati
on

 I
twasmadeupoft
hel
argestpar
toft
hepopul
ati
on,
about97%.

 Thet
hir
dest
atewasgr
oupedi
ntot
hreenamel
y:

1.Themi
ddl
ecl
ass(
thebour
geoi
sies)

 Theyr
epr
esent
ed10%oft
het
otal
popul
ati
onofFr
anceandownedaboutone
f
if
thoft
hel
andi
nFr
ance.

 Thi
sgr
oupcompr
isedofbanker
s,mer
chant
sandmanuf
act
urer
saswel
las
l
awy
ers,
doct
orsandj
our
nal
i
sts.

2.Theur
bancr
aft
smenandl
abor
ers

 Thesewer
eamongt
hepoor
estoft
het
hir
dest
ates.

 Thesei
ncl
udedappr
ent
ices,
jour
ney
menandot
her
swhowor
kedi
nthei
ndust
ri
es
suchaspr
int
ingandcl
othi
ngmaki
ng.Al
argernumberoft
hepoorur
banwer
e
unempl
oyed.Thesewer
eal
sor
efer
redt
oasSanCul
ott
es.

3.Thepeasant
s

 Thesewer
ethemaj
ori
tyoft
het
hir
dest
ateandmostoft
hel
i
vedi
nther
ural
ar
eas

 Somepr
osper
ouspeasant
shi
redl
abour
erst
owor
kfort
hem.

 Peasant
swer
ebur
denedbywer
ebur
denedbyt
axesonev
ery
thi
ngf
rom l
andt
o

2
 soapt
osal
t.

 Theset
axeswer
epai
ddi
rect
lyori
ndi
rect
ly.

 Theypai
dtai
l
let
axwhi
chwast
hebasi
cdi
rectt
axandt
hemostoppr
essi
veone.

 Thewasal
sot
hepol
ltax,
thev
anget
iemet
ax.

 Al
ltheset
axeswer
eunbear
abl
eont
hepeasant
s

CAUSESOFTHEFRENCHREVOLUTI
ON
Ar
evol
uti
oncanbedef
inedasacompl
etechangei
nthesoci
al,
economi
candpol
i
tical
aspect
sofl
i
fe.TheFr
enchpeopl
erev
olt
edi
n1789agai
nstt
hegov
ernmentofLoui
sXVI
asar
esul
tofacombi
nat
ionoff
act
orssuchast
heexi
sti
ngsy
stem ofgov
ernment
,an
i
ncompet
entki
ng,
financi
alcr
ises,
andt
hesy
stem ofpr
ivi
l
egesamongot
herf
act
ors.
Thatt
her
evol
uti
onbr
okei
n1789andnotear
li
eri
sbecauset
hesi
tuat
ioni
nFr
ancehad
det
eri
orat
ed.Thepeopl
eofFr
ancecoul
dnotwai
tanyl
onger
.TheFr
enchpeopl
ewer
e
r
evol
ti
ngagai
nstt
hei
rgov
ernmentsoast
oachi
eveequal
i
ty,
li
ber
tyandf
rat
erni
tywhi
ch
wer
eabsenti
nthegov
ernmentofKi
ngLoui
sxv
i.

Whenst
udy
ingt
hecausesoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on,
justbeari
nmi
ndt
haty
ouar
e
l
ooki
ngatf
act
orswhi
chmadet
heFr
enchpeopl
etobeunhappyandmadet
hem wantt
o
r
emov
ethei
rgov
ernment
.

Pol
i
tical

Pol
i
tical
l
yther
evol
twast
ri
gger
edofbyf
act
orssuchast
heexi
sti
ngsy
stem of
gov
ernment
,ani
ncompet
entki
ngaswel
lasv
ari
ousi
nfl
uencesf
rom t
heAmer
icanWar
ofI
ndependence,
Engl
andandt
hePhi
l
osopher
s.

3
1.TheExi
sti
ngSy
stem ofGov
ernment
 Theexi
sti
ngsy
stem ofgov
ernmenti
nFr
ancel
ackedpol
i
tical
par
ti
cipat
ionand
r
epr
esent
ati
onoft
hepeopl
e.
 –Thi
sisi
nvi
ewoft
hef
actt
hatal
lthepowerwascent
eredi
nthehandsofone
per
son-t
heFr
enchKi
ng.Hewasr
esponsi
blef
oral
lthepol
i
tical
appoi
ntment
sand
hewast
heonewi
tht
hef
inal
sayonal
lst
atei
ssues.Thi
sisconf
ir
medbyhi
s
wor
ds“
Thest
atei
smy
sel
f.Thet
hingi
slegal
becauseIwi
shi
t.
”,Denni
sRi
char
ds.
(
page9)
 t
hiscl
ear
lyi
ndi
cat
edt
hathet
reat
edFr
anceashi
sper
sonal
proper
tyandi
tcl
ear
ly
showshi
sdi
ctat
ori
alt
endenci
esaswel
lasabsol
utear
rogance.
 Fur
ther
mor
eFr
ancedi
dnothav
eapar
li
ament
.Ofcour
set
her
ewasapl
atf
ormi
n
t
hef
orm oft
heEst
ates-
Gener
ali
nwhi
cht
hepeopl
epr
esent
edt
hei
rgr
iev
ances
andpr
oposal
stot
heki
ng.Butt
hent
hesel
astmeti
n1614y
ett
hey
earwasnow
1789.Thusal
lthedeci
sionmaki
ngpr
ocesswasl
efti
nthehandsoft
heKi
ngand
t
heRoy
alCounci
l
.ThusFr
ancewasl
eftwi
thoutchecksandbal
ancesmaki
ng
Loui
sXVIadi
ctat
or.
 I
naddi
ti
onal
lthepol
i
tical
post
swer
emonopol
i
zedbyagr
oupofaf
ewi
ndi
vi
dual
s,
t
henobi
l
ity
.Thi
swasapr
ivi
l
egedcl
asst
hatbel
ongedt
othesecondest
ate.They
al
onecoul
dbeappoi
ntedt
ocabi
netpost
sasambassador
sabr
oadandt
o
commi
ssi
onedr
anksi
nthenav
yandt
hear
my.Thebour
geoi
sief
eltt
hatt
hei
r
educat
ionandweal
thmadet
hem qual
i
fyf
ort
heappoi
ntment
s.
 Thel
egal
syst
em ofFr
ancewaspat
het
icandi
nshambl
es.Fr
ancehadabout360
di
ff
erentf
eudal
codes.Thegov
ernmentofLoui
sXVIwasi
nvol
vedi
nthe
appoi
ntmentofl
ocal
counci
l
sint
ownshi
psandmeddl
edi
npar
ishadmi
nist
rat
ion.
 Asar
esul
tther
ewast
hesel
ect
iveappl
i
cat
ionoft
hel
awi
nfav
oroft
heNobi
l
ity
andt
hecl
ergy
.
 I
nvi
ewoft
heabov
esy
stem ofgov
ernmentt
heFr
enchpeopl
e,par
ti
cul
arl
ythe
Thi
rdEst
atest
agedar
evol
uti
oni
nMay1789i
nor
dert
ocor
rectt
hesi
tuat
ion.Thei
r
ai
m wast
oachi
evepol
i
tical
par
ti
cipat
ionbybei
ngi
nvol
vedi
ntheaf
fai
rsoft
he
st
ateandbei
ngr
epr
esent
edpol
i
tical
l
ythr
oughanassembl
y.
Asar
esul
t,i
tcanbenot
edt
hatt
heFr
enchpeopl
erev
olt
edagai
nstt
hei
r

4
 gov
ernmentwhi
cht
heybl
amedf
ori
tsi
nef
fi
ciencyi
nthesenset
hati
tlackeda
par
li
ament
,wasdi
ctat
ori
ali
nnat
ure,
lackedpol
i
ticalpar
ti
cipat
ionoft
heFr
ench
peopl
eandwasr
uledbyaweakr
ulerhencet
heyr
evol
tedsoast
ohav
eabet
ter
gov
ernment
.
TheI
ncompet
entKi
ng
 TheFr
enchKi
ngLoui
sXVIwasdi
rect
lyr
esponsi
blef
ort
heout
breakoft
heFr
ench
Rev
olut
ionbecauseofhi
sinconsi
stentpol
i
cies.Hehadaweak-
wil
l
edchar
act
ert
hat
causedhi
m nott
ofol
l
owuponr
efor
mst
hathewoul
dhav
eini
ti
ated.
 Thi
sisbecauseLoui
sXVIwoul
dini
ti
atear
efor
m pr
ogr
ammeandt
henf
ail
to
compl
etei
t.Forexampl
eint
he1780shei
nit
iat
edaneconomi
cref
orm pr
ogr
amme
desi
gnedt
ost
abi
l
izet
heFr
encheconomy
.
 Becauseofhi
sincompet
ency
,hewasdescr
ibedbyDRi
char
dsasaKi
ngi
nname
andi
npowerbutnoti
nchar
act
er(D.Ri
char
dspage16)
 Heappoi
ntedanumberofeconomi
stsl
i
keTur
got
,Necker
,Br
ianneandCal
onnewho
al
lpr
oposedt
hatFr
ancedoawaywi
tht
heexi
sti
ngsy
stem ofpr
ivi
l
egest
hat
hi
nder
edeconomi
cdev
elopment
.
 I
npar
ti
cul
art
heypr
oposedasy
stem off
air
ert
axat
ionandt
her
emov
aloft
ari
ff
sin
bet
weent
heFr
enchdi
str
ict
sinor
dert
ofaci
l
itat
ethemov
ementofgoods.
 -
Tur
gotadv
ocat
edonhonest
yandef
fi
ciencyandpr
oposedt
ocheckont
hepowerof
t
hechur
ch,
adv
ocat
edf
orj
ust
icei
ntaxat
ionandt
heci
rcul
ati
onofgoodsespeci
all
y
cor
n.
 Neckeradv
ocat
edf
ort
hemai
ntenanceoft
hest
atusquobutbecameunpopul
arwi
th
t
heKi
ngandt
henobi
l
itywhenhei
ssuedast
atementont
hef
inanci
alposi
ti
onof
Fr
anceatat
imewhent
hepar
ti
cipat
ionofFr
ancei
ntheAmer
icanWarof
I
ndependencehadl
eftt
hecount
ry ont
hev
ergeofbankr
upt
cy.
 Cal
onnewhot
ookov
erf
rom Neckerdi
dnotseekt
ocur
btheext
rav
aganceatt
he
cour
tbutsoonbecameunpopul
aramongt
henobi
l
itywhenheadv
ocat
edf
oral
and
t
axt
obepai
dbyev
ery
onet
oimpr
oveonst
ater
evenue.
 Thepr
oposal
soft
heeconomi
stswer
eopposedbyt
henobi
l
ity
,cl
ergy
,andt
he
Queen.TheKi
ngf
ail
edt
osuppor
ttheeconomi
stsandgav
eint
opr
essur
eandhad
eachoft
heeconomi
stsdi
smi
ssedoneaf
teranot
her
.Fr
ancel
ostt
heoppor
tuni
tyt
o

5
 st
abi
l
izet
heeconomy
.
 Thedi
smi
ssal
oft
heeconomi
stst
hrewawayanexcel
l
entoppor
tuni
tyt
odi
ff
use
t
ensi
onbet
weent
hepeasant
sandt
hecl
ergyandt
henobi
l
ityov
ert
axat
ion.
 Theci
rcul
ati
onofgoodsespeci
all
ycor
ncoul
dhav
ehel
pedt
oal
l
evi
atet
he
dev
ast
ati
ngef
fect
soft
hebadhar
vest
sof1789.
 Thedi
smi
ssal
sal
sodemonst
rat
edt
hatt
hegov
ernmentofLoui
sXVIl
ackedany
f
orm ofser
iousnesst
owar
dssol
vi
ngt
hef
inanci
alcr
isesofFr
ance.
 Thesedi
smi
ssal
sal
soshowedt
hatt
heeconomi
stswer
etol
erat
edbyt
he
gov
ernmentofLoui
sXVIasl
ongast
heydi
dnotpoket
hei
rnosesi
ntot
heaf
fai
rsof
t
heNobi
l
ityandt
heCl
ergy
.
 -
Mor
eov
ert
heki
ng’
sincompet
enceandi
nconsi
stencewascl
ear
lyev
identwhen
cal
l
edf
ort
hemeet
ingoft
heEst
ates-
Gener
ali
nMay1789i
nor
dert
ochar
ttheway
f
orwar
dforFr
ance.
 Theexpect
ati
onoft
heThi
rdEst
atewast
hati
twoul
dmeetj
oint
lywi
tht
heFi
rstand
SecondEst
atescompr
isi
ngoft
hecl
ergyandt
henobi
l
ityr
espect
ivel
yandt
hendr
aft
t
hei
rpr
oposal
sfort
heKi
ngt
oconsi
der
.
 Butt
hent
heki
ngat
tempt
edt
obl
ockt
hisr
efor
m pr
ocessbyor
der
ingt
heest
atest
o
meetsepar
atel
y.I
twashi
ghl
ypr
obabl
ethatt
hepr
oposal
sfr
om t
heThi
rdEst
ate
woul
dnotr
eacht
heki
ngsi
ncet
hepr
ocedur
ewast
hatt
heThi
rdEst
atewoul
d
pr
esentt
hei
rpr
oposal
stot
heFi
rstandSecondEst
atesbef
oret
heyar
efor
war
dedt
o
t
heki
ng.
 -
Itwast
heki
ng’
sact
iont
hatt
ri
gger
edt
her
evol
uti
onsi
ncet
heThi
rdEst
ater
eact
ed
byt
aki
ngamor
eradi
cal
mov
eanddecl
aredi
tsel
fast
heNat
ional
assembl
yther
eby
set
ti
ngt
her
evol
uti
oni
ntomot
ion.-Loui
sXVIwasdi
ctat
ori
al.
 Loui
sXVIhadaweak-
wil
l
edchar
act
er.Heal
l
owedhi
msel
ftosuccumbt
othe
i
nfl
uenceoft
hosear
oundhi
miehi
swi
fe,
Nobi
l
ityandt
heCl
ergy
.Itwast
hist
ri
o
t
hatbl
ockedt
heeconomi
cref
orm pr
ocessoft
he1780sandhav
etheeconomi
sts
f
ir
edbyt
heKi
ng.
 Theyar
eal
sot
heonest
hatper
suadedt
heki
ngt
oor
dert
hemeet
ingoft
heest
ates
separ
atel
y.I
twast
hisf
atef
ulmov
ethatt
ri
gger
edof
ftheFr
enchRev
olut
ion.
 Loui
sXVIwascar
eless.Heal
l
owedt
heext
rav
agantexpendi
tur
eatt
hecour
tata

6
 t
imewhent
hecount
rywasnear
lyoni
tskneeseconomi
cal
l
y.
 Heof
tenwenthunt
ingwi
tht
hemember
soft
heCour
tatat
imewhenhi
spr
esence
wasgr
eat
lyneeded.Thi
sappr
oacht
hathet
ookwast
oor
elaxedf
orsuchacr
it
ical
moment
.
 Fur
ther
mor
ethesendi
ngoft
heFr
enchsol
dier
sbyLoui
sXVIt
opar
ti
cipat
eint
he
Amer
icanWarofI
ndependenceal
sodemonst
rat
edt
hei
ncompet
enceoft
heFr
ench
ki
ng.
 Thi
smov
ebackf
ir
edbecausei
tincr
easedt
heFr
enchnat
ional
debtsi
ncet
hewar
wasf
inancedf
rom bor
rowi
ngsf
rom t
hebour
geoi
sie.
 Thi
sint
urncont
ri
but
edt
obankr
upt
cy.Att
hesamet
imet
hepar
ti
cipat
ionoft
he
Fr
encht
roopsi
nthewarexposedt
hem t
orev
olut
ionar
yideas.Forexampl
ethe
Amer
icanDecl
arat
ionofI
ndependencepoi
ntedoutt
hatmenwer
ecr
eat
edwi
tht
he
al
i
enabl
eri
ght
snamel
yli
feandl
i
ber
ty.
 Thi
sexpl
ainswhyLaf
ayet
tewhowast
hev
eter
anoft
heAmer
icanWarof
I
ndependencebecameoneoft
her
evol
uti
onar
yleader
s.
 I
nvi
ewoft
heabov
eiti
scl
eart
hatt
hepeopl
erev
olt
edagai
nstt
hei
rki
ngbecausehi
s
i
ncompet
enceandst
ancewascost
ingt
hecount
rydear
ly.
I
tcanbear
guedt
hatt
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
onwasl
argel
ywagedagai
nstt
hechar
act
er
oft
heKi
ngbecausemostoft
hepr
obl
emsi
nFr
anceoccur
redbecauseofhi
s
i
ncompet
encyhencet
hepeopl
ehadt
orev
oltagai
nsthi
m

Let
ter
sdeCachet
s
 -
thesewer
eseal
edl
ett
erst
hatal
l
owedi
mpr
isonmentwi
thoutt
ri
al.
 Let
tr
edecachet
swer
eissuedbyt
heKi
ng,
Loui
sXv
itoar
restpeopl
einFr
ance.I
tis
bel
i
evedbyDRi
char
dst
hatdur
inghi
srei
gn,
Loui
sxv
iissuedabout14000l
ett
rede
Cachet
s(Ri
char
dspage10)
.
 Onadi
ff
erentnot
eH.
LPeacockar
guedt
hatdur
ingt
her
eignofki
ngLoui
sxv
i,
l
ett
resdecachet
swer
eissuedatar
ateof70t
o80ay
ear(Peacockpage11)
 What
evert
hef
igur
ecanbet
akenascor
rect
,thebot
tom l
i
nei
sther
ateatwhi
ch
l
ett
resdecachet
swer
eissuedi
nFr
ancecl
ear
lyshowst
heKi
ng’
sdi
ctat
ori
al
t
endenci
eshencet
hepeopl
ehadt
orev
oltagai
nstt
heuseoft
heseseal
edl
ett
ers

7
  Theywer
emai
nlyusedagai
nstt
hepeasant
sandwer
eusedt
ocont
rol
pract
ices
suchaspr
ost
it
uti
onandunf
airmar
ri
ages
 -
vict
imsoft
hel
ett
resdecachet
swer
ebei
ngkepti
nthegr
eatpr
ison,
theBast
il
le
 -
thi
smadet
hispr
isont
obehat
edbymostFr
enchpeopl
eandar
guabl
ythi
sist
he
r
easonwhyi
twasl
ateronst
ormedbyt
heFr
enchpeopl
e
 -
Thel
awunder
minedt
hef
reedom oft
heFr
enchpeopl
easi
tsuppr
essedt
hei
r
r
ight
stoappeal
bef
oret
hecour
tbef
orei
mpr
isonment
.

I
nfl
uences:
ThePhi
l
osopher
s
Phi
l
osopher
sar
egr
eatt
hinker
swhobr
oughtaboutcont
agi
ousi
deast
otheFr
ench
peopl
e
Thephi
l
osopher
senl
i
ght
enedt
hepeopl
eandmadet
hem r
evol
uti
onar
ythr
ought
hei
r
wr
it
ings.Theymadet
heFr
enchpeopl
etoseeal
lfor
msofi
l
l-
tr
eat
mentwhi
cht
heygot
f
rom t
hei
rgov
ernmentandt
hismadet
hem r
eadyt
orev
olt
.ThoughThomsoni
soft
he
v
iewt
hatphi
l
osopher
scont
ri
but
edt
otheout
breakoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
oni
ndi
rect
ly,
as
hebel
i
evest
hatt
heydi
dnotpr
eachr
evol
uti
on,
itshoul
dbenot
edt
hatt
hesemendi
d
qui
tear
emar
kabl
ejobi
ninf
luenci
ngt
heFr
enchpeopl
etor
evol
tagai
nstt
hei
rgov
ernment
.
Phi
l
osopher
sat
tackedt
hegov
ernmentdi
ff
erent
lyasshal
lbeshownbel
owbutt
heyhad
onet
hingi
ncommon-
ther
emov
aloft
heKi
ngt
hroughar
evol
uti
on
Mont
esqui
eu(
1689–1755)
 Mosti
mpor
tantwor
kwasTheSpi
ri
toft
heLaws(
1748)
 Keyar
gumenti
sthatt
her
emustbeasepar
ati
onofpower
stopr
eventt
heabuse
ofpower
 Mont
esqui
euwasbor
natat
imewhent
heBour
bonki
ngshadabsol
utepowert
hat
i
sexecut
ive,
judi
ci
alandl
egi
slat
ivepower
s
 Mont
esqui
eubel
i
evedt
hatsuchasy
stem r
esul
tedi
npowerbei
ngabusedand
peopl
ebei
ngdeni
edt
hei
rri
ght
shencet
heneedt
ocr
eat
easy
stem ofgov
ernment
wher
ethesepower
sar
esepar
ated
 Hear
guedt
hatt
hiswasnecessar
ytocr
eat
easy
stem ofchecksandbal
ances
wher
etheexecut
ivecoul
dbecheckedbyt
hej
udi
ciar
ywhi
chi
ntur
ncheckedt
he

8
 l
egi
slat
ureandv
ice-
ver
sa
 Mont
esqui
eubel
i
evedt
hatt
hemai
npur
poseofgov
ernmenti
stomai
ntai
nlaw
andor
der
,pol
i
tical
li
ber
ty,
andt
hepr
oper
tyoft
hei
ndi
vi
dual
 Mont
esqui
euopposedt
heabsol
utemonar
chyofhi
shomecount
ryandpr
efer
red
t
heEngl
i
shsy
stem ast
hebestmodel
ofgov
ernment
I
tcanbenot
edt
hatt
hemaj
ormessageofMont
esqui
euwasf
ort
hegov
ernmentt
o
st
opabusi
ngt
hepowerandpr
omot
ethesy
stem ofchecksandbal
ances.Thi
s
sy
stem wasabsenti
nthegov
ernmentofLoui
sxv
iandt
hismadet
heFr
ench
peopl
etor
evol
t.

Rousseau,
Jean-
Jacques1712–1778
 Hi
smosti
mpor
tantwor
kisDuCont
ratSoci
al(
publ
i
shedi
n1762)
 Theopeni
ngsent
ence“
Manwasbor
nfr
ee,
andhei
sev
ery
wher
einchai
ns,
”a
decl
arat
ionofhi
sbel
i
eft
hati
ndi
vi
dual
sar
eoppr
essedbysoci
ety
 TheSoci
alCont
racti
sani
mpor
tantdecl
arat
ionoft
henat
ural
right
sofman
 I
tint
roducedt
henot
ionoft
he“
consentoft
hegov
erned”andt
hei
nal
i
enabl
e
sov
erei
gnt
yoft
hepeopl
e,asopposedt
othesov
erei
gnt
yoft
hest
ateori
tsr
uler
s
 I
tiswi
del
yacknowl
edgedast
hef
oundat
ional
texti
nthedev
elopmentoft
he
moder
npr
inci
plesofhumanr
ight
sthatunder
li
econt
empor
aryconcept
ionsof
democr
acy
 Rousseau’
spol
i
tical
phi
l
osophyi
sexpr
essedast
hepr
inci
pleoft
hegener
alwi
l
l
 Keyar
gumenti
sthatanygov
ernmentget
sit
sri
ghtt
oexi
standt
orul
efr
om “
the
consentoft
hegov
erned”
 Rousseauar
guest
hatpowerbel
ongst
othepeopl
ewhoshoul
dal
way
sexpr
ess
t
hei
rcol
l
ect
iveorgener
alwi
l
l
 Thegener
alwi
l
list
hewi
l
lofal
lthepeopl
etoget
heri
nthesoci
etyornat
ion
 I
tai
mst
oachi
evet
hecommongood—meani
ngachi
evi
ngwhati
sbestf
ort
he
st
ateasawhol
e
 Thegener
alwi
l
lisexpr
essedt
hrought
hel
awwhi
chshoul
dal
way
srecor
dwhat

9
 t
hepeopl
ecol
l
ect
ivel
ydesi
re(
thegener
alwi
l
l)
 Thel
awshoul
dal
way
sbeuni
ver
sal
l
yappl
i
cabl
etoal
lmember
soft
hest
ate
 Lawi
smadet
oensur
ethatpeopl
e’
sindi
vi
dual
freedom i
suphel
d,t
her
eby
guar
ant
eei
ngt
hatpeopl
eremai
nloy
alt
othesov
erei
gnatal
lti
mes
Rousseau’
smai
nthemei
sequal
i
ty.Hewant
edequal
i
tyt
opr
evai
li
nFr
ancesi
ncet
her
e
wasnoequal
i
tyi
nFr
anceespeci
all
yint
ermsoft
axat
ion,
monopol
i
zat
ionofpol
i
tical
post
sandt
hesy
stem ofl
ett
resdecachet
s.Asar
esul
t,Rousseau’
smessagemadet
he
Fr
enchpeopl
etor
evol
tifequal
i
tywast
obeachi
eved.
JohnLocke1632–1704
 Mosti
mpor
tantwor
k-Tr
eat
isesofGov
ernmentpubl
i
shedi
n1690ar
gui
ngt
hata
soci
alcont
racti
snecessar
ytoassur
epeace
 Spokeaboutt
henat
ural
right
ssuchasl
i
fe,
li
ber
tyandpr
oper
tyt
hatexi
sti
nthe
st
ateofnat
ure,
argui
ngt
hesecannev
erbet
akenawayorv
olunt
ari
l
ygi
venupby
i
ndi
vi
dual
s
 Theser
ight
sar
e“i
nal
i
enabl
e”(
cannotbesur
render
ed)
 Thesoci
alcont
racti
sanagr
eementamongt
hepeopl
eandmor
eimpor
tant
lyan
agr
eementbet
weent
hem andt
hesov
erei
gn(
pref
erabl
yaki
ng)
 Thenat
ural
right
sofi
ndi
vi
dual
sli
mitt
hepoweroft
heki
ng,
hecannothol
d
absol
utepowerbuthecanonl
yactt
oenf
orceandpr
otectt
henat
ural
right
soft
he
peopl
e
 Wher
etheki
ngv
iol
atest
heser
ight
s,t
hesoci
alcont
racti
sbr
oken
 Thepeopl
ecanexer
ciset
hei
rri
ghtt
orev
oltandest
abl
i
shanewgov
ernment
 Li
mit
edr
olef
ort
hegov
ernmentwhi
chhesay
sisonl
yther
etopr
otectt
he“
publ
i
c
good,
”meani
ngt
opr
otectpr
oper
tyandencour
agecommer
ce
 Lockear
guedi
nfav
ourofar
epr
esent
ati
vegov
ernmentsuchast
heEngl
i
sh
Par
li
amentwhi
chhadaher
edi
tar
yHouseofLor
dsandanel
ect
edHouseof
Commons
 Favour
edgov
ernmentbyadul
tmal
epr
oper
tyowner
s
 Hadnof
ait
hinor
dinar
ypr
oper
ty-
lesscl
assesl
i
kewor
ker
sandpeasant
s-onl
y

10
 pr
oper
tyowner
sshoul
dhav
ether
ightt
ovot
e
 Legi
slat
ivear
m ofgov
ernmentshoul
dhav
esupr
emeaut
hor
it
y
 Execut
iveandJudi
ciar
yshoul
dbesubj
ectt
othel
egi
slat
ure
 Lesst
han100y
ear
saf
terLockewr
otehi
sTwoTr
eat
isesofGov
ernment
,Thomas
Jef
fer
sonusedhi
stheor
yinwr
it
ingt
heDecl
arat
ionofI
ndependence
 Lockear
guedf
orf
reedomsoft
hought
,speech,
andr
eli
gion
 Ri
ght
stopr
oper
tyt
hemosti
mpor
tantnat
ural
right
 Hear
guedt
hatowner
smaydowhat
evert
heywantwi
tht
hei
rpr
oper
tyasl
ongas
t
heydonoti
nter
fer
ewi
tht
her
ight
sofot
her
s
 Bor
nont
heev
eoft
heEngl
i
shCi
vi
lWar
,Lockesi
dedwi
tht
hePr
otest
ant
Par
li
amentagai
nstt
heCat
hol
i
cKi
ngJamesI
Iint
heRev
olut
ionof1685
 ThatRevol
uti
onr
educedt
hepoweroft
heki
ngandmadePar
li
amentt
hemaj
or
aut
hor
it
yinEngl
i
shgov
ernment

Vol
tai
re1694–1778
 -
Hewasf
amousi
nEur
opeasahi
stor
ian,
popul
ari
serofsci
ence,
atr
agi
cdr
amat
ist
andapoet
.
 -
Hewr
otepl
ays,
nov
els,
hist
oryandl
ampoonsi
nwhi
chheat
tackedt
hepowerand
t
hei
nfl
uenceoft
heCat
hol
i
cChur
chandat
tackedal
lthef
aul
tswi
thi
ntheFr
ench
soci
ety
.Heal
sopr
eachedt
hei
deaofr
eli
gioust
oler
ance.
 heal
socr
it
ici
zedt
henobi
l
ityandr
oyal
ty.
 -
Hei
sbestknownf
orhi
ssat
ir
ical
wor
kCandi
de
 -
Vol
tai
rebel
i
evedt
hatanenl
i
ght
enedmonar
chwast
hebestagentf
orbr
ingi
ng
change.Hesawt
heChur
cha nst
ati
candoppr
essi
vef
orcet
hatcoul
donl
ybe
usef
ult
ocount
erbal
ancemonar
chswhocoul
dbeoppr
essi
ve
 -Hebel
i
evet
hati
twasi
ntheki
ng'
sint
erestt
oimpr
ovet
heeducat
ionandwel
far
e
ofhi
ssubj
ect
s
 -Hecampai
gnedf
orf
reedomsofr
eli
gion,
expr
essi
on,
rightt
oaf
airt
ri
aland
separ
ati
onofchur
chandst
ate
 -Hebel
i
evedt
hatt
heFr
enchbour
geoi
siet
obet
oosmal
landi
nef
fect
iveasan

11
 agentofchange
 -Heat
tackedt
hear
ist
ocr
acyf
orbei
ngpar
asi
ti
candcor
rupt
 -Hehadnof
ait
hint
hecommonpeopl
eoft
heThi
rdEst
atewhoher
egar
dedas
i
gnor
antandsuper
sti
ti
ous
 -Vol
tai
redi
str
ust
eddemocr
acy
,whi
chhesawaspr
opagat
ingt
hei
diocyoft
he
man

TheEncy
clopaedi
sts(
1751-
72)
Thesewer
eledbyDeni
sDi
der
ot
TheEncy
clopaedi
stspr
oducedacol
l
ect
ionofal
lwor
ksi
nthef
orm ofasummar
yonal
l
t
heexi
sti
ngknowl
edgef
rom phi
l
osophy
,hi
stor
yandsci
ence.Suchwor
kshadt
heef
fect
of enl
i
ght
eni
ngt
hepeopl
e.
I
nfl
uenceofEngl
and
 TheEngl
i
shwr
it
ingsandi
nst
it
uti
onspr
ovi
dedFr
ancewi
thapr
act
ical
exampl
eofa
par
li
ament
arydemocr
acy
.
 Thi
sisi
nvi
ewoft
hef
actt
hatt
heFr
enchpeopl
ehadaccesst
oEngl
i
shwr
it
ings.
Somev
isi
tedEngl
andandexper
iencedt
heEngl
i
shf
orm ofdemocr
acyi
.e.t
he
Fr
enchphi
l
osopher
sli
keVol
tai
reandMont
esqui
euwer
egr
eat
lyi
nfl
uencedbyt
he
Engl
i
shwr
it
ings.
 -
Rousseau’
swr
it
ingshadmanyi
deasf
oundi
nthewr
it
ingsoft
heJohnLocke,
an
Engl
i
shphi
l
osopher
.Al
lthesei
nfl
uencesf
rom Engl
andr
esul
tedi
nthespr
eadof
di
scont
entandf
reet
houghti
nFr
anceandmanyschol
arsr
egar
dthem ast
hev
ery
f
ir
stcausesoft
her
evol
uti
on.
 I
tcant
henbesai
dthatt
hesei
nfl
uencescont
ri
but
edf
undament
all
ytot
hecol
l
apse
oft
heol
dsy
stem.
Sobasi
cal
l
yEngl
andi
nfl
uencedt
heFr
enchpeopl
eindi
rect
lyandi
ntwoway
s:Fr
ench
phi
l
osopher
scopi
edsomei
deasoft
heBr
it
ishphi
l
osopher
sandt
heFr
enchpeopl
e
admi
redt
het
ypeofagov
ernmentt
hatwasi
nEngl
and
3.TheAmer
icanWarofI
ndependence
 -
In1778Fr
ancej
oinedt
hewarbet
weenAmer
icaandBr
it
aini
nthesi
deofAmer
ica.
I
nthi
swar
,theAmer
icanswer
efi
ght
ingf
ort
hei
rindependencef
rom t
heBr
it
ish

12
  -
theassi
stancegi
vent
oAmer
icabyFr
ancehadsomedet
ri
ment
alef
fect
stot
he
Fr
enchpeopl
eint
hesenset
heLoui
sxv
ili
tt
let
houghtoft
heconsequenceswhen
heusedmoneyt
osuppor
ttheAmer
icansi
nacount
rywhi
chal
readyhadf
inanci
al
cr
isi
s-D.Ri
char
dsar
guedt
hatt
hewarcostFr
ance2mi
l
li
onl
i
vres.
 -
Thepar
ti
ci
pat
ionoft
heFr
enchsol
dier
sint
heAmer
icanWarofi
ndependence
howev
erhadagr
eatef
fectofexposi
ngt
hesol
dier
stodemocr
ati
cand
r
evol
uti
onar
yideast
hati
ntur
nmadet
hem r
evol
uti
onar
yuponr
etur
ningt
oFr
ance.
 Thewarexposedt
hesol
dier
stodemocr
ati
cideasf
orexampl
ethesol
dier
sgot
exposedt
otheAmer
icanDecl
arat
ionofI
ndependencet
hatpoi
ntedoutt
hatal
l
menwer
ecr
eat
edwi
thi
nal
i
enabl
eri
ght
snamel
yli
feandl
i
ber
ty.
 Af
tert
hewart
hesol
dier
sret
urnedt
oaFr
ancewhosepeopl
ehadnocont
rol
over
t
heFr
encht
axat
ionsi
ncet
her
ewasnopar
li
ament
.
 Thatt
heFr
enchsol
dier
sgotexposedt
odemocr
ati
cideashasbeendemonst
rat
ed
byt
hef
actt
hatGener
alLaf
ayet
te,
avet
eranoft
heAmer
icanWarofI
ndependence,
becameoneoft
her
evol
uti
onar
yleader
s.
 -
Whent
heFr
enchpeopl
ecamebackhome,
theybegant
ocompar
ethei
rsi
tuat
ion
wi
tht
hatoft
heAmer
icanswhoaccor
dingt
oD.Ri
char
dsr
evol
tednotbecauset
he
Br
it
isht
axedt
hem butt
heyonl
yfear
edt
hatt
heymi
ghtt
axt
hem (Ri
char
dspage
14)
.Asar
esul
toft
his,
theFr
enchpeopl
ecamebackhomewher
ether
ewer
eal
ot
oft
axesandt
hismadet
hem t
orev
olt
 -
inl
i
newi
tht
his,
D.Ri
char
dsal
soaddedt
hati
twasnoacci
dentt
hatoneoft
he
ear
li
estl
eader
soft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
onwasLaf
ayet
tewhoal
sosav
edasasol
dier
i
ntheAmer
icanWarofI
ndependence
TheAmer
icanWarofI
ndependencecont
ri
but
edt
otheout
breakoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on
mai
nlyi
ntwoway
s:1.Bycausi
ngf
inanci
alcr
isi
sinFr
ancet
her
ebyi
ncr
easi
ngt
he
cr
it
ici
sm oft
hegov
ernmentbyt
heFr
enchpeopl
e2.Byexposi
ngt
hesol
dier
sto
democr
ati
cideasofequal
i
tyandl
i
ber
tyandt
hisi
ntur
nmadet
hem r
evol
uti
onar
ywhen
t
heyr
etur
nedhomei
nFr
ance(
Laf
ayet
te)
Economi
c
TheFi
nanci
alCr
ises
 TheFr
enchf
inanceswer
echaot
icandt
hecount
rywasont
hev
ergeofbankr
upt
cy.

13
 Thi
sisi
nvi
ewoft
hef
actt
hatFr
ancehadhugepr
oduct
ivel
andsbutl
eggedbehi
nd
t
heot
herEur
opeancount
ri
esi
nter
msofeconomi
cdev
elopment
.
 -
ashasbeeni
ndi
cat
edabov
e,f
inanci
alcr
isi
sinFr
ancewasal
socausedbyt
he
par
ti
cipat
ionoft
heFr
enchgov
ernmenti
ntheAmer
icanWarofI
ndependence
t
her
ebywor
seni
ngt
hef
inanci
alcr
isi
sinFr
ance
 -
fi
nanci
alcr
isi
sal
socameasar
esul
tofhugeexpendi
tur
eatt
heKi
ng’
spal
ace
wher
ebyi
tisbel
i
evedt
hatt
heQueenl
i
vedal
uxur
iousl
i
featt
heexpenseoft
he
Fr
enchpeopl
e
 -
fi
nanci
alcr
isi
swasal
soduet
othesy
stem oft
axat
ioni
nwhi
cht
heweal
thi
erwer
e
exempt
edf
rom pay
ingt
axesandt
hebur
denoft
axat
ionf
ell
ont
hepoor
ersect
ions
ofFr
ance.
 -
Thust
her
evenuer
aisedf
rom t
axat
ionwasnotenoughf
orFr
ancet
omeeti
ts
l
i
abi
l
iti
esegt
hepeasant
shadt
ocar
ryt
hebur
denofbot
hthedi
rectandi
ndi
rect
t
axesy
ett
heywer
epoor
.
 -
Theyhadt
opayt
axesnamel
ytai
l
le,
pol
landt
axonal
lpr
oper
tyasdi
rectt
axes
whi
l
etheypai
dasal
ttaxandf
eudal
duesasi
ndi
rectt
axes.
Asar
esul
tfi
nanci
alcr
isi
scont
ri
but
edt
otheout
breakoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
onbecause
t
heFr
enchpeopl
ewer
enothappyaboutt
hissi
tuat
ioni
nthei
rcount
ry.I
tshoul
dal
sobe
not
edt
hat“
ever
ythi
ngt
hatwaswr
ongi
nFr
ancewasat
tr
ibut
edt
otheSt
ate,
whi
ch
consi
stedoft
heKi
ngandhi
sof
fi
cial
s”(
Peacockpage12)
.Rememberf
oracount
ryt
o
f
unct
ionwel
l
,thef
inanci
alst
ami
nashoul
dbest
abl
eandoncet
her
eisf
inanci
alcr
isi
sin
t
hecount
ryi
tdef
ini
tel
ymeanst
hatev
ery
thi
ngi
nthecount
ryi
snotwel
landt
hisi
swhy
f
inanci
alcr
isi
swasoneoft
hemaj
orcausesoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on.

Thet
axat
ionsy
stem
 -
Anot
herf
act
orwhi
chcont
ri
but
eddi
rect
lyt
otheout
breakoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on
wast
het
axat
ionsy
stem.
 -
theFr
encht
axat
ionsy
stem wasnotf
airi
nthesenset
hati
toppr
essedt
het
hir
d
est
atepar
ti
cul
arl
ypeasant
satt
heexpenseoft
hecl
asses
 Suchasy
stem wasdi
scr
imi
nat
oryt
otheThi
rdEst
atet
hathadt
ocar
ryt
hebur
denf
or
t
axat
ion.I
tist
her
efor
enotsur
pri
singt
hatsomeev
adedt
axat
ion

14
 Thepeasant
swer
enotal
l
owedt
oownmi
l
lsorwi
nepr
esses.Theyhadt
odependon
t
hei
rlandl
ordsf
orsuchser
vicesandhadt
opayt
axest
othesel
andl
ords
 Heav
ypuni
shment
swer
eimposedonal
lthoset
hatf
eltt
omeett
hei
rtaxobl
i
gat
ions
egi
nthey
ear1783,
11000peopl
ewer
ear
rest
edandsomeoft
hem wer
ehanged.
 TheBour
geoi
si
ecompr
isi
ngoft
rader
sandi
ndust
ri
ali
stswer
eexempt
edf
rom
t
axat
ion.Thesameappl
i
edt
othenobi
l
ityespeci
all
ytheGr
eat
erNobi
l
itywhoowned
t
hel
argestandweal
thi
estl
andedest
atesi
nFr
ance.
Thet
hir
dest
atewast
hussur
roundedbyf
lamesoff
ir
e:i
ftheyev
adedt
ax,
theywi
l
lbe
ar
rest
ed,
theyhar
dlyr
aisedt
axduet
osev
eralpr
obl
emsi
nFr
ancesuchasf
inanci
alcr
isi
s,
t
heywer
ebei
ngur
gedbyPhi
l
osopher
sli
keRousseaut
orev
oltsoast
oachi
eveequal
i
ty
andabov
eal
ltheyhadt
opayat
it
het
otheChur
ch.Theonl
ywayoutf
ort
hem wast
o
r
evol
tagai
nstt
hei
rgov
ernmenthencet
axat
ionsy
stem cont
ri
but
edmucht
otheout
break
t
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on.
Hugeexpendi
tur
eint
heki
ng’
spal
ace
 Ther
ewasahugeexpendi
tur
eatt
heKi
ng’
spal
ace.
 Thepal
aceexpensesaccount
edf
oronet
wel
ft
hoft
henat
ional
budget
.TheQueen
Mar
ieAnt
oinet
tewast
hechi
efcul
pri
tofext
rav
agancy
.Iti
ssai
dthatsheowned500
pai
rsshoes,
D.Ri
char
dspage
 Theot
hercul
pri
tswer
ethecl
ergywhol
i
vedi
nluxur
yatt
hepal
aceandspentmostof
t
het
imebanquet
ingandhunt
ing.
 Spendi
ngmoneyext
rav
agant
lyatat
imewhent
hesi
tuat
ionwasext
remel
ybad
demonst
rat
edal
ackofcommi
tmentbyt
her
uler
stot
hepl
i
ghtoft
hepeopl
e.Att
he
samet
imespendi
ngpr
eci
oust
imehunt
ingbear
sdemonst
rat
edat
otal
disr
egar
dof
t
hewel
far
eoft
hepeopl
e.
 Thef
ail
ureoft
heeconomi
cref
ormsal
soaccount
edf
ort
hebankr
upt
cyoft
hest
ate.
Theki
nghadappoi
ntedanumberofeconomi
stsoneaf
teranot
herl
i
keTur
got
,
Necker
,Br
ienneandCal
onnet
ost
abi
l
izet
heeconomy
.
 Butal
lthei
rpr
oposal
stoi
mpr
ovet
her
evenuebasebyi
ntr
oduci
ngasy
stem ofa
f
air
ert
axat
ionandr
emov
ingt
hesy
stem ofpr
ivi
l
egeswer
ebl
ockedbyt
het
ragi
c
combi
nat
ionoft
henobi
l
ity
,Cl
ergyandt
heQueen.
Lookatt
hissi
tuat
ion:t
her
eisf
inanci
alcr
isi
sint
hecount
ry;
peopl
ear
est
ruggl
i
ngt
o

15
makeendsmeetbutt
heKi
ngandhi
swi
fear
eli
vi
ngi
nluxur
y:t
heKi
ngi
susi
ngt
hel
i
ttl
e
moneywhi
cht
hecount
ryhast
obuyt
ri
vi
alt
hingssuchasbuy
inghi
swi
fesev
eralpai
rsof
shoes.Hei
sev
enf
ail
i
ngt
oimpl
ementsomer
efor
msi
nthecount
rywhi
chcancur
bthe
f
inanci
alcr
isi
s,hei
sdi
smi
ssi
ngal
lthosewhohav
ethepot
ent
ialofsol
vi
ngt
hef
inanci
al
cr
isi
sint
hecount
ry………Suchascenar
ioanger
edt
heFr
enchpeopl
eandt
hati
swhyt
hey
deci
dedt
orev
oltagai
nstt
hisKi
ngwhom t
heyr
egar
dedasi
ncompet
entandi
nsensi
ti
ve
t
othei
rrealpr
obl
ems.
Thedi
smi
ssal
ofTur
gotandNecker
 Neckerat
tempt
edt
oreducet
heexpendi
tur
eatt
hepal
acewhenheper
suadedt
he
ki
ngt
oreducet
hegr
ant
soff
avour
sandpensi
ons.
 Li
keal
lot
hereconomi
stswhohadmadepr
oposal
sthatwer
ecent
ral
l
ytot
he
wi
shesoft
henobi
l
ity
,cl
ergyandt
heQueen,
Neckerwasdi
smi
ssedbyt
heki
ng.
 WhenNeckerwasr
ecal
l
edt
ogov
ernmenti
nAugust1788headmi
tt
edt
hati
twas
t
ool
atet
orescuet
hesi
tuat
ionofbankr
upt
cyi
ntowhi
cht
hegov
ernmenthadf
all
en.
 Thust
hef
ail
urebyt
heki
ngt
osol
vet
hef
inanci
alcr
isi
sinFr
ancedr
ovet
hest
ate
deeperi
ntobankr
upt
cy.I
twast
hissi
tuat
iont
hatf
orcedLoui
sXVIt
oagr
eet
othe
meet
ingoft
heEst
ates-
Gener
ali
nMay1789t
hatmar
kedt
hebegi
nni
ngoft
he
r
evol
uti
on.
Theset
womi
nist
erswer
ehi
ghl
yfav
our
edbymostoft
heFr
enchpeopl
eint
hesenset
hat
t
heybel
i
evedt
hatt
hei
rpol
i
cieswi
l
lgoal
ongwayi
nst
abi
l
izi
ngt
heFr
encheconomy
.
Thei
rdi
smi
ssalwast
husav
erybi
gbl
owt
otheFr
enchpeopl
ebecauseaf
tert
hei
r
di
smi
ssalt
heFr
enchpeopl
elostt
hei
rhope.Ev
ent
hephi
l
osopher
sputt
hei
rtr
usti
nthem
assuppor
tedbyt
hef
actt
hataf
tert
hedi
smi
ssalofTur
got
,Vol
tai
rear
guedt
hat“Isee
not
hingbef
oremenowbutdeat
h.Iam st
ruckt
othehear
tbyt
hisbl
ow,
andshal
lnev
erbe
consol
edf
orhav
ingseent
hebegi
nni
ngandendoft
hegol
denaget
hatTur
gotwas
pr
epar
ingf
orus.
”(Peacock,
page18)
.Resul
tant
lyt
hedi
smi
ssaloft
hesemi
nist
ers
di
rect
lycont
ri
but
edt
otheout
breakoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on.
Fami
ne
 Thef
ami
neofMay1789t
ri
gger
edof
ftheFr
enchRev
olut
ion.I
twasar
esul
tofa
v
erybadhar
vestof1788t
hatwasaggr
avat
edbyt
hehar
shwi
ntert
hatf
rozet
he
Fr
enchr
iver
s.

16
  Thi
smadet
ranspor
tat
ionoff
ooddi
ff
icul
t.Fami
necauseddi
sor
deranddi
str
essi
n
t
hecount
rysi
de.
 Thepeopl
eint
hecount
rysi
def
ledt
othet
ownshopi
ngt
ofi
ndwor
kast
hef
ami
ne
spr
ead.Thei
ndust
ri
ali
stssuf
fer
edt
heef
fect
sofcompet
it
ionf
rom t
hei
mpor
ts
f
rom Engl
andundert
heCommer
cial
treat
yof1786.
 Thust
her
ewasani
ncr
easei
nunempl
oyment
.Thosef
leei
ngt
hecount
rysi
de
coul
dnotf
indempl
oymentasar
esul
tthet
ownsl
i
kePar
isendedupwi
thani
dle
popul
ati
ont
hatl
aterbecamet
hef
amousmobdur
ingt
her
evol
uti
on.
 I
twast
hismobt
hatcausedr
iot
sanddi
sor
der
.Thegov
ernmentr
eact
edby
t
hrowi
ngt
hem i
ntopr
isons.Thi
swasev
ident
lyanactofdesper
ati
ont
hatf
ail
edt
o
i
mpr
ovet
hesi
tuat
ion.
 Byt
het
imeLoui
sXVIcal
l
edf
ort
hemeet
ingoft
heEst
ates-
Gener
ali
nMay1789a
r
evol
uti
onar
yat
mospher
ehadbeencr
eat
edi
nFr
ance.
 Themobt
hatwast
opl
ayani
nst
rument
alr
oledur
ingt
her
evol
uti
onwasal
readyi
n
pl
ace.
Lookathowt
hef
ami
necont
ri
but
edt
otheout
breakoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on:Ther
ewas
hedr
t oughtof1789andt
hisdr
oughtl
edt
opoorhar
vest
swhi
chr
esul
tedi
nfami
ne.Af
ter
f
ami
net
her
ewasi
ncr
easei
npr
icesofbasi
ccommodi
ti
es(
inacount
ryal
readywi
th
f
inanci
alcr
isi
s)andt
hismeansl
i
vingcondi
ti
onswer
epoorf
orci
ngt
heFr
enchpeopl
eto
got
obi
gtownsandci
ti
esi
nsear
chofempl
oyment(
whi
chwasv
eryscar
ce)
.Fai
l
uret
o
f
indempl
oymentt
henmadet
hepeopl
etof
orm whatwasknownast
hePar
ismobwhi
ch
wasv
eryhost
il
etot
hegov
ernmentaccusi
ngi
tforcausi
ngal
lthepr
obl
emsi
nFr
ance
t
her
ebycausi
ngt
heout
breakoft
heFr
enchr
evol
uti
on.

Soci
al:
Thesy
stem ofpr
ivi
l
egi
ngt
hecl
ergy
 Thesy
stem ofpr
ivi
l
egest
hatf
avour
edt
heFi
rstandSecondEst
ateswasagr
eat
sour
ceofangeramongt
heBour
geoi
sieandt
hepeasant
s.I
tal
i
enat
edt
heThi
rdEst
ate
f
rom ot
herest
atesandt
hemonar
chyt
her
ebyl
eadi
ngt
oar
evol
uti
on.
 Thi
sissobecauset
heFi
rstandsecondEst
atesenj
oyedandmonopol
i
zedpr
ivi
l
egese
gt
heGr
eat
erNobi
l
itycompr
isedof100f
ami
l
iest
hatownedt
hel
argestandt
he

17
 weal
thi
estl
andest
atesi
nFr
ance.Theywer
eaccor
dedpr
ivi
l
egest
hatpl
acedt
hem
abov
etheot
hercl
assesi
nthest
ate.
 Thehi
ghestcommandsi
nthear
mywer
eandnav
ywer
ereser
vedf
ort
hem andt
hey
al
onewer
eappoi
ntedasambassador
s.
 Theywer
eexempt
edf
rom pay
ingt
axat
ion.Theywer
ever
yinf
luent
ial
att
hepal
ace
andcoul
daf
for
dbei
ngabsent
eel
andl
ordsi
elef
tthei
rlandedest
atest
oli
vei
nthe
t
owns.
 Al
sobenef
it
ingf
rom t
hepr
ivi
l
egesi
stheLesserNobi
l
itycompr
isi
ngof99f
ami
l
ies.
Theyhadl
andedest
atesbutcoul
dnotaf
for
dthel
uxur
yofabsent
eei
sm ascompar
ed
t
otheGr
eat
erNobi
l
ity
.
 Theyhadl
i
ttl
epol
i
tical
powerandenv
iedt
hepr
ivi
l
egesoft
heGr
eat
erNobi
l
ityand
wer
egr
eat
lyf
rust
rat
edf
rom bei
ngexcl
udedf
rom t
hehi
gher
,soci
alandpol
i
tical
li
feof
Fr
ance.
 Al
sobi
tt
erwi
tht
hesy
stem ofpr
ivi
l
egeswer
etheNobi
l
ityoft
heRobewhosepr
ivi
l
ege
wasonl
ythet
it
le.Theyenv
iedt
hepr
ivi
l
egesoft
heGr
eat
erNobi
l
ity
.
 Thi
sexpl
ainswhyt
her
ewer
eanumberofsuppor
ter
soft
her
evol
uti
onamongt
he
LesserNobi
l
ityandt
heNobi
l
ityoft
heRobe.
 Real
bit
ter
nesswi
tht
hesy
stem wasamongt
hebour
geoi
sieandt
hepeasant
s.For
i
nst
anceatt
het
imeoft
her
evol
uti
ont
hepeasant
snumber
ed23000000outofa
t
otal
popul
ati
on25mi
l
li
on.
 Thi
swast
hel
argestgr
oupbutl
andl
esswhi
l
eot
her
sownedsmal
lpat
chesofl
and
f
rom whi
cht
heyscr
apedav
erybar
eli
vi
ng.I
twast
hispoorgr
oupt
hatwasbur
dened
wi
thdi
rectandi
ndi
rectt
axat
ionwi
thheav
ypuni
shmentf
orf
ail
i
ngt
opay
.
 Thi
sgr
oupwascondemnedt
osav
eint
hemi
l
iti
awi
thnopossi
bil
i
tyf
orexempt
ions.
Theywer
edeni
edpol
i
tical
right
s.Theywer
esubj
ect
edt
ocont
rol
byt
henobi
l
ityon
whosel
andt
heyl
i
vedandwer
esubj
ect
edt
ovar
iousf
ormsoff
eudal
dues.
 I
nvi
ewoft
hisscenar
iot
hepeasant
slookedf
orwar
dtot
her
evol
uti
onf
or
i
ndependenceandf
reedom f
rom unf
airandt
heov
erbur
deni
ngt
axat
ionandt
he
cont
rol
byt
hel
andl
ords.
 Thebour
geoi
si
ehadaser
iouscauseofdi
scont
ent
.Theywer
eal
mostcompl
etel
y
excl
udedf
rom t
hegov
ernmentofFr
ancedespi
tet
hei
reducat
ionandweal
thy
.-They

18
 hadnopr
ospect
sforpr
omot
ioni
ntheFr
enchar
myandnav
ywher
ecommi
ssi
oned
r
ankswer
epr
eser
vedf
ort
heNobi
l
ity
.
 Theyal
sohadeconomi
cgr
iev
ances.Thei
reconomi
cact
ivi
ti
eswer
ebei
ngf
rust
rat
ed
byt
heenor
mousext
rav
agancyandl
uxur
yatt
hepal
acesucht
hatasat1789Fr
ance
wasont
hev
ergeofbankr
upt
cy.
 -Fr
om t
hebour
geoi
siepoi
ntofv
iewt
heenor
mouspr
ivi
l
egesenj
oyedbyt
henobi
l
ity
account
edf
ort
heFr
enchbankr
upt
cy.
 Thatt
hebour
geoi
si
ewer
esuf
fi
cient
lyeducat
edanduni
tedt
oleadt
her
evol
uti
ont
hey
becamet
hef
ert
il
eseedbedf
ort
her
evol
uti
onar
yideas.
 Duet
otheabov
efact
siti
snotsur
pri
singt
hatmostoft
hel
eader
shi
poft
her
evol
uti
on
wasdr
awnf
rom t
hebour
geoi
siecl
ass.
 TheCat
hol
i
cChur
chenj
oyedapr
ivi
l
egedposi
ti
onwi
thi
nFr
ance.I
twast
he
est
abl
i
shedchur
chofFr
ancehencei
twast
heonl
ypubl
i
cwor
shi
pal
l
owedand
r
ecogni
zedbyl
aw.-Thev
ari
ousf
ormsofpr
otest
antf
ait
hthatexi
stedi
nFr
ancewer
e
notr
ecogni
zed.
 Wi
thi
nthechur
chi
tsel
fther
ewer
egr
eat
eri
nequal
i
tiesofi
ncomehencet
her
ewast
he
gr
oupofpoorpar
ishpr
iest
lyandt
hehi
ghercl
ergy
.
 Themaj
ori
tyoft
hesi
xthousandpar
ishpr
iest
srecei
vedanannual
sal
aryof30and70
poundswhi
l
ethe134Ar
chbi
shopsr
ecei
vedar
ound2500pounds.
 Fur
ther
mor
ethehi
ghercl
ergywer
eappoi
ntedt
owel
l
-pai
dpol
i
tical
post
sandt
hey
l
i
vedi
nthepal
acei
nluxur
yandspendmuchoft
hei
rti
mei
nthepl
easur
esofhunt
ing.
Muchoft
hedayt
odaywor
kint
hecount
rysi
dewasl
eftt
othepar
ishpr
iest
s.
 Att
hesamet
imet
hechur
chhadenor
mousweal
th.I
townedonef
if
thoft
hel
andi
n
Fr
ancewi
thay
ear
lyi
ncomeof500000000f
rancsofwhi
chonl
ysome30mi
l
li
on
wer
eusedt
omai
ntai
nhospi
tal
s,school
sandot
heri
nst
it
uti
ons.
 I
tist
her
efor
enotsur
pri
singt
hatt
hepar
ishpr
iest
swhower
efr
ust
rat
edwi
tht
he
pr
ivi
l
egedposi
ti
onoft
hehi
ghercl
ergyj
oinedi
nther
evol
uti
onal
ongsi
det
hepeasant
s
andt
hebour
geoi
si
ewhoal
sogr
eat
lyr
esent
edt
hepr
ivi
l
egedposi
ti
onoft
heCat
hol
i
c
Chur
ch.

19
COURSEOFTHEFRENCHREVOLUTI
ON
Ev
ent
sleadi
ngt
othef
ormat
ionoft
heNat
ional
Assembl
y
(
i)TheMayr
iot
s
 Theeconomi
ccr
isi
scausedbyt
hepoorhar
vest
sof1788-
89l
edt
otheMayr
iot
s
i
nthepr
ovi
nces.
 Al
thought
her
ehadbeenl
i
ttl
ebl
oodshedi
ntheMayr
iot
sof1788t
hesi
tuat
ioni
n
t
hepr
ovi
nceswasoutofcont
rol
.Ki
ngLoui
sXVIsentt
roopsunderGener
alDe
Vauxt
obr
ingor
dert
othepr
ovi
nces.
 Gener
alDeVauxl
ear
ntt
hatt
hepubl
i
copi
nionwasdemandi
ng:t
heabol
i
tionof
t
hel
ett
resdecachetandt
hecal
l
ingoft
heEst
ates-
Gener
alt
osol
vef
inanci
al
pr
obl
emsandal
soot
herpr
obl
ems.
 Loui
sre-
cal
l
ed Neckerand r
uled t
hatt
he Est
ates-
Gener
alshoul
d meetat
Ver
sai
l
lesi
nMay1789.
(
ii
)Themeet
ingoft
heEst
ates-
Gener
al5May1789
TheEst
ates-
Gener
almethav
ingl
astmeti
n1614. Cent
rali
ssueswer
ethel
i
stof
gr
iev
ances(
cahi
ers)andt
hei
ssueoft
hev
oti
ngpr
ocedur
e
Reasonsf
orcal
l
ingt
heEst
atesGener
al.
 Thef
inanci
albankr
upt
cyandt
heef
fect
soft
hepoorhar
vest
swer
ever
ycr
it
ical
and needed t
o be addr
essed.The Ki
ng,t
hough he was i
ncompet
entand
i
nconsi
der
ate,
final
l
ygott
oapoi
ntwher
ebyher
eal
i
sedt
hatt
hef
inanci
alcr
isi
sin
hi
scount
ryneededhi
mtoactasaKi
ng.Thef
inanci
alcr
isesmadehi
mtobe
cr
it
ici
sedf
rom al
langl
esi
nFr
anceandunderpr
essur
e,hef
inal
l
ydeci
dedt
omeet
wi
tht
heFr
enchpeopl
ehencet
hemeet
ingofEst
atesGener
ali
nMay1789.
 Pr
essur
eonLoui
sxv
imount
edwi
tht
henewi
deasf
rom t
hePhi
l
osopher
smade
hi
mtocal
lthemeet
ingofEst
atesGener
al.Suchphi
l
osopher
sincl
udeVol
tai
re,
Rousseau,Mont
esqui
euandt
heEncy
clopaedi
sts.Thesewer
eat
tacki
ngKi
ng
Loui
sxv
i’
sgov
ernmentdi
ff
erent
ly.Iwoul
dli
ket
oar
guet
hatt
heycr
it
ici
sedt
he
gov
ernmentdi
ff
erent
ly,andt
hought
heyhaddi
ff
erentopi
nionsi
nthei
ssueof
whi
cht
ypeofgov
ernmentwasi
deal
inFr
ance,
theyhadonet
hingi
ncommon,
the
r
emov
alofKi
ngLoui
sxv
ifr
om powert
hroughar
evol
uti
on.Asar
esul
ttheKi
ng

20
 deci
dedt
oconv
enet
het
hreeEst
ateshopi
ngt
hati
fhecoul
daddr
esst
hem he
coul
dmi
nimi
zehi
sopponent
s.
 Pr
essur
egi
vent
otheKi
ngbyt
hesol
dier
sret
urni
ngf
rom t
heAmer
icanwarof
i
ndependence.TheKi
ngmadeav
erygr
avemi
stakeofsendi
nghi
ssol
dier
sto
Amer
icat
ohel
ptheAmer
icansr
evol
tagai
nstt
heBr
it
ish.Bysodoi
ng,hel
i
ttl
e
t
houghtoft
heconsequencesofhi
smov
e.Thesol
dier
swhom hesentt
oAmer
ica
camebackt
oFr
ancewi
thr
evol
uti
onar
yideasofequal
i
ty,l
i
ber
tyandf
rat
erni
ty
whi
cht
heyspr
eadamongt
heFr
enchpeopl
ether
ebymaki
ngt
hem r
eadyt
orev
olt
agai
nstt
hei
rgov
ernment
.One good exampl
e ofsuch sol
dier
sis Gener
al
Laf
ayet
tewho,
accor
dingt
oD.Ri
char
ds,
becameoneoft
hel
eader
soft
heFr
ench
r
evol
uti
onaf
terr
etur
ningf
rom t
heAmer
icanWarofi
ndependence.
 Di
scont
entamongt
henat
ureoft
hegov
ernmentdemandedr
efor
mint
henat
ure
ofgov
ernmentdemandedr
efor
mint
hesoci
al,
pol
i
tical
andeconomi
car
ea.
 Thel
egalsy
stem neededt
obeaddr
essed.TheFr
enchpeopl
ewant
edequal
i
ty
bef
oret
hel
aw.Themaj
ori
tyoft
heFr
enchpeopl
eespeci
all
ythepeasant
sandt
he
bour
geoi
sieswant
edsoci
alr
edr
essont
hepr
ivi
l
egesenj
oyedbyt
henobi
l
ityand
t
hecl
ergywhower
ewi
del
yper
cei
vedast
hebut
tr
essofr
oyal
power
.
Whyt
hemeet
ingofEst
atesGener
alf
ail
edt
oaddr
esst
hepr
obl
emsoft
heFr
ench
peopl
e
 Loui
sfai
l
edt
o handl
ethemeet
ingwel
l
.Hei
nsi
stedonol
dpr
ocedur
es.He
i
nsi
stedont
hepol
i
cyofsepar
ati
sm wher
ebyhewant
edt
het
hreeest
atest
o
del
i
ber
atesepar
atel
y.
Thi
sideawasal
sosuppor
tedbyt
heFi
rstandsecondest
ateswhoknew t
hat
whent
hey del
i
ber
atesepar
atel
ytheywi
l
lbeabl
etoout
vot
ethet
hir
d
est
ate.TheFi
rstandsecondest
atewant
edt
hepeopl
etov
otebyEst
ateswhi
l
e
t
het
hir
dest
atewant
edt
heest
atest
ovot
ebyheads.
 Thet
hir
dest
atewasopposedt
othei
deaofsepar
ati
sm becauset
heywoul
dbe
di
sadv
ant
aged.Theydemandedf
orasi
ngl
eassembl
ywher
ebyt
het
hreeest
ates
wer
etosi
ttoget
heranddeci
demat
ter
sbymaj
ori
tyofi
ndi
vi
dualv
otest
hati
s
“
vot
ingbyheads”
.Howev
erLoui
sxv
iref
usedt
ochanget
hev
oti
ngpr
ocedur
e.
Si
tt
ingandv
oti
ngsepar
atel
ygav
etheFi
rstandSecondest
atesanadv
ant
age

21
 si
ncet
heywi
l
lwi
ntwoi
stoone(
2:1)
.Anger
edbyt
heKi
ng’
spol
i
cyofsepar
ati
sm,
t
het
hir
dest
atef
inal
l
ydecl
aredi
tsel
ftheNat
ionalAssembl
yandt
hismadet
he
Ki
ngf
ail
tosol
vet
hepr
obl
emsoft
heFr
enchpeopl
e.
 I
,Ngar
izewoul
dli
ket
oar
guet
hatev
eni
fLoui
sxv
iwasabl
etoaddr
esst
het
hree
est
atesi
napr
operpr
ocedur
e,hewoul
dnotbeabl
etoaddr
esst
hepr
obl
ems
whi
cht
heFr
enchpeopl
ewer
efaci
ng.Thi
scanbev
erycl
earwhenoneconsi
der
s
t
hechar
act
erofLoui
sXv
iver
sust
hesoci
al,economi
candpol
i
ticalpr
obl
emsi
n
Fr
ance.Hi
schar
act
ercoul
dnotenabl
ehi
mtosol
vet
hepr
obl
emswhi
chwer
ein
Fr
anceev
en i
fhewasgi
ven t
heoppor
tuni
tyt
o addr
esst
heFr
ench peopl
e
becausebyt
het
imeLoui
sxv
ideci
dedt
ocal
lthemeet
ingofEst
atesGener
ali
n
May1789,Fr
ancehadal
otofpr
obl
emssuchasf
inanci
alcr
isi
s,poorhar
vest
s,
l
ett
resdecachet
s,l
ackofequal
i
tyi
nthet
axat
ionsy
stem,I
nfl
uenceoft
he
Amer
icanWarofI
ndependenceandi
nfl
uenceofphi
l
osopher
samongot
her
s.Al
l
t
hesepr
obl
emsneededaper
sonwi
thast
rongchar
act
ert
osol
vet
hem andnot
peopl
ewi
thaweakwi
l
ledchar
act
erl
i
keLoui
sxv
i.Ar
guabl
y,t
heKi
ngkepton
i
nsi
sti
ngont
hepol
i
cyofsepar
ati
sm whi
chheknewwi
l
lcauseconf
usi
onamong
t
heest
atesandt
hiswi
l
lmakehi
spl
anofnotaddr
essi
ngt
hepeopl
easuccess
andt
hisi
sexact
lywhathappened.Ev
enwhenhecal
l
edt
hemeet
ingofest
ates
gener
al,i
twasnotbecausehesy
mpat
hisedwi
tht
heFr
enchpeopl
eint
hei
r
gr
iev
ancebuti
twasbecausehesi
mpl
ywant
edt
oshow f
alseconcer
ntot
he
pr
obl
emsi
nFr
anceandt
hisi
swhyhedeci
dedt
ocausedi
vi
sionswhi
chl
ateron
madehi
mfai
ltoaddr
esst
heFr
enchpeopl
e.

TheCahi
ers(
ListofGr
iev
ancesandsuggest
ionsf
orr
efor
m)
 I
tisnotsur
pri
si
ngt
hatLoui
sxv
iknewt
hatFr
ancehadal
otofpr
obl
emswhi
ch
neededhi
sat
tent
ion.
 I
tisbecauseoft
hisr
easont
hatt
heki
ng,Loui
sxv
ideci
dedt
oaskf
ort
he
gr
iev
ancesf
rom t
heFr
enchpeopl
esot
hathewoul
dbeabl
etosol
vet
hem.
 Hedemandedeachest
atet
obr
ingi
tsgr
iev
ancest
otheKi
ng.
 Ther
ear
ehowev
ert
woschool
soft
houghther
ewher
ebysomeschol
arsbel
i
eve
t
hatLoui
sxv
iaskedt
hegr
iev
ancesf
rom t
heFr
enchpeopl
esoast
ogenui
nel
y

22
 sol
vet
hesepr
obl
emsaf
terr
eal
i
singpeopl
es’
suf
fer
ings.
 Theot
herschooloft
houghtsuggest
sthatLoui
sxv
idi
dnothav
eanygenui
ne
sy
mpat
hywi
tht
heFr
enchpeopl
eandt
her
efor
ehedi
dnotev
enwi
sht
osol
vet
he
pr
obl
emsf
aci
ngt
heFr
enchpeopl
e.
 Thi
s schooloft
houghtt
her
efor
e suggest
sthatLoui
s xv
irequest
ed t
he
gr
iev
ancesf
rom t
heFr
enchpeopl
enott
osol
vet
hem buthewant
edt
oshow
f
alseconcer
nandt
hisi
spr
obabl
yther
easonwhyhecausedt
hedi
sput
esamong
t
heest
atesl
eadi
ngt
othef
ormat
ionoft
heNat
ional
Assembl
y.
 What
evert
he ar
gument
,Loui
s xv
ifai
l
ed t
o addr
ess t
he pr
obl
ems af
terhe
r
ecei
vedt
hegr
iev
anceswhi
chnumber
edupt
oabout60,000,(
DRi
char
dspage
18.
)
Al
lthet
hreeest
ates:
1want
edt
oret
ainaher
edi
tar
ymonar
ch
2di
sappr
ovedr
oyal
andmi
nist
eri
aldespot
ism
3 want
ed a Const
it
uti
on whi
ch woul
d guar
ant
ee t
he r
ight
s oft
he i
ndi
vi
dual(
a
const
it
uti
onal
monar
chy
)
4want
edt
heConst
it
uti
onandt
henew l
egi
slat
iont
obei
nthehandsoft
heEst
ates-
Gener
alwhi
chwoul
dper
iodi
cal
l
ymeet
5want
edaKi
ngwhosepower
swoul
dbel
i
mit
edbyanel
ect
edassembl
y
Howev
ert
heyal
sodi
ff
eredi
nthei
rdemands:

Fi
rstEst
ate
 -
Want
edanendt
opl
ural
i
sm
 -
demandedt
hatt
hosewhower
enotnobl
ebeabl
etobecomebi
shops
SecondEst
ate
 -
att
ackedt
hegov
ernmentf
ori
tsi
nef
fi
ciency
 -
att
ackedt
hegov
ernmentf
ori
tsdespot
ism
 -
att
ackedt
hegov
ernmentf
ori
tsi
njust
ice
 -
ther
eshoul
dbemor
efi
nanci
alequal
i
tyLet
; tr
esdecachetshoul
dbeabol
i
shed
Thi
rdEst
ate
 -
insi
sted on equal
i
ty;demanded r
eli
gious f
reedom and st
ate cont
roloft
he

23
 Chur
ch
 -
demandedabol
i
tionoft
hesal
eofj
udi
cial
post
s
 -
Want
ed r
eady access t
othe cour
tsf
orev
ery
one;si
mpl
i
ficat
ion ofcour
t
pr
ocedur
e
 -
ther
eshoul
dbemor
efi
nanci
alequal
i
tyLet
; tr
esdecachetshoul
dbeabol
i
shed
NBOnl
ythet
hir
dest
atewasabl
etopr
oducemeani
ngf
ulandhomogenousgr
iev
ances
as H.
L Peacock ar
gues t
hati
nthe Fi
rstand Second Est
atet
her
e was no such
uni
for
mit
y.(page22)