What caused the Revolution?

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What caused the Revolution?

Causes

  • Financial Crisis
  • Shortcomings of the monarchy
  • Lack of support from priviliged orders
  • Unfair social system
  • Public protest
  • Outside factors-the Enlightenment and American War of Independence

Effects

  • Financial crisis meant majority of population struggling to find food (88% wages spent on bread, food riots)-caused unhappiness, led to protesting
  • Louis' mistakes often made situation worse (30,000 soldiers in Paris before Bastille-acted as catalyst), if he wasn't as hesitant might have been better e.g. calling of Esates-General. Marie-Antoinette massively unpopular becam symbol of all the French people hated.
  • Revolt of nobles came first and paved way for other revolts-some of the leaders of National Assembly were nobility acted on behalf of 3rd estate, soldiers didn't always support Louis-Bastille
  • Unfair social system meant majority of country carrying burden and paying for luxury of the few-unfair tax and feudal systmes-meant population weren't happy-probably augmented by financial problems
  • Public protest propelled the movement-Bastille-without which it wouldn't have gone anywhere-needed power of mob. Protest repeatedly used to further rev when it had stalled e.g. October Days and Great Fear
  • The enlightenment brought new ideas about freedom and the unfairness of absolutism-philsosphes were popular especially Rousseau with Jacobins and Voltaire with general public. American War of Independence again showed unfairness of absolutism and made people question why they were helping rid America of an absolute monarchy if they had one themselves

Overall summary

Overall it was probably public protest that was most important to the revolution as without this the rev probably wouldn't have gone anywhere as the power of the mob was needed to forcibly bring change. However public protest would not have occured if it wasn't for factors such as financial probs, unfair systme etc so they all have to be taken into account as influencing its course.

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