The French Revolution—Background

 

The Ancien Regime in 1789

 

French society in 1789 looked much as it did during the past 200 hundred years.  Social classes were divided between the privileged and very underprivileged.  An unfair tax burden was still placed on the poor.  The government was an absolute monarchy supported by a system of nobles.

 

The king at this time was Louis XVI, a well-meaning but ineffectual leader.  His wife was Marie Antoinette, an Austrian by birth.  She was considered by the French people to be thoughtless and extravagant.  Selfish friends looking out for their own best interests led both astray and neither were very good at taking good advice if it meant personal sacrifice.

 

The Division of French Society

French society was divided into 3 groups or estates.

 

First Estate-Religious leaders/clergy—less than 1% of population

                          -Owned/controlled one-fifth of all French lands

                      -Special Rights—free from taxation

                         

Second Estate-Nobles-less than 2% of population

                       -Also controlled large amounts of French lands

                               -Paid very few taxes and held key political positions

 

There were some poor individuals and socially conscious people in these two estates.  Poor parish priests and enlightened nobles would help bring an end to the special privileges of these two groups.

 

Third Estate-Serfs, middle class (some very rich), peasants,

                    doctors, lawyers, servants, skilled/unskilled

                   labourers, teachers, shopkeepers—95% of the pop.

                        -Backbone of country---paid most taxes

                        -Few privileges—little political influence/power

 

The Estates-General

The Estates-General was the law-making group in France.  Unfortunately it had very little democratic influence.  It had been in existence since 1302 but did not meet regularly.  The system of voting established in the Estates-General was done by estate.  The problem with this system was that the Third Estate could never get laws passed that benefited it because the other two estates would always out-vote it by 2 to 1.  This caused a great deal of political tension, as the Third Estate was continually frustrated with its lack of power.

 

Many governments in Europe were set up in the same way so why did revolution come to France?

 

1.         Enlightened thinkers very popular in France

-Thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau were very popular in France and taught freedom of thought and action.

-The result of these teachings was that the peasants in France were not as oppressed as in other countries.  They were better treated and had more privileges.

 

2.         Growing Middle Class became richer and demanded

     more voice in the government.

 

3.         The king was unable to solve France’s other problems.

 

A fundamental cause (a cause that has deep roots in the past) was that the feudal laws and traditions in France no longer fit with modern thinking/attitudes

 

An immediate cause (cause that leads directly to action) was the high costs of running the government and the expensive court.  Interest on the debt was the biggest expense in France. Its income was not equal to its expenses and Louis XVI’s was very inefficient in running the government.  He fought costly wars and spent too much money supporting his royal court.  He refused to reduce his personal expenses and when it was suggested he be taxed he fired those making the recommendation.