French Revolution--The Call for Change

 

Louis XVI was in desperate times to solve France’s financial crisis as the country was near bankruptcy.  He decided to recall the rarely used Estates-General in hopes that it had an idea to end the crisis.  This was dangerous gamble as it would give people a voice in government.  Louis played with fire and got burned.  The people in the Estates-General knew the king needed money and they could help him get it but not without some benefits to them.

 

Following the example of the English Parliament, the Third Estate wanted to make the king give them a little political power in exchange for the money he so desperately needed.  The Enlightened thinkers had told them that they deserved to have a say in their governments. The American Revolution had demonstrated what happened to governments that failed to give rights to the people it governs.

 

On the request of the king, the people began to draw up lists of criticisms and dislikes in documents called cahiers.  These cahiers told of some of the new democratic ideas of the day.  For the most part, they were not demanding radical changes in the government.  They didn’t want the monarch killed or to leave the throne.  Instead they asked only for the following:

 

1.         The nobility be abolished.

2.         Fair taxation for all people.

3.         The Estates-General should meet more regularly to discuss government matters.

4.         That the government allow freedom of speech and the press.

5.         Freedom from irresponsible government guaranteed in a written constitution.