Social Causes: Social Classes and Taxation: During the 18th century, the people of France were organized into a rigid social caste system. In an immediate sense, what brought down the ancien régime was its own inability to change or, more simply, to pay its way. There were several causes for the French Revolution: 1. 1 As social and other historians undermined that theory, intellectual historians moved in new directions, particularly toward the social history of ideas. These causes include a great divide between the social classes, a crisis which negatively impacts the masses, increasing unhappiness or loss of faith in the government or ruling power and the desire for equality and ideals and philosophies which provide a common rallying ground for … Know what started the Industrial Revolution and why it originated in Great Britain through its 10 most important causes. The Second Estate was made up of the wealthy and paid little taxes. France was a monarchy ruled by the king. While there were political and social causes of The French Revolution the most important cause was actually economic. The bread shortage was caused by the three year drought that France was struck with. The First Estate had to pay no taxes at all. Most of France belonged to the Third Estate. The inequalities prevailing in the society created much discontentment among the masses and forced them to oppose the prevalent social structure. NAME: _____ PERIOD: ___ DATE: _____ MRS. BRANFORD GLOBAL HISTORY 10 ~ CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ~ What were the social, economic, and political issues that led to the French Revolution? The treasury was practically empty after the numerous wars that France was involved in. Economic Cause: Most disaffected were merchants, artisans, workers, and peasants. To understand what caused the French Revolution, we have to understand what France was like before it all happened. Social and political discontent sparked revolutions in France in 1830 and 1848, which in turn inspired revolts in other parts of Europe. The plebeians were exploited and did not have the privileges of the higher classes. Political Issues: Absolute Monarchy An absolute monarchy is … 2. PreserveArticles.com is a free service that lets you to preserve your original articles for eternity. NAME: _____ PERIOD: ___ DATE: _____ MRS. BRANFORD GLOBAL HISTORY 10 ~ CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ~ What were the social, economic, and political issues that led to the French Revolution? In the 1780s, the population of France was … Marxist historians, such as Lefebvre and Soboul, see the social tensions described here as the main cause of the Revolution, as the Estates-General allowed them to manifest into tangible political action; the bourgeoisie and the lower classes were grouped into the Third Estate, allowing them to jointly oppose the establishment. Causes of the French Revolution 1. International: struggle for hegemony and Empire outstrips the fiscal resources of the state 2. This 'revisionist' analysis of the French Revolution caused a furore on first publication in 1964, challenging as it did established orthodoxies during the crucial period of the Cold War. The unprivileged were divided into two categories. What Were Some Social Causes of the French Revolution. In France the revolutionary events ended the July Monarchy (1830–1848) and led to the creation of the French Second Republic.. Social classes during the French Revolution. They were the rich people and made up the Clergy. What were the Social causes of the French Revolution? They also had a soft corner for the masses who were groaning under the yoke of the nobility and the clergy. Louis XIV and the kings who came after him were despots. Soon the lower clergy made common cause with the commoners and provided a helping hand to the onset of the revolution. The French Revolution (French: Révolution française [ʁevɔlysjɔ̃ fʁɑ̃sɛːz]) was a period of far-reaching social and political upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 until 1799, and was partially carried forward by Napoleon during the later expansion of the French Empire. The deeper causes for its collapse are more difficult to establish. Overpopulation caused an unrelenting strain on natural resources in the country, and this led to a number of complications that eventually gave rise to the revolution. France - France - The causes of the French Revolution: In an immediate sense, what brought down the ancien régime was its own inability to change or, more simply, to pay its way. 1 As social and other historians undermined that theory, intellectual historians moved in new directions, particularly toward the social history of ideas. The officers were maintained at a cost of 46 millions a year, although only 3,500 were on active list. #1 Political and Economic competition in Europe Though the European states had frequently fought amongst each other for many centuries, by the mid-18th century many of them were rising colonial powers . The position of commoners in the French society was m deplorable. There was little chance for people to move from one estate to another. The third estate, or the lowest of the classes did not enjoy certain privileges and had to shoulder heavy feudal dues which is why they decided to pursue change. Following were the social, economic, political and intellectual causes of the French Revolution: Social - The social conditions in France in late 18 th century were extremely unequal and exploitative. All the articles you read in this site are contributed by users like you, with a single vision to liberate knowledge. Social Cause: 3. All the important posts in the country were occupied by them. ...The French Revolution of 1789 had many long-range causes.Political, social, and economic conditions in France mad many French people discontented. The major causes of the French Revolution were the disputes and inequalities between the different types of social classes in French society, and the financial problems, facing the French government, during the year of 1779. They were the rich people and made up the Clergy. Copyright. The country was divided into three social classes with the two top classes consisting of only a few elite members of the society while the … There were 3 orders in the society. The French Revolution had many social, political and economic causes. Estate of Systems. The clergy and the nobility formed the first two Estates and were the most privileged classes in the French society. The ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers brought new views of government and society. At the same time, the monarchy was trying to find a way to repay its huge debt, acquired while funding the American Revolution. One of the main causes that lead to this revolution were the unfair systems of which existed under the Old Regime. They did not have any interest in the religious ceremonies and wasted their time in conspiracies at the court. The Revolution, And The Causes Of The French Revolution 830 Words | 4 Pages. ... social hierachy. People at the time were not happy with the fact that France was a complete monarchy. The long-term causes of the French Revolution were mainly social, economic, and political. It mattered the least whether they possessed the requisite qualification or not. The major causes of the French Revolution were the disputes and inequalities between the different types of social classes in French society, and the financial problems, facing the French government, during the year of 1779. The French Revolution had general causes common to all the revolutions of the West at the end of the 18th century and particular causes that explain why it was by far the most violent and the most universally significant of these revolutions. On the eve of the French Revolution, the French army consisted of 35, 000 officers (of whom 1,171 were generals) and 135,000 men. The common people living on their estates had to take things from these establishments. The main social cause of the French Revolution was the high population density in the country. The French Revolution had many social, political and economic causes. Below are some of these causes for the French Revolution (1789-1799). The social classes were inequality within the three estates. Which groups of French Society benefitted from the revolution? Disclaimer The ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers brought new views of government and society. Thus their life left much to be desired. A leading cause of social stress in France during the Revolution was its large population. They also used to highest taxes to the government. The first two estates were privileged and the third was very unprivileged and had to pay heavy taxes. Privacy Policy The former, i.e., the bourgeoisie or the middle class was rich and consisted physicians, lawyers, philosophers and professors. ADVERTISEMENTS: The social causes also led to the outbreak of the revolution. ... Peasants were 90 percent of French population The contemporary philosopher influenced them much due to their being educated and learned, revolution was really led by these people of the middle class for they made the commoners realise their miserable plight. One school of interpretation maintains that French society under the ancien régime was rent by class war. The French society before 1789 is referred to as the Ancien Régime. The main social cause of the French Revolution was the high population density in the country. Social Causes: During the late 1700s, there was a medieval social system known as the Old Regime which divided people into three distinct social classes called estates. The Bourbon monarchs lived in splendor in the royal palace of Versailles. The nobles usually felt superior to the commoners … The inequalities prevailing in the society created much discontentment among the masses and forced them to oppose the prevalent social structure. The most important are that they would not pay taxes and they were given top-jobs in the army, the administration and the royal courtyard. Directions: Watch The French Revolution Documentary from the History Channel (3:21-7:43) and then complete the questions below. In the 17th and 18th centuries, France was ruled by an absolute government. The major causes of the French Revolution were the disputes and inequalities between the different types of social classes in French society, and the financial problems, facing the French government, during the year of 1779. The French society was mainly divided into two classes: (i) the privileged, and (ii) the unprivileged. The French Revolution; Social Causes; Economic Causes; Political Causes; Overall Review; What Were Some Economic Causes of the French Revolution? Following were the social, economic, political and intellectual causes of the French Revolution: Social - The social conditions in France in late 18 th century were extremely unequal and exploitative. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, France had 20 million people living within its borders, a number equal to nearly 20 percent of the population of non-Russian Europe. The French society was mainly divided into two classes: (i) the privileged, and (ii) the unprivileged. 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