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Causes of French Revolution - around 1700-1789

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Causes of French Revolution - around 1700-1789

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The causes of the French Revolution were a big part of how the revolution took place. The king and queen of the French at this time, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, were not very liked by the French. This was because they didn't care about their country and spent money on so many wasteful things when it could have been put to great use. This resulted in a famine. All the French were starving with zero food. the revolution actually benefited the French by showing them them they can win a revolt even against a major military power. Though this also gave them motivation to rebel.

How did the American revolution influence the French revolution?

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When American colonists won independence from Great Britain in the Revolutionary War, the French, who participated in the war themselves, were both close allies and key participants.

Several years after the revolt in America, French reformers faced political, social and economic hardships that mirrored the colonists' struggles. While the French Revolution was a complex conflict with numerous triggers and causes, the American Revolution set the stage for an effective uprising that the French had observed firsthand.

Although the French and American people had several distinct and differing motives for revolting against their ruling governments, some similar causes led to both revolutions, including the following:

Economic struggles: Both the Americans and French dealt with a taxation system they found discriminating and unfair. Additionally, France's involvement in the American Revolution, along with extravagant spending practices by King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, left the country on the verge of bankruptcy.

Monarchy: Although the American colonists had lived in a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, they revolted against the royal powers of King George III just like the French rose up against Louis XVI.

Unequal rights: Like the American colonists, the French felt that specific rights were only granted to certain segments of society, namely the elite and aristocrats.

Enlightenment Philosophy Was a Major Influence

Many experts believe that the same ideologies that sparked the American Revolution had long percolated through French culture.

During the war in North American colonies, some allied Frenchmen fought side by side with soldiers of the Continental Army, which allowed for the exchanging of values, ideas and philosophies.

One key ideological movement, known as the Enlightenment, was central to the American uprising. Enlightenment stressed the idea of natural rights and equality for all citizens.

The ideas of the Enlightenment flowed from Europe to the North American continent and sparked a revolution that made enlightened thought all the more popular back across the Atlantic.

The Declaration of Independence Became a Template for the French

The French who had direct contact with the Americans were able to successfully implement Enlightenment ideas into a new political system.

The National Assembly in France even used the American Declaration of Independence as a model when drafting the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen in 1789.

Much like the American document, the French declaration included Enlightenment principles, such as equal rights and popular sovereignty.

Americans' Victory Encouraged the French

The Americans' victory over the British may have been one of the greatest catalysts for the French Revolution.

The French people saw that a revolt could be successful-even against a major military power-and that lasting change was possible. Many experts argue that this gave them the motivation to rebel. The newly-formed government of the United States also became a model for French reformers.

Ideas that were once just abstract thoughts-such as popular sovereignty, natural rights, constitutional checks and balances and separation of powers-were now part of an actual political system that worked.

What Was the Extent of America's Influence?

Though most historians agree that the American Revolution influenced the French Revolution, which lasted from 1789-1799, some scholars debate the significance and extent of its impact.

France, a country on the verge of financial collapse with an outdated feudal system and a wildly unpopular monarchy, was a powder keg waiting to explode, with or without the American war to serve as an example.

Other political, social and religious factors also activated the French people's appetite for change.

Though there were clear differences between the motives for each revolt and how the two wars were fought, most experts believe that the war in America at least partly paved the way for France's own uprising. The Americans provided a working model of revolutionary success that cannot have been lost on the French.

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How Did the American Revolution Influence the French Revolution? | HISTORY

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While the French Revolution was a complex conflict with numerous triggers and causes, the American Revolution set the stage for an effective uprising that the French had observed firsthand.

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The Meeting of the Estates General - May 5th 1789

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The Meeting of the Estates General - May 5th 1789

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May 5th 1789, The meeting of the Estates General was held in the Versailles. The clergy, nobility, and the commoners were invited to this meeting. The First Estate (Clergy) had around 300 representatives, the Second Estate (Nobility) also had About 300 representatives. and the Third Estate (Commoners) and about 600 representatives. Each estate got one vote per group. In this meeting they talked about the financial and political situations in France at the time. At the end they made a decision based off the majority vote which the third estate did not like. This resulted in the start of the French Revolution.

https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/key-dates/summoning-estates-general-1789#:~:text=The%20political%20and%20financial%20situation,undertake%20reforms%20in%20the%20country.

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On 4 May 1789 the last grand ceremony of the Ancien Régime was held in Versailles: the procession of the Estates General. From all over France, 1,200 deputies had arrived for the event. The deputies of the Third Estate (the Commoners) were the greatest in number, dressed in black with a gold and black overcoat. They were all holding a candle in their hand, except for those carrying the banners and the King's Falconers. The king himself was wearing an overcoat of golden fabric and was surrounded by the most important Officers to the Crown. On his hat he wore the Regent Diamond, which was the largest diamond in the kingdom. The queen was wearing a gold and silver dress. The king was cheered, but not the queen. The procession started at Notre-Dame, crossed the Place d'Armes, and finished at the church of Saint-Louis, where Monseigneur de La Fare, bishop of Nancy, stood at the pulpit and gave his famous speech in which he severely rebuked the luxury of the Court. For the first time in history a bishop was applauded in a church.

ANECDOTE

Louis XVI opened the session with a speech in which he reviewed the circumstances that had led to the convocation, and what he expected from the Estates General. As a peaceful king, he declared himself "the people's greatest friend".

The solemn opening ceremony began on 5 May. The convocation had been sent out on 5 July the previous year, assembling the Estates General for the first time since 1614. A temporary hall with columns had been built behind the Menus-Plaisirs building on Avenue de Paris. However, contrary to the depiction in the famous engraving, the hall was very small. The king officiated from his position at the end of the hall beneath a majestic baldachin, with the queen and the princes of the blood around him. The deputies were seated in rows around the edge. The members of the Third Estate and a few of the Clergy and the Nobility would later constitute the first National Assembly.

Louis XVI opened the session with a speech in which he reviewed the circumstances that had led to the convocation, and what he expected from the Estates General. As a peaceful king, he declared himself "the people's greatest friend". This was followed by speeches by Barentin, the Keeper of the Seals, and Necker, the Minister of Finances, concerning the economic situation in the kingdom. The budget deficit was 56 million. Necker claimed that new taxes would be enough to make up for the deficit, but the Commoners, who were only too aware of the country's expectations, were dissatisfied with such a mediocre discourse, and decided to take things into their own hands. The Revolution had begun...

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The political and financial situation in France had grown rather bleak, forcing Louis XVI to summon the Estates General. This assembly was composed of three estates - the clergy, nobility and commoners - who had the power to decide on the levying of new taxes and to undertake reforms in the country.

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After being locked out of the Estates General meeting on June 20, 1789, the members of the Third Estate gathered in a nearby indoor tennis court. There, they took the Tennis Court Oath, pledging not to leave until they had created a new constitution for France. They were out there for a couple hours and finally came to a conclusion. They wanted a new constitution for France that would establish a constitutional monarchy and ensure liberty, equality, and fraternity. They hoped to create a government that represented the interests of all citizens, particularly the common people, rather than just the privileged classes.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Tennis-Court-Oath

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On July 14, 1789, people stormed the bastille because they were scared that King Louis XVI would use his soldiers to take control and silence their voices. They wanted to get weapons and gunpowder from the bastille, which was seen as a symbol of the kings unfair rule, even though there were only 7 prisoners inside. when they attacked, the governor of the prison was killed, and the fortress was destroyed, making a big change in the french revolution. This event showed that the people were rising up against unfair treatment and fighting for their rights. Today, July 14 is celebrated as bastille day in France, a holiday that honors freedom and quality.

https://www.britannica.com/event/storming-of-the-Bastille

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The Establishment of the French Republic and the Declaration of the Rights of Man

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The Establishment of the French Republic and the Declaration of the Rights of Man

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After bastille day, the national assembly tried to create a new government to represent the people better. In august 1789, they wrote the "Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen," which listed important rights like freedom of speech, freedom or religion, and equality for everyone.

However, some members of the monarchy and conservative groups did not agree with this new document because they wanted to keep the old system of absolute monarchy. They were worried that giving people more rights would take away their power. This disagreement created a lot of tension in France as people began to start fights about their rights. Untimely, it showed that many people were ready for big changed in how their country was run.

https://www.elysee.fr/en/french-presidency/the-declaration-of-the-rights-of-man-and-of-the-citizen#:~:text=History,with%20a%20declaration%20of%20principles.

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The Establishment of the French Republic and the Declaration of the Rights of Man

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In June 1791, King Luis XVI and his family tried to escape from Paris to get back their power but were caught in a town called Varennes. This made people really mad and they eventually lost trust in the king. Later, the National Convention put Luis on trial for being a traitor because of his escape. He was found guilty and executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793. The Galantine was a machine that beheaded people, and it became a symbol of the harsh justice during the french revolution. Many people felt that this was a fair punishment for someone who betrayed his country. As a result, it showed how serious the revolution was and how much the people wanted to change.

https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/trial-execution-of-louis-xvi/

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The reign of Terror lasted from September 1793 to July 1794 during the french revolution. Led by Jacobins and Maximillion Rosebspierre. This period saw extreme actions against anyone apposing the government. Thousands were killed by the guillotine or shot, often without fair trails. The guillotine, a device used for beheading, became a symbol of this cruelty with estimates of 16,000 to 40,000 lives lost. People lived in fear of being accused of disloyalty, making them feel unsafe instead of protected in this tense and frightening time. In the end, this fear showed how dangerous it can be when one group has too much power.

https://www.worldhistory.org/Reign_of_Terror/

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Napoleon Bonaparte was an important leader in France from the later 1700s to the early 1800s. Born in 1769 on the island of corsica, he became military hero during the french revolution and took control of France in 1799, calling himself emperor in 1804. He made many changes to help France like creating new and and improving schools and roads. Although he won many battles, his desire for power led to big wars, and his failed invasion of Russia in 1812 changed everything. after being sent away to the island of Helba in 1815. He was exiled again to the island of saint Helena, where he did in 1821. People remember him for his military skills and the changed he made in France, but also for the wars that caused a lot of suffering.

https://www.worldhistory.org/Reign_of_Terror/