Preview

Do You Agree That the Ineptitude of the Monarchy Was the Most Important Reason for the Outbreak of Revolution in 1789?

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1133 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Do You Agree That the Ineptitude of the Monarchy Was the Most Important Reason for the Outbreak of Revolution in 1789?
In 1789, France was one of the richest and most influential nations in the world. The people of France were served with humility and fairness in terms of lawful punishment, a privilege only offered in a few nations at that time. In theory France could have continued in its path of prosperity, but history proves that this was not the case. This essay will focus on the reasons of the French revolution that broke out in 1789 and whether the monarchy of France can be deemed most liable for the revolution. Furthermore, it will be also looking into other potential causes such as; the massive economic struggle caused by debt, food scarcity in the years immediately before the revolution, the growing unpopularity of the seigneurial system by peasants, wage-earners, and a rising bourgeoisie population, flaws in the system of taxation and lastly, the influence of famous writers and philosophers such as Voltaire, Denis Diderot, Turgot, and others inspired by the rise of enlightenment. The economic problems France was facing at the time had undoubtedly a massive effect in terms of the revolution. In terms of production, France was booming at the time, industry was bringing France massive profits but never the less, France found itself in vast financial difficulties. Wars were a major exhaustion on the funds of the monarch, King Louis XV was enthusiastic in supporting the American War of Independence from the English. Fueled by the losses of the 7 years’ war against England, he devoted himself into establishing an independent nation of America. He sent the fighters a tremendous amount of resources to help them in their struggle against the English. He built an efficient navy, capable of challenging the English maritime arsenal. The support that he gave, although very crucial in creating and independent America was in fact damaging the economy of his own nation. Furthermore, many revolutionary ideals were spread during the time. France was in close contact of the Americas at

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Revolutionary War Dbq

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages

    France had multiple reasons for joining the American Revolutionary War against the British. After the Seven Year War, where the British were victorious over the French, France wanted to restore a higher placement in Europe.5 Britain had the more economic power, which France wanted depleted. The most substantial reason that convinced the French to join with America was that France supported the independent republican ideas that the American Revolution was based on. By supplying Americans with the proper weaponry, the Americans succeeded. France provided guns, money, and immense amounts of equipment that accounted for about half of America’s armed forces.6 Not only did France help land forces, their supply of naval ships helped the Americans defeat British ships in the Atlantic Ocean. At many moments during the war, France’s ships blocked and destroyed British fleets approaching the shore.7 Without the help of the French military supplies and ships, the Americans might have lost the war. France believed the Americans were their chance to expand their economy worldwide.8 Through observing the strong motivation that the American’s had to fight, France used the American’s motive along with many of their own to justify joining the war. The effective American foreign policy convinced France that joining the war was justified. After the revolutionary war,…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “The French Revolution.” What pops up in your head? Probably a plethora of ideas. Images of riots, nobles, monarchy and such. So many mistakes and so many achievements has come out of the French Revolution. Many failed policies, laws and many inspirational and influential ideas has come of the French Revolution. The important causes of the French Revolution has changed France. The French Revolution had many causes which lead to the outbreak of the revolution such as heavy taxes, extreme poverty and the ideas of the Enlightenment.…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The French were important in the American Revolution because they formed alliances with the American, and with great ideas, were those who helped to defeat the British. France and England had their antecedents; therefore the role that I played France was great motivation to fight with those with whom they had been fighting time ago. To say that the Americans could not have been without the French is something uncertain because the facts were others and the only way to know is if it had been without the help of France. I think that the fact of the union in the confrontation was what gave an impulse to the arrival of success. In the Franco-Indian War, France was responsible for helping the American Revolution with the help of the British in the…

    • 136 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Q: What was the result of the middle class’s knowledge of the ideas of the Enlightenment?…

    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Inspired by the achievement of the American Revolution, the people of France decided to protest against the unjust monarchy and have a revolution of their own. France needed a change in leadership, and a shift in power in order for this revolution to be a success .Unfortunately, for the people to get what they needed from the government, they took drastic and disturbing measures to make their voices heard. Through this France not only left an impact on themselves, but influenced other nations in need of change in their governments.…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This revolutionary event in history is most noted for the execution of thousands of citizens under the influence of other rebellious acts that grew popularity at the time. Famously, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were included under the list as these were important figures that were deeply involved in French revolutions. Despite this tragedy, this event is often times considered a momentous occasion in French history as it exemplifies the claim that this became the turning point for the outspoken France citizens. In order to acknowledge components of the French Revolution, it is essential to recognize the involvements of previous revolutionary acts, main causes, significant outcomes, recovery or possible solutions, and impacts on modern society.…

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Written for a broad, general audience—without footnotes, a bibliography, or other formalities—The Coming of the French Revolution still holds a persuasive power over the reader. Georges Lefebvre wrote The Coming of the French Revolution in 1939, carefully dividing the story into six parts. The first four are organized around four acts, each associated with the four major groups in France—the “Aristocratic Revolution,” the “Bourgeois Revolution,” the “Popular Revolution,” and the “Peasant Revolution.” Part V examines the acts of the National Assembly to abolish feudalism and write Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, and Part VI presents the “October Days” (xv-xvii).…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    the French Revolution. Hunt, Lynn & Censer, Jack. University Park, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press (2001)…

    • 2899 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1789, France broke out into a revolution. The citizens of France rebelled against the absolute monarch and the system they deemed unfair. The people were starving while Queen Marie Antoinette spent fortunes on fake boats to put in her hair. The Revolution was centered on hatred for the king, Louis XVII, and the prospects of a governmental system that promoted liberty and equality. The unfair representation of the third estate, the spread of enlightenment ideas, and the high price and scarcity of bread caused the French Revolution, with the high price and scarcity of bread being the most significant because it caused the people to develop severe anger due to starvation, and they never would have had such a large amount of anger if they weren’t hungry.…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bibliography: Smitha, Frank E. "French Revolution." MacroHistory : World History. 2002. 05 Mar. 2009 .…

    • 976 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    French soldiers that had seen the Revolution first hand in America returned home with a sense of liberty, the notion of republicanism, and popular sovereignty. This led them to revolt against their own monarchy. France also left the war in debt.…

    • 175 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This, along with the economic tensions of France's growing debt, created a need for change. France’s society before the new laws was largely structured on corporate privilege; this meant that certain higher class social groups had special privileges that set them apart from others. For example, nobles were not expected to pay taxes to the king because they directly served him, but commoners were. This imbalance is only making economic problems worse. Aside from economic problems, there were also social conflicts arising and people were less afraid to voice their opinions because of the Enlightenment.…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    At first France was skeptical about helping America because they thought they would lose since Britain was such a big country with a lot of power already. France did not think that America could stand alone as a country and break away from British rule. When America formed the Declaration of Independence, showing that they were their own nation, it showed France that America was capable of being on their own. The battle of Saratoga was also a turning point in the Revolution. America decided they should divide and attack Britain because that would work better than the normal “fighting position”. Since America won the Battle of Saratoga this showed France that America could win and could fight, so it gave them confidence to join the American Revolution. France stepped in and helped America financially which helped America win the…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The drive for independence by the American colonies faced a slim chance of success without outside assistance. The French, who were the most likely ally in this cause was recently the enemy of both the English and Americans. This would present a challenge for the American colonists as France’s finances had been depleted just as Britain’s had over the course of the Seven Year’s War. This however, was not the whole story. The French, regardless of their financial difficulties had a grudge against Britain that worked in the American’s favor. The French had already explored the possibility of an American rebellion as early as the 1760’s but realized that the time was not yet right for one to occur. As a result, France was hesitant to join into a conflict on the side of the colonies too soon as they were afraid that an early intervention might result in the French facing off against both the British and the Americans (Middlekauff, 2005).…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    One of the most controversial moments in European History is the French Revolution. The French Revolution was an uprising against the traditional monarchy, which took place from 1789 to 1799 C.E. that resulted in the destruction of the French Monarchy. The denial of monarchy and rise of democracy continued throughout the world following this event. Before the French Revolution, the majority of French people were poor and could not find food or fitting jobs to get them on their feet. The majority got poorer while the rich obtained more money and power. The smell of reform was in the air; either supporting the monarchy or against it, a change was imminent. Alas, when the French people were the poorest and most aborted, a weak puppet began his…

    • 1699 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays