French Revolution

During the eighth century France had many issues that could’ve developed into a revolution. Throughout this time France was facing a collection of issues. At this time France was ruled by an inadequate and absolute monarch. Absolutism was becoming increasingly unpopular due to the enlightenment ideas. Although these are all remarkable motives, the most critical motives were that it was influenced significantly by the American Revolution, the poor privileges ingrained by the Old Regime, and France’s grave economic crisis. To begin with the French Revolution of 1789 was fueled a lot by the American Revolution. Mainly because many French soldiers fought alongside the Americans and were able to experience such an effective revolution. Thus when soldiers returned back to France, such as Lafayette they returned with a love for liberty and equality. Since the American Revolution established lasting and successful reforms, it was able to demonstrate to the French that it was possible to have a triumphant revolution. Although the French Revolution did not mirror the American Revolution, the American Revolution helped instill belief and trigger the French Revolution. Furthermore France was still divided into three estates, The Old Regime, which did not satisfy the needs of the third estate. The subjects in the third estate had very little privileges compared to the other estates, such as little land and paid high taxes. The Old Regime ceased to correspond with the social demands of this time. The Old Regime was from the Middle Ages and France had become a society based on wealth and education. Wealthy and educated were the bourgeoise, however they were part of the third estate which meant they were confined to the privileges of the third estate. Thus a rising and powerful bourgeoise colliding with the other well privileged estates helped provoke the French Revolution. Lastly France’s economic crisis assisted the French Revolution. France was in great debt due to accommodating the American and Glorious Revolution, heavy spending by the monarchs, and involvement in the Seven Years War. This debt had grown so immense that half of the annual budget went to interest payments on debt, and less than twenty percent was available for state functions. This meant that Louis XVI had to make an effort to convince the wealthy nobility to give up their tax-free status, since the sole tax payers were the poor peasants. Thus Louis XVI was prompt to call the meeting of the Estates General, where the nobles refused to give up their tax-free status. This refusal was one of the first steps taken that would lead to the French Revolution. Thus the economic crisis aided the French Revolution by helping the revolution take its first step. In conclusion the French Revolution was stimulated by various reasons. One being that it was vastly influenced by the successful American Revolution. Another being the antiquated Old Regime that did not fit to France’s more modern society. The last cause for the French Revolution was the economic crisis that clutched France at this time. All these causes helped initiate the French Revolution and bring about change to France.