Middle And Middle Classes During The French Revolution

In this paragraph, I argue that the middle and lower classes were an integral component in forming the French Revolution, as they were regarded as inferior, burdened by taxation, poor markets, and an inadequate economy. Through the financial crisis, social catastrophe, political predicaments, and the monarchy’s power, the lower and middle classes were the first to be harmed. The standard of live for the impoverished during this time was inexpressibly difficult. “Comprising perhaps an unbelievable 40 percent of the national population, they made their living, such as it was, by public and private charity for the most part. They squatted on wastelands and forests, huddles by church doors, slept under bridges or in dosshouses, their only possessions a few miserable rags.
A large proportion were women, ruined by the death of their husbands and incapable of remarrying because they were encumbered with children.” The monarchy cared little for its citizens, and this unlawful treatment was one factor that caused the lowest class to revolt.
Economic inequality was sparked by the outrageous acts committed by the monarchy, as the impoverished deteriorated into further destitute, and, in result, the wealthy nobles became opulent and lavish in their way of living. Peasants, and those aspiring to be part of the bourgeoisie, were burdened with exceedingly high taxes to support the French monarchy. “Peasants who were not self-sufficient had to buy a proportion of their needs and so were hit by the 62 percent price increase over taxes that took place between 1749 and the 1780s… The peasants bore proportionately more of the burden than any other group. They alone enjoyed no sort of exemption; they alone bore the full burden of the gabelle (state salt monopoly) or the draw for the militia.” The cost of living was inexorable, thus the quality of living plummeted. All the hindrances caused by the government put an unfair burden on the lower
class. Not only did these plights cause them to pay more to survive, but they were also required to spend more on food and other essentials. Deregulation of the market resulted in an increase in prices for food and necessities. Because of these increase food prices and bad harvests, which would lead to famines, there was an inevitable prompt for masses to revolt. “People like this were a problem only to overstretched charitable institutions but the more daring could be more of a nuisance to the better off. The line between poverty and petty crime was easily crossed. The criminal dossiers of the Old Regime are full of prosecutions for theft of bread or drying laundry or of pennies from charity boxes in parish churches. Bands of beggars wandering a countryside which was nearly unpoliced posed an even greater threat. A group of able-bodied paupers who menaced isolated farmers for food and lodging could easily grow into a vast criminal gang.” Sustainability is a human need that demands to be met by a legitimate government. When the legal methods of obtaining food and shelter have been exhausted, citizens have no choice but to turn to criminal means. Due to the taxation, poor markets, and an inadequate economy, citizens were deprived of the ability to flourish. They were stripped of their dignity, detached from their self-ownership, disregarded by the upper class, and pilfered the potential of being productive members of the society. Instead, the citizens were forced into a state of being, in which they were forced to struggle for their basic necessities.

In an attempt to end absolutism and bring justice to the third estate, the opposition and public opinion, the financial and economic crisis, the Nobility, and the Peasantry were all significant causes, which led to a breakdown of the old regime. Through this historical event, the public and society as a whole was able to administer the future of the republic, and indirectly controlled the government. Though the upper class and the nobles tried to exploit their labor-based relationship with those who were not nearly as wealthy, the lower and middle class resisted and opposed. This revolt was shown in several ways, such as the impacts of writers, publishers, and pamphleteers and mobilizing the public’s opinions through propaganda. It was also shown through the actions of the nobles and monarchy, that when one class discriminates and disregards an entire tier of society, that certain class is bound to revolt. Not only was the peasantry discriminated against, but also they were exploited and devalued. As the impoverished deteriorated into further destitute, and, in result, the wealthy nobles became opulent and lavish in their way of living, which is an unjust system and generated economic inequality. The questions that remained unanswered were those of the effects of a democracy, and the process of adjusting to a completely new form of government. Nevertheless, politics, economics, and social issues all factored into forming a revolution against the monarchial government and succeeded in changing the executive administration of France and impacting the others views of the obligations a government must uphold.