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Roxanne Vigh
April 6, 2005
World History Thesis Paper
Period 9
“The French Revolution”
The French Revolution was something that did not just happen. There where many factors and issues in France that led to the Revolution. Major causes were disputes between the different estates. The government was seen as unfair, the citizens were not a fan of King Louis XVI’s decisions. The kings actions started to decrease royal finances dramatically. Resentment of royal absolutism, resentment of the seigneurial system by peasants, wage-earners, and to a lesser extent, the bourgeoisie. The rise of enlightenment ideas, high taxes and scarce foods were all also major factors of the cause of the French Revolution (Wikipedia). Was the French Revolution the most important even in European history?
The government while King Louis XVI was in power was a monarchy. There were three different social classes. The first estate, the second estate, and the third estate. The first was made up of the church and clergy. This estate owned ten percent of the land in France. The Nobles were also a part of the first estate. Just about one third of the first estate were parish priests. This estate did not pay taxes, which caused uproar with the third estate. Some of the nobles lived in luxury in the bigger cities in France. The first estate made up one to two percent of the population (“Scott, Samuel F”).
The second estate in France was the nobility. They made up two percent of the population. They enjoyed life with the extended rights and privileges. Along with the first estate this estate paid close to no taxes. Nobles were the richest members of society . The first and second estates were grouped together because of their political beliefs ("The French Revolution").
The third estate consisted of lower classes people such as the bourgeoisie, peasants, and the city workers. In the bourgeoisie there were merchants, lawyers, doctors, and other people with similar occupations. Peasants were the largest group of the third estate. They had to pay large amount of money in taxes, tithes to the church, and rent to their landlords. The third estate had rough living conditions and they had no say in government decisions with taxes or anything ("The French Revolution").
There were many differences among these three groups. Louis XVI was still borrowing so much money for wars and France was already going downward which created France becoming a difficult place for lower class people to live. Louis XVI knew these problems existed but he was not so sure how to fix them until he met Robert Turgot. Robert helped ease the financial crisis, but he was not sure how to start a major reform. The king could not tax the nobles without Parliament approving the new tax laws
("The French Revolution").
The Estates General was the place where representatives from each social class could be represented. Here, many issues would be discussed, and at this time in French history, it would be centered around the economic crisis. Later on there was a plan that the first and second estate could meet together and vote out the third estate. The peasants were not satisfied, they wanted to be treated equal. The third estate insisted that the three estates emerge into one to create a National Assembly. Later the constitution was created so that the three estates would be equal. France turned into a Republic where citizens paid a fair amount of taxes and were able to vote (“Jones, Colin”).
Men and women had different rights and privileges during the French Revolution. Men’s rights consisted of men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body or individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation. Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society. Nothing may be prevented which is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not provided for by law. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most valuable of the rights of man (“Men and Women Rights of the French Revolution”).
Women on the other hand did not have as many equal rights, they did not really have much say in government or in their home. Some of their other rights were Woman is born free and lives equal to man in her rights. Social distinctions can be based only on the common utility. No woman is an exception; she is accused, arrested, and detained in cases determined by law. Women, like men, obey this rigorous law. (“Men and Women Rights of the French Revolution”).
The motto "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity" first appeared during the French Revolution. The Enlightenment ideas came from natural rights of man by philosophers. France knew the two ideas were able to work together at the same time. The Enlightenment of the French Revolution was a time where the people tried to get these to work together at the same time. Finally finalized in August 1789, liberty and equality were both proclaimed as the natural rights of man ("Enlightenment").
Napoleon Bonaparte introduced numerous ideas and reforms for the government. He introduced the Napoleonic code which were laws made up such as, women are minority, equality before the law, and public schools were opened in France. He reformed the education system. He embarked on the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s changes and introductions impacted France then and now ("Napoleonic Code").
The French Revolution was the most important event in European history. If government remained the same in France many more uprisings with the lower class would have grown more severe. The government becoming republic made such an impact because now each class plays a role in decisions in the government, and each class has to pay a fair amount of taxes.
If the French Revolution did not occur women would still have the same rights they did back in 1789, which was close to none. Women now have minority, and have rights to vote. Women are now equal and have the same privileges as men do. The Enlightenment introduced “Equality and Liberty”, if those new ideas were not introduced to work together at the same time France would not have freedom, and women and lower classes would not be treated equal as men and as the higher classes. The Napoleonic code introduced new laws that are still in action today. Women are now a minority and have a right to vote, and have say in decisions. There are public schools internationally, and people have the right to own their own land.
The French Revolution is by far the most important event in European history. If the French Revolution did not occur who knows what leading issues what have been brought to in future years in France.
Works Cited
"Enlightenment." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service Apr 5. 2005 .
Jones, Colin. The Longman Companion to the French Revolution. London: Longman’s, 1988.
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”. Exploring The French Revolution.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap3a.h
“Men and Women Rights of the French Revolution”.
http://faculty.fullerton.edu/nfitch/his
"Napoleonic Code." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service Apr.5 2005 .
Scott, Samuel F., and Barry Rothaus, eds. Historical Dictionary of the French Revolution. 2 vols. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1985.
"The French Revolution". Wikipedia the free encyclopedia online.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Rev
Roxanne Vigh
April 6, 2005
World History Thesis Paper
Period 9
“The French Revolution”
The French Revolution was something that did not just happen. There where many factors and issues in France that led to the Revolution. Major causes were disputes between the different estates. The government was seen as unfair, the citizens were not a fan of King Louis XVI’s decisions. The kings actions started to decrease royal finances dramatically. Resentment of royal absolutism, resentment of the seigneurial system by peasants, wage-earners, and to a lesser extent, the bourgeoisie. The rise of enlightenment ideas, high taxes and scarce foods were all also major factors of the cause of the French Revolution (Wikipedia). Was the French Revolution the most important even in European history?
The government while King Louis XVI was in power was a monarchy. There were three different social classes. The first estate, the second estate, and the third estate. The first was made up of the church and clergy. This estate owned ten percent of the land in France. The Nobles were also a part of the first estate. Just about one third of the first estate were parish priests. This estate did not pay taxes, which caused uproar with the third estate. Some of the nobles lived in luxury in the bigger cities in France. The first estate made up one to two percent of the population (“Scott, Samuel F”).
The second estate in France was the nobility. They made up two percent of the population. They enjoyed life with the extended rights and privileges. Along with the first estate this estate paid close to no taxes. Nobles were the richest members of society . The first and second estates were grouped together because of their political beliefs ("The French Revolution").
The third estate consisted of lower classes people such as the bourgeoisie, peasants, and the city workers. In the bourgeoisie there were merchants, lawyers, doctors, and other people with similar occupations. Peasants were the largest group of the third estate. They had to pay large amount of money in taxes, tithes to the church, and rent to their landlords. The third estate had rough living conditions and they had no say in government decisions with taxes or anything ("The French Revolution").
There were many differences among these three groups. Louis XVI was still borrowing so much money for wars and France was already going downward which created France becoming a difficult place for lower class people to live. Louis XVI knew these problems existed but he was not so sure how to fix them until he met Robert Turgot. Robert helped ease the financial crisis, but he was not sure how to start a major reform. The king could not tax the nobles without Parliament approving the new tax laws
("The French Revolution").
The Estates General was the place where representatives from each social class could be represented. Here, many issues would be discussed, and at this time in French history, it would be centered around the economic crisis. Later on there was a plan that the first and second estate could meet together and vote out the third estate. The peasants were not satisfied, they wanted to be treated equal. The third estate insisted that the three estates emerge into one to create a National Assembly. Later the constitution was created so that the three estates would be equal. France turned into a Republic where citizens paid a fair amount of taxes and were able to vote (“Jones, Colin”).
Men and women had different rights and privileges during the French Revolution. Men’s rights consisted of men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body or individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation. Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society. Nothing may be prevented which is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not provided for by law. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most valuable of the rights of man (“Men and Women Rights of the French Revolution”).
Women on the other hand did not have as many equal rights, they did not really have much say in government or in their home. Some of their other rights were Woman is born free and lives equal to man in her rights. Social distinctions can be based only on the common utility. No woman is an exception; she is accused, arrested, and detained in cases determined by law. Women, like men, obey this rigorous law. (“Men and Women Rights of the French Revolution”).
The motto "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity" first appeared during the French Revolution. The Enlightenment ideas came from natural rights of man by philosophers. France knew the two ideas were able to work together at the same time. The Enlightenment of the French Revolution was a time where the people tried to get these to work together at the same time. Finally finalized in August 1789, liberty and equality were both proclaimed as the natural rights of man ("Enlightenment").
Napoleon Bonaparte introduced numerous ideas and reforms for the government. He introduced the Napoleonic code which were laws made up such as, women are minority, equality before the law, and public schools were opened in France. He reformed the education system. He embarked on the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s changes and introductions impacted France then and now ("Napoleonic Code").
The French Revolution was the most important event in European history. If government remained the same in France many more uprisings with the lower class would have grown more severe. The government becoming republic made such an impact because now each class plays a role in decisions in the government, and each class has to pay a fair amount of taxes.
If the French Revolution did not occur women would still have the same rights they did back in 1789, which was close to none. Women now have minority, and have rights to vote. Women are now equal and have the same privileges as men do. The Enlightenment introduced “Equality and Liberty”, if those new ideas were not introduced to work together at the same time France would not have freedom, and women and lower classes would not be treated equal as men and as the higher classes. The Napoleonic code introduced new laws that are still in action today. Women are now a minority and have a right to vote, and have say in decisions. There are public schools internationally, and people have the right to own their own land.
The French Revolution is by far the most important event in European history. If the French Revolution did not occur who knows what leading issues what have been brought to in future years in France.
Works Cited
"Enlightenment." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service Apr 5. 2005 .
Jones, Colin. The Longman Companion to the French Revolution. London: Longman’s, 1988.
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”. Exploring The French Revolution.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap3a.h
“Men and Women Rights of the French Revolution”.
http://faculty.fullerton.edu/nfitch/his
"Napoleonic Code." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service Apr.5 2005 .
Scott, Samuel F., and Barry Rothaus, eds. Historical Dictionary of the French Revolution. 2 vols. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1985.
"The French Revolution". Wikipedia the free encyclopedia online.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Rev
