History - Year 10

Assessment Activity: Essay on French Revolution

By Debajyoti Chaudhuri KM10
Q: To what extent were the financial difficulties of the government the cause of the French Revolution To a large extent, the financial difficulties of the government were the cause of the French Revolution. A major cause was the economic crisis and financial debt accumulated by the French Government which brought national unrest leading to revolution. The financial and taxation structure of the French Government was unjust and discontented the majority of the people, especially the poor Third Estate, and drove them to revolt. The immense poverty and lack of food for the common French people triggered rebellion. However, it must be noted that financial difficulties were not the only cause of the French Revolution, but were accompanied with poor leadership, Enlightenment Ideas, and a breaking down social structure which only amplified the financial difficulties of the French Government. These economic and financial difficulties of the French Government were a main reason for the revolution. The economic crisis and financial debt of the French Government enraged the people of France. Exorbitant debt led to the financial crisis of the French Government (French Revolution Causes: An Economic Crisis, 2011). Streich (2009) explains that extravagant expenditures on luxuries by Louis XVI, whose rule began in 1774, were compounded by debts that were run up during the reign of his profligate predecessor, Louis XV. Heavy expenditures to conduct the losing Seven Years' War against Britain, and France's attempt for revenge against the British by backing the Americans in their War of Independence increased debt even further (Streich, 2009). Finally after compounding enormous debt, both banks and financial institutions denied France any more loans. Bhattacharya (2005) identifies that the financial strain of servicing old debt and the excesses of the current royal court caused dissatisfaction with the monarchy, contributed to national unrest as the people lost faith in the king, and culminating in the French Revolution. The economic crisis and financial debt accumulated by the government only increased the flaws of the financial and taxation system, which were one leading cause of the French Revolution. The financial and taxation system was unjustly designed to benefit the upper classes of the French population. In the 1770s, under the Old Regime, the people of France were divided into estates (Gershoy, 1957). The First Estate was the Clergy while the Second Estate consisted of the nobility. They collectively made up three percent of the population, owned thirty percent of the land and paid almost no taxes. However Gershoy (1957) indicates that the Third Estate consisted of over ninety seven percent of the population and although they owned about sixty percent of the land, much of their earnings were paid to other estates in the form of numerous taxes. This money was lavishly enjoyed by the other estates, while the poor Third Estate was forced to pay extravagant taxes and therefore having a meagre livelihood. This resulted in the Third Estate

developing feelings of resentment to the other estates. The Third Estate wanted a fair and representative taxation system for all people and this brought them to rebel against the monarchy (Halsall, 2000). Even though, the taxation system was a reason for the large Third Estates disgust at the monarchy, the poverty and food crisis they had to endure due to this flawed financial system sparked them to overthrow the present regime and cause a revolution. Poverty and the lack of food supplies clearly sparked revolution as the starving common man was continually motivated by his hunger to change his fortunes. A series of crop failures in the late 1780s caused a shortage of grain, consequently raising the price of bread, 67 percent in 1789 alone (Kwintessential Ltd., 2004). Because bread was the main source of nutrition for poor peasants, this led to widespread starvation and unrest, mainly in the Third Estate. Contributing to the peasant unrest was the fact that the nobility had bountiful amounts of bread to enjoy. (French Revolution Causes: An Economic Crisis, 2011) Many peasants were relying on charity to survive, and France became crowded with the hungry, destitute, and the disaffected, an ideal environment for revolution. It came to the point where if people did not take matters into their own hands, they would starve to death. Motivated by hunger, the 'bread riots' began, which Wilde (2011) believes were the first manifestations of a roots-based revolutionary sentiments, followed by The Storming of the Bastille and The March on Versailles. Poverty and food shortages indeed sparked revolution but other factors such as Enlightenment Ideas made it all possible. Financial difficulties of the government were not the sole cause of the French Revolution but were accompanied by poor leadership, enlightenment ideas and a breaking down social structure. Bhattacharya (2005) proposes that a strong leader could have fixed financial difficulties but Louis XVIs inability to solve the crisis with his reforms such as increasing taxes even further during the food crisis only added to the economic and social troubles. Enlightenment Ideas inspired the French people to follow the ideas and question and doubt the existing forms of government and power. The people of France were inspired by the success of the American Independence and became determined to follow in their footsteps (Wilde, 2011). Socially, Halsall (2000) explains that the people of France wanted privileges, power in the government and basic rights. These other factors only deepened the burden of financial troubles and just gave the people of France more reasons to take matters into their own hands and revolt against the monarchy causing the French Revolution. It is clear to a large extent the financial difficulties of the government the cause of the French Revolution. The economic crisis and financial debt that the government built over the years became a huge burden to the monarchy and caused civil unrest, a starting point for revolution. Also the financial and taxation system heavily favoured the nobility and clergy who lived extravagantly of the taxes paid by the Third Estate, and people, wanting change revolted. The immense poverty and food crisis left man people destitute and starving, and the people became motivated by their hunger to riot. However, these financial difficulties were not the sole reason for the revolution but rather accompanied with other factors such as poor leadership and Enlightenment Ideas. The French Revolution was the culmination of financial difficulties of the government mixed with weak leadership, social unrest and peoples belief in Enlightenment Ideas.

Word Count: 993

Reference List: 2011, French Revolution Causes: An Economic Crisis, bastille-day.com, viewed 3 October 2011, < http://bastille-day.com/history/Economic-Cause>. Bhattacharya M. 2005, The Economic and Social Origins of the French Revolution of 1789, viewed 3 October 2011, <http://www.history1700s.com/articles/article1096.shtml>. Gershoy, L. 1957, The Era of the French Revolution 1789 -1799, D. Van Nostrabd Company Ltd., London. Halsall P. 2000, The French Revolution Origins, viewed 3 October 2011, <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/lect/mod10.html>. Kwintessential Ltd., 2004, Causes of French Revolution, Country Facts & Information 2004, UK, viewed 3 October 2011, <http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/france/causes-of-the-frenchrevolution/1004>. Streich M. 2009, Financial Causes of the French Revolution, Suite101, Vancouver, viewed 3 October 2011, < http://michaelstreich.suite101.com/financial-causes-of-the-french-revolution-a131519>. Wilde R. 2011, History of the French Revolution, The New York Times Company, New York, viewed 3 October 2011, < http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/thefrenchrevolution/a/hfr2.htm>.