![Picture](/uploads/2/4/9/1/24910713/267190482.jpg?329)
This iconic painting of the French Revolution represents the storming of the Bastille. It shows what had become of France after all of the problems that they were facing. Some of the causes for the French Revolution in the first place were things like economic, political, and social problems. There were 3 estates in France during this time. The First Estate (Clergy), the Second Estate (Nobility) and the Third Estate (the common people).
The way that the estates were set up was unfair. The clergy only made up 1% of the population, and they had owned most of the land, were very wealthy, and they paid no taxes. They were made up of Parish Priests, bishops, and other people for the church. The second estate, nobility, made up 2% of the population, and it was made up of people with royalty; the king, queen, nobles, and people with high government positions. They too owned a lot of the land, and they also paid no taxes. It was the Third Estate that made up the remaining 97% of the population, and they were the artisans, merchants, and the middle class. They had no say in government, and they payed all of the taxes.
Some of the economic causes of the French Revolution were things like the country not having a lot of money. The reason for that was because the only people paying any taxes were the third estate, and King Louis XVI & his wife Marie Antoinette spent a large portion of that money on their own personal desires. Also, it was very difficult for people in the third estate to have a decent job because during this time you are basically born into your life. If your father is a mere peasant, then you are going to grow up to become something similar or equal to that. However, if your father is a noble with some power, then you are going to be born into royalty. This was not a very fair system, and as a result, many of the people were unhappy with their lives.
Lastly, the political causes of the French Revolution. King Louis XVI ruled as an absolute monarch, and he treated his people unfairly by killing and imprisoning thousands of them. He got to his power through divine right authority. His wife, Marie Antoinette was highly disliked due to her unjust spending of the people's money from taxes, and she wasn't even French. She was actually Austrian, which angered many people. In this government, there was no sense of democracy, and so the people had no voice or power at all.
The way that the estates were set up was unfair. The clergy only made up 1% of the population, and they had owned most of the land, were very wealthy, and they paid no taxes. They were made up of Parish Priests, bishops, and other people for the church. The second estate, nobility, made up 2% of the population, and it was made up of people with royalty; the king, queen, nobles, and people with high government positions. They too owned a lot of the land, and they also paid no taxes. It was the Third Estate that made up the remaining 97% of the population, and they were the artisans, merchants, and the middle class. They had no say in government, and they payed all of the taxes.
Some of the economic causes of the French Revolution were things like the country not having a lot of money. The reason for that was because the only people paying any taxes were the third estate, and King Louis XVI & his wife Marie Antoinette spent a large portion of that money on their own personal desires. Also, it was very difficult for people in the third estate to have a decent job because during this time you are basically born into your life. If your father is a mere peasant, then you are going to grow up to become something similar or equal to that. However, if your father is a noble with some power, then you are going to be born into royalty. This was not a very fair system, and as a result, many of the people were unhappy with their lives.
Lastly, the political causes of the French Revolution. King Louis XVI ruled as an absolute monarch, and he treated his people unfairly by killing and imprisoning thousands of them. He got to his power through divine right authority. His wife, Marie Antoinette was highly disliked due to her unjust spending of the people's money from taxes, and she wasn't even French. She was actually Austrian, which angered many people. In this government, there was no sense of democracy, and so the people had no voice or power at all.
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/9/1/24910713/252832199.jpg?233)
Marie Antoinette (Left) and Louis XVI (Right)