French Revolution Causes - 1139 Words

The French Revolution was not an event that happened overnight but rather a series of events that occurred over several years leading up to the overthrow of the monarchy and the implementation of a new government. The Primary cause for the fall of the Ancien regime was its financial instability and inability to improve upon the lives of the French people. The 4 key flaws or events leading to the fall of the regime was; the structure of royal government, the taxation system, the structure of french society and the Enlightenment. A major fault with the Ancien government was its inefficient and corrupt taxation system. The biggest fault with the system was through how taxes were collected, a method called tax farming. The government hired†¦show more content†¦For example, the Church exerted a certain amount of influence over the King as they had certain rights and privileges he couldnt touch for fear of angering religious zealots amongst the people. Furthermore the King was unable to manage a country on his own and required a council of advisors to assist him in important decisions. These advisors held a considerable amount of power and could easily manipulate a weak willed king. The King also needed people to carry out his will. In the provinces, this job was undertaken by intendants who would often pay their way into the position. These men had control over what news arrived to the King and how well his will was followed to the letter. This meant the King was often unaware of the full extent of what was occurring within his lands as well as a high chance of corruption amongst his Intendants. As a result Intendants were free to alter taxation laws to suit themselves, withdraw money from the Royal treasury and ignore the Kings orders. The fact that Louis XVI never left Versailles also made it easy for people to control his source of information. The structure of French society and the hierarchy of the people was also a major contributor to the monarchys demise. The people were divided into 3 estates with the Clergy in the 1st estate, the nobility in the 2nd and the remainder in the 3rd estate. The 3rdShow MoreRelatedCauses Of The French Revolution896 Words   |  4 Pagesyears, the French Revolution went from women marching to Versailles and demanding bread, to the institution of the Reign of Terror, which killed close to 250,000 people. The late 18th century was a dramatic time of French, political transformation which originally strived to implement equality throughout the nation. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen reflected the ideas of the Enlightenment and presented the idea of equality and liberty. In theory, the French Revolution of 1789Read MoreThe Causes Of The French Revolution1273 Words   |  6 PagesDuring 1789, the French Revolution broke out against totalitarian rule and extreme poverty suffered by French civilians. France was under the absolute control of Louis XVI who gathered groups of nobles, clergy, and other royal families in certain cities. The corrupt French royal families in those cities were squandering nearly 75% of France’s wealth and in addition to the expense of royal classes, other wealthy classes such as landlords, local government, and churches were not taxed which made taxesRead MoreThe Cause Of The French Revolution2375 Words   |  10 PagesThe Cause of the French Revolution Throughout history, what remains true is that the people are the ones who start a revolution. And when around 98% of a population is suffering to make a living, there is little hope for those in power. 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In regards to the French Revolution, the misrepresentation felt among the Third Estate at the end of the 18th century was a factor of the outbreak of the Revolution. However, this sentiment of unfairness alone was not the most influential in starting the Revolution, but rather it was the imbalances within