The French Revolution INTRODUCTION

Introduction  While the British revolution of the 17 th Century struggled to find the balance between Monarchy and Democracy, the French revolution was quite different.  The French Revolution would require a bloody revolution to overthrow the monarch and establish the rights of the citizens.  This Revolution would permanently change France and impact all of Europe as democracy struggled to develop.

Why Revolt?  The revolution was not a surprise:  French rulers did not communicate with French subjects and massive inequality existed.  Country was in debt; taxes were high, masses of poor people everywhere…and yet:  Upper classes lived lavish lifestyles of luxury.

France vs. the rest of Europe  Despite France being largest country in western Europe- it also lagged behind in social advancement.  The feudal system and its hierarchy still defined French life.  The Monarch ruled with absolute power and strictly controlled the development of the economy; people were not happy with this.  Early thinkers called “philosophers” opposed the idea of absolute monarchy and began to spread their beliefs of democracy and equality to masses of commoners- planting the seed for revolution.

In a nut shell…  The 3 main causes of the French Revolution we will explore are: 1. The worsening financial condition of the government 2. Economic depression in France. 3. New ideas of the “Enlightenment” But First we need to understand France…

The Regions of France  France is bordered on 3 sides by water  Its regions are varied in climate, land area, rainfall, and soil allowing a variety of crops  Ex: sugar, beets, grapes, wheat  Large rivers, canals and ports provide irrigation and transport  Pre-revolution land was owned by aristocrats, royal family or the Catholic Church.  4 out of 5 people farmed and surrendered the bulk of their produce to the seigneur or feudal lord.

French Society  The social hierarchy from the middle ages was still present in 17 th century France.  There was an upper, middle, and lower class  The peasants  The bourgeoisie  The Aristocracy

Peasants…  Farmers owned small plots of land and used medieval farming methods  Resulted in minimal output compared to the rest of Europe  Were illiterate and worked hard for nothing.  Often victims of famine and epidemics  Were superstitious and uneducated  Limited to rules of aristocrats: couldn’t protect livestock from predators and no compensation.

City Life…  Paris was the largest city in France with a population of people; it was the “hub” of France.  Many residents had fled countryside in search of work. Found jobs as shopkeepers, artisans, clerks, labourers…  Poverty also came with them as food prices forced many to the slums  Also resulted in Paris having many beggars, thieves and vagrants.  The aristocracy had a much more pleasant experience with city life…

Aristocrats in the City…  Wealthy merchants and aristocrats flaunted their wealth.  Inflation plagued the city with the great influx of cash; prices soared  The biggest impact of inflation was the price of flour: high prices = burden as bread was a staple in their diet.

Life as a Bourgeoisie  Was France’s middle class  Were significant because of their investment into new business ventures  Struggled to profit due to strict laws and regulations  There were monopolies on goods; king granted privileges to some guilds which set prices and production levels  France was divided into districts with tariffs and tolls, lack decent roads and canals  Government made no effort to improve infrastructure.