Preview

What Caused The French Revolution

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
835 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Caused The French Revolution
The French Revolution is very important to how France is run today. The French Revolution had many struggles as new Enlightenment ideas surged through the country, and bloodshed took its toll. There were many factors that caused the French Revolution, many effects of the French Revolution, and it was a turning point in not only European History, but World History. There were many factors that caused the French Revolution. Political problems such as King Louis XIV believing that he ruled by Divine Right, or power that came directly from God, was a factor of the sparking of the French Revolution. King Louis believed that no one was better than him and this led to corruption within the government. Problems with the Estates General and Enlightenment …show more content…
The Bourgeoisie, or the middle class, becomes a major political force, Absolutism and Feudalism were overthrown, France becomes a capitalist nation, and a sense of nationalism and patriotism were created. The Bourgeoisie was the middle class who could read and enjoy and spread the products of Enlightenment ideas. During the Revolution, not many people were considered a Bourgeoisie because they did not get paid enough and could not read and after the Revolution many people were able to get higher paying jobs, earn an education, and be considered a Bourgeoisie. Absolutism and Feudalism were major problems during the Revolution. Absolutism was one of the chief problems that led to the start of the French Revolution. King Louis XIV was an Absolute Monarch, or the sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed to rule by divine right. Feudalism was when lords were given land to protect and the king with. These ideas were toppled when France became a capitalist nation. Capitalism is an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    King Louis XIV was a man of strength and courage with many ambitions that he was fully determined to achieve. He dedicated most of his rule taking steps to accomplish the goal of “one king, one law, one faith” for the country of France. By one king he aimed for the ruler to have supreme power over armies, government bureaucracy, and culture. This would eventually lead to the overall influence of the French upon other countries and their kings. By way of one law he aspired for the nobles to no longer rule over separate states but for one government with supreme power. King Louis had a desire for an absolute monarchy. As a result he would not be legally bound by any institutions or other persons in the country. This inclination was not easily met or as successful as he had hoped. Louis XIV sought religious unity between the French people, one faith. To do this he revoked the Edict of Nantes. King Louis XIV did not achieve his entire goal to the extent which he had anticipated but overall he was victorious, leaving a huge impact and influence on the French society and Europe as a whole.…

    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    An Absolute Monarchy was a new concept to the people of France during the 1600’s. Other forms of government were failing from lack of control, so the people of France turned to an Absolute Monarch, named Louis XIV. The only problem with Louis was that he was self-centered, and did not care a whole lot about governing his kingdom. He was more concerned with making himself looking good, and even went as far to call himself the “Sun God.” As a result, the French common people lived very rough lives, due to the neglect of their king. It was not an easy life for the French people under King Louis XIV’s rule, and it was not made better by his view on governing. This is shown through his lack of genuine care for his people, over taxation, and wars of the time.…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    french revolutin dbq

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The French Revolution of 1789 caused many changes in the social, political, and economical world of France. The French Revolution sparked the beginning for many new reforms in France that were previously unavailable to the 3rd estate. The things that led up to the French revolution were all caused from within the social, political, and economic world of France.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    After the chaos of the sixteenth century, absolutism, or an absolute monarchy, looked more like a viable option to straighten out social and political order. Nowhere was the philosophy more aptly applied than in France, and by no one other than King Louis XIV. However, leaving all power in the hands of one person left France’s government vulnerable to the flaws of that one person. Louis’s theatrical rule was undoubtedly influenced by the turmoil of his early childhood, but those theatrics cost him true financial glory in favor of the superficial.…

    • 584 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1789, France broke out into a revolution. The citizens of France rebelled against the absolute monarch and the system they deemed unfair. The people were starving while Queen Marie Antoinette spent fortunes on fake boats to put in her hair. The Revolution was centered on hatred for the king, Louis XVII, and the prospects of a governmental system that promoted liberty and equality. The unfair representation of the third estate, the spread of enlightenment ideas, and the high price and scarcity of bread caused the French Revolution, with the high price and scarcity of bread being the most significant because it caused the people to develop severe anger due to starvation, and they never would have had such a large amount of anger if they weren’t hungry.…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The revolution completely stopped any chance of a capitalist economy. A lot of money went to France’s conquests and great masterpieces of Europe. The bank of France was established under Neopolitan and then the new economy took form. The French Revolution helped intensify the Industrial Revulution and this couldn’t have been done under a monarchy.…

    • 55 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    King Louis Xiv Despotism

    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Louis XIV was the outcome of the despotism convention that was insinuated into him from childhood. Right from his early years he was taught to follow the changes that took place in French monarchy from earliest times to the present and was accustomed about various individuals, procurements and non-fulfilment of his antecedents. French monarchy could be mustered of a rich and varied heritage as it had substantial aid at his conveyance, some ambrosial in inception while others ascend from the rights and powers anchored to the coronet; and Louis was endorsed to be phlegmatic that, provided he ruled in as per god’s wish and according to French history his rule was itemized amidst the more renowned in the antiquity of France .They revitalized him to show some enthusiasm in the task of kingship and throughout his regnant Louis apprehended himself as a…

    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Political, economic, and social conditions have led to changes to a nation and its people, which are called a revolution. A revolution is an overthrow and replacement of a government of the political system. The French Revolution happened was caused by the king, who did give his people equal rights. The revolution have many causes, events, and…

    • 58 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    King Louis XIV's ideology for French power and centralization, “one king, one law, one faith,” was his main focus during his reign as France's ruler. He achieved “one king” by declaring himself as the absolute ruler of France, “one law” by limiting the power of other governmental figures and “one faith” by uniting the French religion. As an absolutist leader, with a centralized government, his many actions (including the removal of the Edict of Nantes) made France the supreme European power, but internal issues prevailed. Louis XIV's goal of "one king, one law, one faith" was successful politically, but detrimental to France economically (from his acquired debt) and socially (from his domestic reform).…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    French Revolution - 1

    • 634 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The French Revolution, which occurred around 1789 to 1814, which included Napoleon’s reign, is considered a major turning point in world history. This revolution led to major changes in France and other nations and regions of the world. For example, some changes were Napoleon changing peoples’ rights and the Latin American Revolution.…

    • 634 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The French Revolution is considered to be one of the most significant events in world history. It drastically changed the face of France, which at the time of the Revolution was the most powerful country in Europe, as well as altered the society and government. The causes of the French revolution are attributed to several intertwining factors. Socioeconomic, political, and intellectual events before and during the revolution fueled it from the start.…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Absolutism - 2

    • 550 Words
    • 3 Pages

    After the Sun King stated, “I am the state,” the people of France knew that he was the only, divine ruler of their country, and were made to believe that anything he does is infallible. During his reign, the nobility didn’t have much say in the French laws, foreign policies, or commerce, but were house at Louis’ palace at Versailles to keep them close and happy. Most nobles were exempt from taxation and boasted great wealth, but had no political influence. A majority of Louis’s reign was spent in war, which forced many nobles to fulfill their obligation as soldiers. The French nobility preserved their privileged position under Louis XIV, but never obtained the political titles taken over by ministers, bishops, and France’s top thinkers…

    • 550 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The effects of the French Revolution were vast and far reaching. The overthrowing of the monarchy quickly dealt a near fatal blow to the old feudal and monarchic system that had controlled Europe for centuries (Jörgensen, C). The Revolution got rid of serfdom and federal dues peasants previously had to pay to kings (Jörgensen, C). Outside of Europe, in South America, the spanish colonies saw a weakened Spain and the slave revolt in Haiti and began to free themselves of colonial rule. This overthrowing of large absolute governments was perhaps there greatest effect of the French Revolution (Jörgensen, C). As well there were cultural effects of the…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    One of the most known rulers that ruled with absolute power in France was Louis XIV. Louis ruled for many years and was considered one of the most powerful rulers in French history. Louis often said, “L’état, c’est moi”, which means, “I am the state”. Louis ruled with absolute power, which is why he considered himself to be the embodiment of France. He used his power to rule absolutely, which was shown in the many things he did. Louis also backed up all he did by saying he had the right to rule with Divine Right, or it was as if he was a part of God, God giving him his power to rule. When Louis first became king in 1643 he was only five years old and the current leader of France was Cardinal Mazarin. People, especially nobles, hated him because he increased taxes and strengthened the central government. Violent rebellions tore France apart and many nobles even threatened young Louis’ life. Once the rebellion was over, Louis still did not forget the nobles threats and vowed to become so strong that the nobles wouldn’t be able to overpower him.…

    • 1533 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The nationalist perspective of King Louis XIV is that the head of the country is the nation and for society to prosper the people have to be willing to serve and follow the leader’s will. The source’s perspective can be shown throughout history by the beliefs and values he had during his reign in France. The source believed in the uses of a social hierarchy and the absolute monarch. The social hierarchy benefited the people who were part of the Roman Catholic Clergy or nobility. These people received privileges and were not required to pay taxes. The rest of the population had a difficult and challenging way of living. They were required to serve the king by paying taxes which lead to poor living conditions, in which some died from starvation. The absolute monarch allowed all the power in France to be consolidated in the hands of the king. This allowed for King Louis XIV to be the main voice in France and gave the power to decide how the country will operate. These ideals were the main contributions to start of the French Revolution, many people felt that they deserved better rights which lead the nation members to revolt and seek a better constitution. The source would disagree with J.D Vance’s idea to bridge the gap between the rich and poor. King Louis XIV would believe that he should not have to…

    • 1236 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays