French Revolution: The Beginnings
Causes of Revolution
There are four main causes of the French revolution:
Debt
Taxation Issues
Failure of Reform
Famine
Debt
The debt of the French government was around 8 to 12 billion livre (their currency)
Louis XVI spent a lot of money on very luxurious things, instead of being financially responsible
Also they still had war debts from the Seven Year’s War with England 1756-1763
Much of their debt was compiled because they weren’t exploring like their rival, England
England was able to use the colonies as a steady source of income
France had not completely bought into Mercantilism either at this time like England had.
Taxation
France, at this time, was heavily involved in trading (good)
However, to be a great trading country, you cannot have high tariffs, so you need to tax heavily on your people. (Bad)
Masses of people of France, not too thrilled with this idea. Also nobles did not pay these taxes.
Failure to Reform
Some French “economists” stated that the nobles should be included in taxation.
This plan backfired, as peasants had to pay even more than before.
France continued to stick with their economic plan even though they were continuing to go deeper and deeper into debt.
Famine
Crop failure in the 1780’s didn’t help much either
Supply and demand occurs here with bread
Got to the point where peasants thought the crown had wished for them to die (conspiracy!)
Guillotine
The condemned person is secured at the bottom of the frame, with his or her neck held directly below the blade.
However, it continued to be used long after the Revolution and remained France’s standard method of judicial execution until the abolition of capital punishment with the backing of President Francois Mitterrand in 1981. (A little more than 30 years ago)
Marie Antoinette
Born in Vienna, Austria
Married Louis the XVI
Became the Queen of France
Had two sons and two daughters
Very popular with the people at the beginning of her reign
At the end of her reign, very unpopular
Executed by the guillotine
Napoleon
Military leader during the later stages of the Revolution
Became the Emperor of the French in 1804
Known for Napoleonic Code, Height, Battle tactics, Waterloo
Comments