Causes of the French Revolution, a historical review

Spanning from 1789 to 1799, this revolutionary period saw the overthrow of the French monarchy and the rise of revolutionary fervor. The origins of this transformation can be traced to various factors, including intellectual reasons, such as the Enlightenment philosophers’ influential ideas. 

Additionally, social dynamics, particularly the ascent of the bourgeoisie class, played a pivotal role. Political factors were also instrumental, with the ineffective governance of French monarch Louis XVI adding to the discontent.

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Meanwhile, the inflexible Estates System led to social injustices, and economic pressures, like France’s costly involvement in wars, as well as surging bread prices, further fueled the flames of revolution.

Causes of the French revolution

Among the causes of the French revolution, you can find the following:

The Estate System and Social Disparity in 18th Century France

In the 1780s, France, with a population of around 24.7 million, was rigidly divided into three estates. The First Estate consisted of the Roman Catholic clergy, numbering around 100,000 individuals. The Second Estate comprised the French nobility, encompassing roughly 400,000 members. 

As per the rest of the population, including merchants, lawyers, laborers, and the working class, they were all part of the Third Estate, which represented a staggering 98% of the French population. 

Despite representing the vast majority, the Third Estate was systematically excluded from positions of privilege and political influence. Members of it were looked down upon by the other estates. As a result of such unfair treatment, frustration and resentment simmered within their ranks, eventually culminating in their pivotal role in igniting the French Revolution of 1789.

Disproportionate Taxation and the Third Estate’s Grievances

Another of the causes of the French revolution is definitely linked to taxation. Back in time, the tax burden fell disproportionately on the Third Estate. The First Estate, composed of the clergy, held a staggering 10% of the land while accounting for less than 0.5% of the population. This estate enjoyed immense wealth and was entirely exempt from taxation, benefiting from various privileges, including the collection of tithes. Tithes constituted a one-tenth levy on annual produce or income, collected to support the Church.

On the other hand, the Second Estate, composed of the nobility, owned approximately 25% of the land. They enjoyed numerous tax exemptions and had the authority to collect taxes from their tenants. Remarkably, the Third Estate was burdened with heavy taxes, shouldering the weight of the nation’s financial obligations while the other two estates were spared. 

This glaring inequality in taxation further fueled the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, prompting them to scrutinize the unjust Estates System and ultimately lay the groundwork for its overthrow.

The Emergence of the Bourgeoisie and Their Political Aspirations

During the years leading up to the revolution, the bourgeoisie, a prosperous segment of the Third Estate, began to exert significant influence. This was one of the causes of the French revolution, as they evolved into a distinct social class, characterized by their unique agenda and political ambitions. 

The bourgeoisie harbored a deep resentment toward the entrenched privileges of the First and Second Estates, which they believed were unjustly acquired at their expense.

Furthermore, they aspired to achieve political parity with the other two estates, aiming to dismantle the hierarchical structure of the ancient regime. The bourgeoisie’s desire to liberate themselves from medieval and monarchical constraints on their personal freedoms, economic prospects, and civic responsibilities played a pivotal role in galvanizing support for the French Revolution. 

This growing political consciousness among the bourgeoisie became a driving force behind the transformative events that followed.

Enlightenment Philosophers’ Influence on Revolutionary Ideals

Another of the causes of the French revolution is related to the Age of Enlightenment, a period marked by intellectual and philosophical advancements, which held sway over the landscape of European ideas in the 18th century. 

Prominent Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquieu challenged the traditional absolute authority of monarchs and the entrenched divisions within society, such as the Estates System.

For instance, Locke contended that a leader could only justly govern a society with the consent of those being governed. Rousseau, on the other hand, vehemently opposed all forms of class distinctions, advocating for a more equitable social order. Montesquieu advocated for a system of government based on the separation of powers, which would prevent any single entity from wielding unchecked authority.

France, in particular, became a hotbed for the dissemination and discussion of Enlightenment philosophers’ works, and their ideas profoundly influenced the revolutionary thinkers who would later propel the French Revolution into motion.

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The Economic Toll of Costly Wars

This is another of the causes of the French revolution. Throughout the 18th century, the country found itself embroiled in a series of expensive conflicts, primarily with its long-standing adversary, Great Britain. 

The reign of Louis XV, which extended from 1715 to 1774, witnessed France’s defeat in the Seven Years’ War against Britain. 

In response to this loss, a plan was devised to seek vengeance by bolstering the French navy and forming an anti-British coalition of allies. However, this pursuit came at a considerable financial cost, resulting in a burgeoning pile of debts.

Following Louis XV, his grandson, Louis XVI, ascended to the throne in 1774. His reign saw France entangled in the American War of Independence against Britain. Despite the ultimate victory of the United States in this conflict, France reaped limited benefits. 

The support extended by France to the war effort proved exorbitantly expensive, claiming the lives of 1.066 million French citizens—an enormous toll on the nation’s resources during that era.

Years of Abnormal Weather and Crop Failures

In June of 1783, the eruption of Iceland’s Laki volcano unleashed a plume of volcanic ash into the skies over Europe. This event resulted in another of the causes of the French revolution, as it set off a severe winter in Europe during 1784, and the subsequent summers were marked by extreme droughts, leading to crop failures and widespread famine. 

France, in particular, endured a succession of poor harvests in 1787 and 1788, accompanied by harsh winters. A decade characterized by these erratic weather patterns and agricultural setbacks took a heavy toll on the struggling population of France, who were grappling with the harsh realities of survival. The hardships faced by the populace eventually fueled their discontent and contributed to the outbreak of rebellion.

Soaring Bread Prices and the Food Crisis

The food crisis was part of the causes of the French revolution. Back then, the situation in France took a turn for the worse as a series of poor harvests led to a sharp increase in the cost of flour, subsequently driving up bread prices. 

Bread was the dietary staple for the majority of the French population, resulting in a substantial portion of their daily wages being allocated to its purchase.

Despite Louis XVI’s efforts to liberalize the grain market, these measures inadvertently exacerbated the surge in bread prices. The steep rise in the cost of this essential commodity had a profound impact on ordinary French citizens, who harbored growing resentment toward the king for his inability to address the worsening food crisis.

Ineffective Leadership of Louis XV and Louis XVI

In France, as in most European countries of the time, the monarch ruled by divine right, which meant he was not at all accountable. This pretty much established the foundation for another of the causes of the French revolution, as the ideas propagated by Enlightenment philosophers began to shift public perceptions. 

Louis XV struggled to address the economic challenges facing France, failing to reconcile the conflicting factions within his court to formulate sound financial policies. Subsequently, Louis XVI attempted to initiate reforms, but these efforts proved futile. 

The dire economic state of the nation infuriated the masses, who grew increasingly skeptical of their rulers. Moreover, both Louis XV and his grandson were aware of the anti-monarchist forces that posed a threat to their family’s reign, but they were powerless to quell them.

Parliaments’ Opposition to Reforms

Some French ministers, including Anne Robert Jacques Turgot and Jacques Necker, proposed changes to the French tax system to include the nobility as taxpayers. This could have alleviated the financial crisis in the country and reduced the resentment of the poor, as the tax system would have become more equitable. 

In France, a parliament referred to a provincial appellate court composed of judicial judges. While they were not formal legislative bodies, these parliaments played a significant role in resisting royal reforms and preventing any taxation changes that would affect the nobility.

Extravagant Lifestyle of the French Monarchy

The excessive spending on luxuries, initially by Louis XV and later continued by Louis XVI, exacerbated the financial crisis plaguing the nation and served as one of the primary causes of the French revolution. 

An illustrative example of this was the construction and renovation of the Palace of Versailles during the 17th and 18th centuries, incurring massive costs for the nation. These extravagant expenditures by the French government led to growing discontent among the populace, who increasingly viewed their leaders as profligate, especially in light of the nation’s dire economic situation. This discontent ultimately fueled public unrest and culminated in the Revolution.

Financial Crisis of the 1780s

The Financial Crisis of the 1780s marked a tumultuous economic period initiated by the insolvency of the French East India Company in 1785. This event was one of the causes of the French revolution and it triggered a steep surge in bread prices, inciting widespread riots in Paris and various urban centers. 

The crisis escalated as King Louis XVI sought to implement austerity measures, such as tax hikes and reductions in government expenditure. These measures exacerbated the existing discontent, ultimately culminating in the storming of the Bastille and the onset of the French Revolution.

Political Crisis of the 1780s

The Political Crisis of the 1780s marked a tumultuous period in French governance. Its primary cause stemmed from the nation’s dire financial predicaments, which triggered a series of public uprisings. Other contributing factors included rampant government corruption and the expanding authority of the monarchy.

France’s financial woes were multifaceted. Firstly, excessive expenditures on warfare significantly depleted the state’s resources. Secondly, the economic recession resulted in reduced tax revenue. Thirdly, the state’s mounting debt burden was exacerbated by increased borrowing.

Corruption within the government was another pivotal factor driving the Political Crisis of the 1780s. Government officials enjoyed unchecked power and often abused it for personal gain, fostering resentment among the populace who felt exploited by their own leaders.

Lastly, the expanding powers of the monarchy, marked by the king’s absolute authority, were perceived as self-serving rather than in the interest of the people. This eroded the perception of democratic governance and contributed to the growing sense of disenfranchisement among the populace.

This article was made with information available here.

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