The origins of the Revolution, c1780–87

what was the influence of the
Enlightenment on the long term effects of the french revolution

The Enlightenment was a key long-term cause of the French Revolution, as it introduced new political and social ideas that challenged the traditional authority of the monarchy and the Church. Thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu promoted ideas such as individual rights, equality before the law, popular sovereignty, and secularism. These philosophies encouraged people to question absolute monarchy and feudal privilege, laying the intellectual foundation for revolution. The Enlightenment promoted rational thought and the belief that society could be improved through reason and reform, helping to inspire revolutionary change among the educated classes and reform-minded nobles and commoners.

How did France's involvement in the American War of Independence affect the Revolution?

France's involvement in the American War of Independence (1778–83) had both ideological and financial consequences. Ideologically, French soldiers and officers who fought in the war were exposed to the American colonists' revolutionary ideas about liberty, democracy, and resistance to tyranny. These ideas were brought back to France and helped inspire revolutionary thought. Financially, the war was extremely expensive and added significantly to France’s already large debt. The government borrowed heavily to finance the war, worsening the fiscal crisis that would become one of the key triggers for revolution. This contributed to the growing resentment toward the monarchy's spending and inability to manage the economy.

What were the Three Estates and how did their roles contribute to revolutionary tensions?

he Three Estates were the social classes in France:

1. The First Estate: The clergy (church leaders), who were very powerful and wealthy. They had many privileges, such as being exempt from taxes, and they controlled education and religion in the country.

2. The Second Estate: The nobility (aristocrats), who owned large amounts of land and held titles like duke or count. They, too, were exempt from most taxes, which made them very wealthy and powerful.

3. The Third Estate: The common people, which made up 98% of the population. This Estate included peasants (farmers), urban workers (such as tradespeople and laborers), and the bourgeoisie (middle class professionals, like lawyers, doctors, and merchants). The Third Estate paid all the taxes and had little political power, while the other two Estates enjoyed many privileges. This system created frustration and resentment, especially among the Third Estate.

The Role of Louis XVI

• Weak and indecisive leadership

  • Louis XVI struggled to make firm decisions and often changed his mind or gave in to pressure, which created political instability.

• Failure to solve the financial crisis

  • He did not successfully address France’s growing debt and resisted deep reforms to the tax system, especially those that would affect the privileged classes.

• Poor support for reforming ministers

  • Although he appointed financial reformers like Jacques Necker, he failed to fully back their ideas, often dismissing them when they faced resistance from the nobility.

• Reluctance to confront the First and Second Estates

  • He did not force the clergy and nobility to pay fair taxes, maintaining the unfair system that burdened the Third Estate.

• Associated with royal extravagance

  • His lavish spending, alongside Queen Marie Antoinette, made the monarchy appear wasteful and out of touch with the hardships of the common people.

• Failure to engage with Enlightenment ideas

  • He ignored growing demands for political and social reform influenced by Enlightenment thinkers, which made him seem outdated and authoritarian.

• Contributed to public distrust and unrest

  • His inaction and resistance to change played a major role in increasing anger among the population, especially within the Third Estate.

The Unpopularity of Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI’s queen, was also very unpopular in France. She was originally from Austria, which made her viewed as an outsider by the French people. Her lavish spending, especially on things like fashion and parties, made her seem disconnected from the hardships of the common people. The French people were suffering from high bread prices and food shortages, while the queen was seen living in luxury. Her famous phrase, "Let them eat cake" (although likely not true), became symbolic of her ignorance and indifference to the suffering of the poor. Her extravagant lifestyle contributed to her reputation as a symbol of royal excess, and she was hated by many.The Diamond Necklace Affair was a scandal in which Marie Antoinette was falsely implicated in a plot to acquire a very expensive diamond necklace. In reality, she had no involvement in the scam, but the affair damaged her reputation

The Reasons for and Extent of Financial Problems

France faced severe financial problems in the years leading up to the French Revolution due to both long-term debt and a deeply corrupt and unequal tax system. The country had built up massive debt from costly wars, including the Seven Years’ War and the American War of Independence. At the same time, the tax system was highly unjust and corrupt: the First Estate (clergy) and Second Estate (nobility) were largely exempt from paying taxes, even though they were wealthy, while the poorest citizens in the Third Estate bore the entire tax burden. Many tax collectors were corrupt and often kept a portion of the taxes for themselves, meaning less money actually reached the royal treasury.By 1789, France was effectively bankrupt, and the king’s failed attempts to reform the system triggered widespread outrage, leading to the calling of the Estates-General and the outbreak of revolution.

The Policies of Necker

Jacques Necker, appointed as France’s finance minister, attempted to address the country’s financial crisis with several key policies. He worked to reduce royal spending, promote public transparency, and introduce reforms that would require the First and Second Estates (clergy and nobility) to pay taxes. In 1781, Necker published the Compte Rendu au Roi, a report that aimed to show the financial state of the kingdom and gain public trust. However, the report exaggerated the nation’s financial health and concealed the true extent of France’s debt, leading to outrage when its falsifications were discovered. The public felt betrayed by the monarchy's dishonesty, which fueled disillusionment and increased demands for transparency and reform. Necker’s failure to deliver on his financial promises contributed to his dismissal in 1781 and further deepened the public’s dissatisfaction with the royal government.

The Problem of Poor Harvests

The poor harvests of the late 1780s played a major role in creating unrest in France. Bad weather and crop failures meant that there was not enough food to feed the population. This led to a shortage of grain, which made bread, a staple food, extremely expensive. As the price of bread skyrocketed, many people in the lower classes couldn’t afford to buy it. This made life even harder for peasants and urban workers. When people were hungry, they became more willing to protest and demand change. The poor harvests also led to widespread starvation and riots, adding to the anger against the monarchy and the nobles, who were seen as out of touch with the people's suffering.