Topic 1

1st estate:

  • Clergy and Religious figures

  • do not pay taxes

2nd estate:

  • Nobility and those with titles

  • had tax priveleges

3rd estate:

  • rest of France

  • upper class of 3rd estate like educated wealthy people had same rights as peasants

  • Burgoiesie were wealthy educated 3rd estate who were excluded from politics (excluding vinality)

  • paid taxes

Overall, system was structurally unfair but had been in place for centuries → not enough alone to cause the revolution

Financial Crisis:

  • big national debt caused by American War of Indpendence and 7 years war

  • inefficient tax system as nobility and clergy were exempt

  • failed reform attempts (Calonne 1786 wanted universal land tax → blocked by Assembly of Notables in 1787) → looming bankrupcy in 1788

  • Necker lying about France’s financial situation in 1781

Overall, main short term cause as it forced Louis to act quickly

Political Crisis:

  • Parlements resist tax reforms 1787

  • Louis’s lit de justice rejected in 1788 → loss of royal authority

  • Louis forced to call Esates General 1789 → first time since 1614

  • Third estate always outvoted as there was demand for voting by head

Overall, political conflict turned economic crisis into base of revolution

The Enlightenment:

  • introduced the idea of popular sovereignty, challenged religion and absolute monarchy

  • spread through people in public speaking about it in salons and pamphlets

  • Duke D’Orleans would invite people into the Pallais Royale to talk about the Enlightenment → spreads ideas but no action

Overall, ideas alone didnt cause the revolution as it lacked tangibility, but it gave people the language to challenge authority

Economic Hardship:

  • poor harvest in 1788 → caused bread prices to rise (80% of income for poor)

  • unemployment rises in urban areas

  • this all leads to riots, anger at the government and increased political tension

Louis XVI:

  • indecisive and fails to push reforms through

  • appoints poor ministers like Necker (false impression of France’s finances)

  • also Calonne, whose reforms were sensible but he was hated by the Assembly

Overall, Louis’s inability to rule and his appointment of ministers are a catalyst to the problem