Thomas Valerio
Global 10H
French Revolution Essay
A revolution is defined as a drastic and far-reaching change in the ways of thinking and behaving. The French revolution of 1789 was a radical change which consisted of many aspects that altered the French government, economy, and citizens. The three main causes of this revolution were enlightened ideas, political disparity, and economic failure.
The French citizens supported the American revolutionists and assisted them in battle. France supplied America with firepower, military training, naval units, and other aspects needed to come out of a war successful. After aiding American revolutionists in their war, French soldiers were exposed to the freedoms and liberties America received. While however in France they are ruled over by a king. Therefore it made citizens question why they were fighting for rights in other nations when they don’t have those rights in their own nation.
The next cause of the revolution is political disparity. The French government was an absolute monarchy. This monarchy was built on social classes that were known as the Estates General. There were three divisions within the Estates General: the First Estate of the clergy, the Second Estate of the nobility, and the Third Estate representing the rest of the population. The First and Second Estates combined make up 3 percent of the French population while the Third Estate makes up 97 percent of the population. Although the vast majority of the population is the Third Estate, the First and Second Estates holds the most wealth and power.
This is where political disparity comes into play. The first and second estates were residing in the most lavish and extravagant of palaces receiving everything and anything their heart desires. While the Third Estate, which were mostly peasants, were the only estate that was taxed though they barely had money initially. So essentially, the poor were supporting the rich....