THE CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

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• Liberal society can flourish with free commerce
• Challenged the absolute right to rule
• Appealed to bourgeois to grievances

POPULATION DIVIDED INTO THREE STATES

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• Clergy (1st estate)
• Nobility (2nd estate)
• Commoners (3rd estate)
• The commoners were the majority of the population

FRANCE SENT TROOPS AND SUPPLIES TO AID THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARIES

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• Introduction to the revolutionaries ideas💡
• 1. Take up arms against tyranny
• 2. Liberal freedoms for all men
• 3. No taxation without representation
• 4. A republic is superior to a monarchy

FRANCE WAS AN ABSOLUTE MONARCHY WITH A WEAK MONARCH

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• King Louis XVI
• - he was incapable of strong decisive action.
• - he was strongly influenced by his wife.
• - he preferred personal interests to court interests.

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

TAX REFORM

• -peasants and bourgeoisie were unhappy to pay taxes.
• -nobles were determined not to give up tax concessions.

Government had large debts with heavy interest

• - Extravagant spending on courts.
• - over ambitious wars.