The French revolution brought to an end the privileges and the feudal rights of the aristocracy and initiated the development of the middle class. It is possible to distinguish three main reasons for the French Revolution: a huge public debt caused by high expenses to support American Revolution, a new way of thinking brought by the “Enlightenment,” and an obsolete social system, which was based on feudal privileges as well as on the absolute power of the monarch.
According to the Enlightenment movement, development was only possible through “thought” and “reason”, which allowed humans to reach peace and fraternity. This way of thinking was opposing the existing ideology of the French Kingdom. Before the French Revolution in 1789 the French King was the absolute source of truth and power. Therefore, God’s was represented by the King, and the Divine will was communicated to the humankind through the King.
The traditional social system in France before the Revolution, also known as the “ancient regime”, was based on feudal privileges and an absolute monarchal power. The absolute power in France was supported by the upper class and the Catholic Church. The existence of the monarchy was endangered by the growth of the Parliament. The Parliament consisted mainly of the representatives of the upper class, who were eager to challenge the absolutistic power of the King. The Parliament was also supported by the “enlightenment followers”, because it was perceived as the only way to oppose the monarchy. In response, Luis XVI tried to impose additional taxes on the upper class, which could help to address country’s economic deficits and to relieve the tax burden of the lower class. However, the upper class refused to accept the new tax reform, therefore the King declared the Parliament illegal, which was eventually restored by the King in response to the numerous riots. The creation of the “National Assembly” the subsequent abolishment of the feudal privileges essentially put an end to the absolute power of the King of France, and culminated in the murder of the Royal Family.
References
Furet, Francois. The French Revolution 1770-1814. 1st ed. Malden: Hachette, 1998.
