Description:
This is as a response to the monarchy and despotic form of government that was in place in France. Till the revolution France has had a history of Monarchic rulers ruling over the masses and in recent centuries their form of ruling had gone from disappointing to dismal. With the monarchs busy in the merry making and paying little attention to the problems of masses, thereby it rose a feeling of resentment in the masses who wanted an abolishment to the monarchy and instead desired and raised slogan for a form of government that would be representative of them and would allow true representation.
- We want Equality, Liberty, Fraternity:
This was in response to the kind of atmosphere that existed in France society. There was no sign of equality nor liberty nor fraternity amongst the masses. There were clearly divided three classes in form of the clergy, nobles and the commoners, and the first two were dominant over the others and they enjoyed their life in different ways. They did not pay taxes, they did not take any military trainings nor did they go to war, instead it was the middle class under the direct brunt of taxation, trainings and all kinds of restrictions and obstacles that resulted in cry for liberty equality and Fraternity amongst the masses and all the classes where everyone would be equal regardless of any social standing and ascription.
- We want People’s representatives in Versailles:
This was in response to the king’s alienation from the masses who wanted people’s elected and people’s representative king in the corridors of power, not the one who would be in total oblivion from the masses and their problems.
- Taxes on All :
The commoners were under different kinds of taxes. They had to pay triple taxes, they had to pay taxes to the king, to the clergy and to the nobles, hence three distinct taxes, the other two classes namely the clergy and the elites in form of the nobles did not pay any kind of tax and all the burden fell directly upon the commoners who were the most intelligent and hard working yet their earnings went to the taxes in different forms. They were under the sword of direct as well as in direct taxes. Hence the cry was based on the same concept where they wanted taxes imposed on all the citizens regardless of being from a noble class or clergy or any other class. It was one of the reason of resentment that led to the occurrence of the revolution.
- We don’t want Foreign Queen for French:
This slogan comes in form of resentment over the Marie Antoniette who was an Austrian by descent. She had been married to King Louise as a result of good relationship and ties between the two states( France and Austria). The people did not accept her from their heart and felt that she is indifferent to the people’s troubles and worries. She was used to a lavish life style and based on her demands she was looked after heavily and properly and the toll was taken on the people’s money and their taxes. Which gave rise to resentment amongst the masses and ultimately a cry for their own queen. They expressed disownment over the foreign queen’s presence in their country and as the wife of the King of France.
References:
Arnold, James R. The Aftermath of the French Revolution. Twenty-First Century Book, 2008.
