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Causes of the French Revolution
What was the social structure of france at the time of french revolution
Causes of the French Revolution
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France Section 1770 - 1789 - Crisis in the old regime
The causes of tensions and conflicts generated in the old regime that contributed to the outbreak of revolution The composition of society was a major contributing factor to the tensions and conflicts generated under the old regime. Society was divided into Three Estates, the first Estate comprised of the clergy (1%), the nobility, and rest of the population was classified as the Third Estate. Not only was the Third Estate heterogeneous, comprising of the bourgeoise (lawyers, doctors, intellectuals, businessman, the traders, merchants, factory owners), peasants, and beggars, but all three Estates. Their were many distinguishing factors that set the three Estates apart. The first two Estates were associated with the monarchy and avoided or paid little taxes, whilst at the same time earning the most money. The Third Estate paid the highest taxes and earnt the least. Lefebvre saw the bourgeoisie as becoming stronger economically but still maintaining the same legal status as that of the poorest peasant. The bourgeois resented their nobles, who were simply 'born' into their position of wealth. They nobles believed that their noble birth' set them apart from the rest of society.' However, the nobility were also dissatisfied under the ancien regime, where they had little, yet still more then the bourgeois, influence in politics. Although the upper clergy enjoyed many privileges, including being exempt from paying taxes, owned about 10 per cent of the land, and received their wealth from the land they owned and the collection of the tithes. Yet, the lower clergy did not enjoy these same privileges, while the 'Bishop plays the great nobleman and spends scandalous sums on hounds, horses, furniture, servants, food and carriages, the parish priest does not have the wherewithal to buy himself a new cassock...the bishops treat their priests , not as honest footman, but as stable-boys.' It is clear that social unrest was felt by the whole population.
Prior to 1780s the people of France blindly accepted the foudations of the Ancien Regime. The period known as the Enlightenment or 'Age of Reason' saw philosophes such as Voltaire and Rousseau attack the Church, and the absolute power of the King and the inequitable social composition of society. For the first time people were questioning the society in which they lived. It became the fashionable conversation of the times, and this propoganda took place in salons, cafes and even educational institutions such as the museum of Paris.
Nike is a major power structure in the global economy, a financial land marketing powerhouse. On every level, they practice diversity, they are socially responsible, and Nike gives back to those who are less fortunate. Nike seems to keep improving on every level of business there innovative and never seem to stop looking for new ideas to keep the consumer excited waiting to see what next. Financially Nike has come from nothing five hundred dollars and an idea. This is what America is made of entrepreneurial-minded individual, which believes in an idea and make it come true with just a few dollars.
The French Revolution was also influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, a movement that promoted reason and science rather than traditions. The Enlightenment gave rise to ideas of equality and liberty of an individual, democracy in governments, nationalism, citizenship and freedom of speech. The Enlightenment also challenged the Catholic Church’s power and the rights of the nobles.
Although there were still clear boundaries between rich and poor, this no longer played a practical role in the political system. However in France the rigid system which dictated the social and economic standing of all the country's citizens, from the King to the poorest peasant, was still very prominent. The King was second only to God, while the clergy and nobles, many of them very wealthy, paid no taxes and the peasants lived in poverty serving the landlords and carrying the weight of the rest of France through the heavy taxes they were forced t... ... middle of paper ... ... restricted the growth of industry and trade and the increase in food prices led to riots among the lower classes.
The French Revolution evokes many different emotions and controversial issues in that some believe it was worth the cost and some don't. There is no doubt that the French Revolution did have major significance in history. Not only did the French gain their independence, but an industrial revolution also took place. One of the main issues of the Revolution was it's human costs. Two writers, the first, Peter Kropotkin who was a Russian prince, and the other Simon Schama, a history professor, both had very opposing views on whether the wars fought by France during the Revolution were worth it's human costs. Krapotkin believed that the French Revolution was the main turning point for not only France but for most other countries as well. On the other hand, Schama viewed the French Revolution as unproductive and excessively violent.
Just as any story has a climax; one can deduce that the 17th and 18th centuries were the turning point for most of European history; however, different places experienced this change in different ways. As the previous discoveries and inventions were made by remarkable scientists like Galileo, the Enlightenment was the next logical step in the era. As incredible philosophers like Jean- Jacques Rousseau along with John Locke stepped in, people all over Europe began to realize the importance and even the mere concept of reason and natural rights granted to all persons. Apart from the common impact of the Enlightenment on all of Europe, France further experienced a drastic change in terms of society as well as finance, leading to the mark of a new beginning- The French Revolution. Due to a hierarchical system in France, a vast opposition by the nobility and the commoners grew regarding the old order, which led to take an action against the monarchical regime. As a result of a faster growth in consumer prices over wages, the next scenario was the economic fall of society that included taxes, food shortages and unemployment rates. As the necessity for a rebellion became crucial due to the lack of privilege towards the commoners, with the financial collapse of the French society, coupled with the lasting impact of the philosophes, the main causes of the French Revolution were the unequal hierarchy of the estate system, the growing economic crises, and the ideologies of the Enlightenment.
First, the French Revolution was a result of the failed estate system and the extreme economic and social inequality it led to. Under the rule of Louis XVI, the people of France were divided into three main social classes or estates as they are called. The First Estate featured wealthy members of the Church such as Bishops and Priests who held great political power due to their influence on government affairs. The Second Estate was a class comprised of the wealthy nobles and
Government, one of the greatest concepts of mankind since learning how to live together as a community. Government was designed to give order and to represent the people in their quest for happiness. When a government works well the majority of its citizens are satisfied with what the government is doing, but what happens when the government fall short of satisfying the basic needs of its citizens? When the current government fails a new one is the cry of its people. In many countries change is accomplished by a revolution. In France the National Assembly cried for revolution from its oppressive King and the Ancien Regime. They wanted to improve human rights. They wanted an improved economy and religious reform like the American Revolution. This is an argument that the French Revolution failed.
Prior to the revolution, King Louis XVI was at the top of the ancien régime, the social, economic, and political structure in France, which means he had absolute power. When he received the throne in 1774, it came along with insoluble problems. The people were split into three estates which divided social class. The first estate consisted of 100,000 tax exempt nobles who owned 20% of the land. The second estate consisted of the 300,000 tax exempt clergy who owned 10% of the land. The third estate consisted of the remaining 23.5 million French people who were 90% peasants. The third estate was the only estate that paid taxes. Their taxes ensured the financial well-being of the clergy, state, and nobles (French Revolution Overview 6).
The essential cause of the French revolution was the collision between a powerful, rising bourgeoisie and an entrenched aristocracy defending its privileges”. This statement is very accurate, to some extent. Although the collision between the two groups was probably the main cause of the revolution, there were two other things that also contributed to the insanity during the French revolution – the debt that France was in as well as the famine. Therefore, it was the juxtaposing of the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy as well as the debt and famine France was in that influenced the French Revolution.
The creators of Nike Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman began in 1964, they used be name Blue Ribbon Sports. Little be known an athlete and track coach at University of Oregon would be on their way to create one of the most well known athletic brands today. At first, they began as an athletic Japanese shoe supplier and then eventually became what we know now as Nike. To this day they are the main supplier of athletic clothing, shoes, accessories today! Nike is one of the top sponsors for athletes, to name a few Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant are all phenomenal basketball players. Although Nike continues to revolutionize athletic wear and staying as number one on the leader board, such achievement wasn’t always there
The French revolution “broke” Europe. The whole world changed once the effects of the revolution spread through Europe. The series of events that followed the revolution because of the revolution shapes the world today. The general population (the 3rd estate) had enough of absolutism. King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette were unpopular. This resulted from multiple things including England humiliating France in the Seven Years War, rising food prices (Hart-Davis 302). They had also been the laughing stock of France due to the fact that they couldn’t have a child for years and Louis XIV was short and fat, not necessarily fitting the mold of a king. They didn’t like Marie Antoinette because of her various, expensive indulgences while her country was starving (The French Revolution). The revolution started in 1789 when the 3rd estate decided they had had enough of the system. The Legislative Assembly was formed out of the National Assembly which was formed to reform France. The Legislative Assembly functioned with the king in power as a constitutional monarchy until August 10, 1792 when a mob forced Louis XVI out of his home (Betts). The Assembly declared war on Austria and Prussia (Betts), both of which also fought in the Seven Years War (Hart-Davis 298). In 1792 France was established as a republic and the terror began. Danton and Robespierre gained power and all enemies were suppressed. The two major political parties, the Girodins and the Jacobans fought for power which was won by the Jacobans led by Robespierre. The Girodins had more moderate views of the revolution while the Jacobans wanted radical change. Robespierre was executed in July of 1794 and a new constitution fell into place. A new government was set up for the...
The French Revolution was based a single feeling. This feeling was injustice and the commoners were sick of being persecuted by the higher monarchies. They stood up to the “big guys” and fought for what they believed in and ended up changing History. Throughout all periods of History, there have been many revolutions. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of a revolution is a sudden, extreme, or complete change in the way people lived or worked. There are many different reasons why a revolution might happen. Some revolutions were caused due to politics, and others were caused by the economics of a country. There were even social and cultural revolutions. France experienced a revolution in the seventeenth and eighteenth century because
Ikram, S. M. Modern Muslim India and the Birth of Pakistan, 1858-1951. Lahore: Sh. M. Ashraf, 1965. Print.
Nike, Inc. is an American company that designs and sells athletic footwear and apparel (Nike, inc.,2011). Bill Bowerman, a track and field coach at the University of Oregon, started the company in 1964. Originally named Blue Ribbon Sports, Nike Inc. opened its first retail outlet in 1966. Nike’s mission statement is “To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.” Bill Bowerman said once said, “If you have a body, you are an athlete.” The first line of Nike footwear was presented in 1972 at the U.S. Track and Field Trials and the runners that tried them on were in awe. This advancement continued through the ‘70s and pushed Nike to become a publicly traded company in 1980. All throughout the 1990s, Nike became known for its amazing shoes. Then, Nike decided to branch out into other sports. They had huge success in golf with the then unknown Tiger Woods wearing all Nike apparel (Nike, inc., 2012). Nike also made a huge investment in keeping its sponsorship of Lance Armstrong throughout his battle with cancer. In return Lance sponsored/advertised their products through his record seven straight Tour de France championships (Nike, inc., 2012). Today, Nike continues to find great success. They are innovating the way apparel and footwear are utilized in almost every sport. “Even through the recent hard economic times, Nike has continued to increase their revenue target, aiming for a fiscal revenue of $28-30 billion” (Nike, inc., 2012).
Nike History and Timeline - American Studies @ The University of Virginia. Web. 4 Aug. 2011