How Did The Enlightenment Influenced The French Revolution

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The French Revolution was very controversial time period with many different aspects affecting it. The French Revolution was a time in French History, between the years 1789-1799, in which the French citizens fought to abolish the monarchy and put in place a new democratic system. As it was a large event spanning over a decade, there were many supporting elements which majorly influenced the revolution. French Enlightenment, The Fall of Bastille, The March on Versailles, and the general state of the economy at the time were all major contributing factors of the French Revolution. finished
(1) Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement (from 1685-1815) that directly influenced the French Revolution because it focussed on reason and individualism …show more content…

In France from 1788-1789, the supply of grains used for bread and other products fell shorter than their regular level. This was due to the poor harvests at the time, causing the price of bread to rise greatly in 1789. In October of that year, popular markets in France had food shortages that evoked anger and apprehension among the women at the market place. These shortages initiated the market women to take action and march to Versailles armed with muskets and pitchforks in order to confront King Louis XVI about this issue, as it was the king’s job to provide food for the people of Paris. On their way, a great angry mob of men and women alike began to develop. At the Chateau of Versailles, there was a struggle between the soldiers guarding the castle and the mob causing many deaths. The women’s demand for the king supplying food and violent riot persuaded King Louis XVI to return to Paris. The royal family relocated to the Tuileries Palace in the center of Paris and never returned to Versailles. King Louis XVI could longer avoid the politics and rising tensions in Paris. Now he is right in the center of it and could not escape it. The significance of this daring act showed how much authority the common people had over royalty. The power no longer belonged to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie. With the King now in Paris, the royal family was vulnerable in the revenge seeking …show more content…

Prior to the French revolution France was in great debt. This was due to both King Louis XIV’s and Louis XVI’s extravagant spending. Maintaining the palace at versailles took a large toll on their funds, to make matters worse Marie Antoinette’s spending was anything, but modest. In an attempt to solve the debt problem King Louis XIV the king’s appointed finance ministers Turgot and Malesherbes set a new financial reform. Although Turgot’s new financial reform was . Even after a few more attempts and a few more ministers hired, the king failed and even more debt was added because of Jacques Necker, a former finance minister’s decision to help fund the American revolution. As a final resort The king called in the Estates-General meeting which started on may 5, 1789. During this meeting the french tax system was completely changed and nobles and clergies were exempt from all direct taxes. As a result the poor shouldered the burden of paying unreasonable taxes. Furthermore many of the poor people were left sick, hungry, or even dead which created resentment towards the king and further influenced the people’s desire to

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