French Revolution & Current U.S. Enviornment

What were the causes and the effects of the French Revolution? The major cause of the French Revolution was the disputes between the different types of social classes in French society. The French Revolution of 1789-1799 was one of the most important events in the history of the world. The Revolution led to many changes in France, which at the time of the Revolution, was the most powerful state in Europe. The Revolution led to the development of new political forces such as democracy and nationalism. It questioned the authority of kings, priests, and nobles. The Revolution also gave new meanings and new ideas to the political ideas of the people.


There were many reasons for the start of this. I have extracted a few that seem to parallel the events happening here in the US



A. The Estates System

First Estate: The Clergy
1% of population, with 10% of land.They had wealth, land, privileges and they levied a tax on the peasantry, the tithe, which generally went to some remote bishop or monastery rather than the local parish priest.
The First Estate was perhaps 100,000 strong. But note that there were many poor clergymen in this Estate, and they were going to support the Revolution.

Second Estate: The Nobility
2-5% of population, with 20% of the land. They also had great wealth and taxed the peasantry: There was a "feudal" resurgence in 18th century.
400,000 people.
The great division among the Nobility was between the Noblesse d'epee, dating from the Middle Ages, and the Noblesse de Robe: later nobles whose titles came from their possession of public offices.

Third Estate: Everyone Else
95-97% of the population.
There were some few rich members, the artisans and all the peasantry. These were also class divisions.
In the modern world we only consider the Third Estate. Its Victory has been total.

B. Subdivisions of the Third Estate

The Bourgeoisie
8% of the population, about 2.3 Million people, with 20% of Land. They often bought land and exploited the peasants on it. In Third Estate, the most important group politically was the Bourgeoisie. The Bourgeoisie had been growing throughout the century, to some extent encouraged by the monarchy. By 1788 it was very important and its members were well read, educated and rich (fivefold increase in trade 1713 -1789). But this important group had no say in running the country.
The Peasants
with 40% of the land, formed the vast majority of populationulation. There was populationulation growth in this period: perhaps 3,000,000 people added over the century. Peasants paid the most tax: aristocrats did not pay. Peasants alone paid the taille. They alone had to give labor service to the State. They also had to pay the tithe, in kind, to the clergy.
As well as these taxes, peasants had to give services to their Landlords: this is sometimes called `feudal' service. They also pay dues to their feudal (seigniorial) lord when they sold land that was in all other ways their own. Poverty was intense, but varied by region.
Peasants farmed the land, and regard it as their own, but it was not legally theirs. What they wanted was to own their own property. This was radical only at to start with. Later it was to be a conservative desire.
Cf. Bourgeois leaders of the Revolution at first wanted to keep labour services etc. as they thought they were a form of property for the landlords.
The Urban Poor of Paris
Artisans - factory workers, journeymen. They very poor were probably less involved in politics. Artisans had different interests than the bourgeoisie. but they played important role at several points. They were the most politicized group of poor people, possibly due to high literacy.
[Note on Literacy: Literacy was comparatively high amongst all classes in northern France. This had the effect that everybody could imbibe the new ideas that came out in pamphlets. ]
C. Assessment of Class Division as a Cause

Despite the class divisions and tensions outlined here, the Revolution actually began as an aristocratic revolt against the monarchy, but two main groups of poor people did affected the revolution decisively.


F. Problems with State Finances

This was what eventually presented the greatest problem to the French Monarchy.
Economic Weakness
The Revocation of Edict of Nantes 1685 had struck a blow at French commerce. The Economy tottered for the next hundred years. Financially the origins of the Revolution go back to Louis XIV {but not because of the cost of Versailles].

Taxation Problems
The Richest were not taxed: ie. the Nobles and Clergy. Taxes were indirect on poorest part of populationulation.
-the Taille on peasant produce
-the Gabelle - on salt
-various trade tariffs
The basic problem was that in a rich country there was not enough income for the government to do its job.
These taxes increased. It has been calculated that there was a 28% increase in some parts of country in Louis XVI's reign alone. But of course this affected the poor the worst.
Dependence on loans
The banking system was not able to cope with the fiscal problems. It was the need for King to raise taxes that led to the calling of the Estates General.
Cost of Mid Century Wars
The Seven Years War 1756-63 cost a lot.
The American Revolution: France had more or less paid for the American War.
The Cost of Versailles and the Royal household etc.
Was NOT a big factor by the end of century - it used about 5% of revenue.

Bankruptcy of the State.
By 1780s the government was nearly bankrupt. Half of government income was going on paying debts (annual deficit 126 Million Livres.)(debt was almost 4 Billion Livres). But this was not greater than in UK or Holland.
The problem was the government could not service the debt.
Several ministers did try to put it back on a sound basis. France was not after all a poor country.
G: Efforts to Fix Fiscal Problems

Jacques Necker 1732-1802 was one such minister. The problem was that he had hidden the real problems, and made it difficult for later ministers to explain why higher taxes were needed.
1783: Charles Alexander de Calonne 1732-1802, Finance minster, raised loans to pay debts. By 1786 he did not think Parlements would register another loan.


http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/lect/mod10.html




what do you think? Is the U.S. headed down the same path?

But it doesn't look like the poor is all that upset in America, the Wall Street protestors are a tiny minority. The poor pay little in taxes compared to the rich and have a vastly expanding social net. Crime continues to decline even though people have lost vast amounts of wealth in housing and investments.

It is almost as if the "mob" can't be bothered to show up.

The debt crisis is allowed to be kicked down the road, and despite the massive amounts of US debt out there and interest rates being at record lows, people are still buying it. (Maybe because Europe is in worse shape?)

The day of reckoning will come but it doesn't appear to be n the horizon yet.

in France, it was not just the poor, it was everyone else BUT the clergy and the nobility - in other words the 95%-97% of the population.

Despite the 99% claims, most of America still seems to be more concerned with unemployment than wealth disparity or the rich not paying their "fair share".

Although it does seem like the elite have bought both parties so it doesn't matter who wins next November, the bonuses will continue to be paid.

Michelle says cake is bad for us so I'm having trouble with some of the talking points...

otisptoadwater wrote: Michelle says cake is bad for us so I'm having trouble with some of the talking points...

Michele Antoinette: Let them not eat cake?