Student J D

Three causes that impacted the French Revolution were the social structure crisis, the Enlightenment movement, and the financial problems in the Monarchy. In the Ancient Regime there were three social orders the first estate which was the clergy, the second estate consisting of the aristocracy, and the third estate, or the peasants. This social structure had no sense of equality and was interdependent. Through the years many people start to not fit in the constraints of the three estates such as those who are the Bourgeoisie, they were literate, wealthy; however, were not a part of the nobility. Many worked their way slowly to nobility, because of their knowledge they could better articulate their problems and risk a threat to the traditional structure.[1] The Enlightenment impacted the French Revolution through the revolutionary way of thinking. The philosophers of the time such as Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau challenged traditional ways of thinking and practices and thought of new ways to improve the social and political system. The financial problems faced in the Monarchy cause unease in the social structures. The Monarchy, such as Louis XIV was good and engaging in wars and creating structures of wealth but was not good at bringing in revenue. There was no equality in taxes, many of the peasants paid over half their income in taxes while the nobility was exempt from taxations.[2]

The most important cause for the French Revolution was the Enlightenment. The philosophers were influenced by the Scientific Revolution in its ability to address real-life problems and create solutions for them. This movement of thinking impacted the ways that others thought of the traditional structures to the Monarchy and social classes. People were coming together in Salons and discussing literature and reading books and journals to gain more knowledge.[3] These public opinions spread and created a new sense of thinking amongst the French people impacting the movement of the French Revolution.

Bibliography

Popkin, J. D. (2014). A short history of the french revolution (subscription). ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu

“The Ancien Regime.” learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_758131_1&content_id=_47222086_1.