Causes of the French Revolution

1. Population divided into three states
   
   1. Clergy-The First Estate
      Numbered around 100,000. The clergy was made up of two groups: the higher clergy and the lower clergy. The higher clergy had a very luxurious life. The lower clergy came from the middle and lower classes, and many of them lived in poverty.
   2. Nobility-The Second Estate
      They numbered 400,000. Most were of minor rank.
   3. Commoners-The Third Estate
      (majority of population)
      Included the bourgeoisie, wage earners and the peasantry.
2. Age of Enlightenment
   Introduced new ideas to the highly educated bourgeoisie. They became critical of the class system and believed that men should prosper through opportunity and education, not birth.
   1. Liberal society can flourish with free commerce
      
   2. Challenged the absolute right to rule
      Introduced ideas of equal rights and the abolition of the class system.
   3. Appealed to bourgeoisie grievances
      
3. France was an absolute monarchy with a weak monarch
   
   1. King Louis XVI
      Louis took the throne after his father died in 1765. He was only 20 years old.
      1. He preferred personal interests to court interests
         He liked to spend his time at hobbies, such as hunting and making locks, rather than at his duties of state.
      2. He was strongly influenced by his wife, Marie Antoinette
         
      3. He was incapable of strong decisive action
         
4. Financial difficulties
   
   1. Government had large debts with heavy interest
      The government eventually went bankrupt and got deeper in debt each year.
      1. Over ambitious wars
         Costly to the country because France lost men and supplies and failed to gain any territory. In fact, they often lost territory.
      2. Extravagant spending on courts
         The Palace of Versailles was amazing.
   2. Need for tax reform
      
      1. Nobles were determined not to give up their tax concessions
         The nobility had power over the King regarding tax concessions. They were exempt from taxes and Louis did not implement reform because he did not want to upset the aristocrats.
      2. The peasants and bourgeoisie were unhappy because they had to pay all the taxes
         
5. France sent troops and supplies to aid the American revolutionaries
   
   1. Introduction to revolutionary ideas
      The cost of support to the Americans was not just associated with money. French troops came back from America having been exposed to revolutionary thoughts. Many believed that they too should start a revolution to achieve equal rights.
      1. Take up arms against tyranny
         
      2. No taxation without representation
         
      3. Liberal freedoms for all men
         
      4. A republic is superior to a monarchy