Summary Grade 10 History Causes of the French Revolution
28 views 0 purchase
Course
History
Institution
10th Grade
This document contains a summary of the following: Causes of the French Revolution including the Ancien Regime, ideas of enlightenment, the financial crisis, and taxation.
Financial Crisis
Debt
• In 1786 France was on verge of bankruptcy, almost unable to pay interest on its
huge deficit.
• Louis had to decide whether to:
o Cut costs
o Increase taxes (On 3rd estate)
o borrow more money, or
o declare bankruptcy.
Taxation
• Louis + finance minister of the time, Calonne (previously Necker, who had tried
to institute reforms) tried to reinstate some tax reforms like:
o Abolishing the taille and the vintigieme + establishing one land tax that
would be paid by landowners - from which there was no exemption.
Foreign Policy
• War is expensive - had to be funded by raising taxation.
• People got angry about financing a war.
• Two wars were huge drains on France’s finances before 1789:
o The Seven Years War: France fought her colonial rival Britain, in the
colonies of India and North America, and suffered a crushing defeat (NB
colonies!)
o The American War of Independence: France got involved to try and get
revenge against Britain and aided the rebels financially + with troops.
This meant that French troops who fought in US were exposed to ideas of
equality.
Louis, Marie Antoinette, and the lavish lifestyle of Versailles
• France was an absolute monarchy – the king was ordained by God, and so not
limited by any elected body.
• Louis was being indecisive, and later, against the revolution.
• His wife, Austrian Marie Antoinette, had reputation for being extravagant &
lavish.
• The lifestyle at the court at Versailles was excessive and lavish, while people
were starving.
Limitations to Royal Power
• King was bound by laws + customs of the Kingdom.
• He could not pass laws alone - had to consult ministers.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller emmagriesel. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.97. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.