Access to History: France in Revolution 1774-1815 Fifth Edition
This document has all the information necessary to study the French Revolution. It goes in chronological order, addressing all the flash-points and big events that took place in this period. All this information, when learned, will guarantee you an A* as it did for me .
The French Revolution
The Causes of the 1789 revolution
Situation in 1789
By July 1789, absolute monarchy had collapsed + Louis XVI was a monarch with constrictions
Ancien Regime
Royal Power
• The King ruled as an absolutist dominated central government, only the King could
initiate new legislation + only a small group ministers could advise him
• Lettres de cachet – Arbitrary arrests authorised by Kings which were very unpopular
and Louis XVI used 14,000 of these
State Revenue
• Taille (direct tax) 1st and 2nd Estate were exempt
• Gabelle (indirect tax) 1st and 2nd Estate were exempt
• Problem with indirect tax – It made up 55% of state income but it affected the poor
more than the rich, restricting the amount of revenue raised
• Direct Tax collection venal system was corrupt as state officials bought posts
• The Assembly of Clergy didn’t pay tax; instead they paid a don gratuit which was only
5% of their income
The inequality in the ancien regime tax system and the absolute rule of the King created 3rd
Estate resentment towards the monarch and worsened the future economic and financial
crises
Economic Crisis/American War of Independence
1.3 billion Livres was spent in the American War of Independence which damaged the
economy + increased anger towards Louis XVI as it was viewed as a waste of money to the
3rd Estate who needed money to be spent domestically for the growing economic struggles
Poor harvests such as in 1788 increased food prices by 50% between August 1788 and May
1789
Poorer harvests also reduced land tax revenue which damaged the economy significantly
The economic situation caused the Paris Uprising in July 89 because high bread prices made
up 88% of Parisian worker’s income
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 jmyrmus. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.91. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
