Roadmap for Answer Writing

Introduction

• Briefly introduce the French Revolution (1789-1799) as a significant event driven by multiple forces.
• Mention that the revolution was a product of both philosophical ideas (intellectual influences) and socio-economic grievances (economic distress and social inequality).

Body

1. Philosophical Ideas
   • Enlightenment Ideas: Discuss how Enlightenment thinkers emphasized reason, equality, and liberty. Their works provided a new framework of thought that challenged traditional authority and the monarchy.
     • Key philosophers:
       • Voltaire: Criticized the monarchy and the Catholic Church. Advocated for freedom of expression and religious tolerance.
       • Rousseau: Promoted the idea of the social contract, where the legitimacy of government depends on the consent of the governed. His works inspired demands for political reforms and democracy.
       • Montesquieu: Advocated for the separation of powers in governance.
   • Natural Rights: Mention the influence of thinkers like John Locke who emphasized the rights to life, liberty, and property. These ideas resonated with the French people who were frustrated by the monarchy’s oppression.
   • Influence of the American Revolution: Explain how the success of the American Revolution (1776) inspired the French to challenge their monarchy, seeing it as a successful model for overthrowing despotic rule and establishing democratic governance.
2. Socio-Economic Grievances
   • Estate System: Describe the rigid class structure with three estates in French society:
     • First Estate (Clergy) and Second Estate (Nobility) enjoyed privileges like tax exemptions.
     • Third Estate (Commoners), which made up 98% of the population, faced heavy taxation, economic hardship, and exclusion from political power.
   • Financial Crisis: Discuss how France’s financial mismanagement, exacerbated by participation in the American Revolution, left the country deeply in debt. The monarchy’s extravagant spending further alienated the population.
     • Taxation: Increased taxes on the Third Estate to cover the debt burdened the common people.
   • Food Shortages and Economic Hardship: In the late 1780s, France faced severe food shortages, particularly in bread, leading to hunger and widespread unrest.
     • Example: The quote “Let them eat cake” (though likely apocryphal) symbolized the disconnect between the monarchy and the suffering of the common people.
   • Rural Distress: The rural peasantry was burdened by feudal obligations, such as mandatory labor and taxes, while also suffering from high food prices and poor living conditions.
   • Urban Unrest: Urban workers faced high unemployment and poverty, adding to the discontent in cities like Paris.

Conclusion

• Conclude by stating that the combination of Enlightenment philosophy and socio-economic distress created a volatile situation in France. The public’s desire for political and social change, fueled by these ideas and grievances, ultimately led to the French Revolution.

Relevant Facts for the Answer

1. Enlightenment Philosophers:
   • Voltaire: Criticized absolute monarchy and the Catholic Church.
   • Rousseau: Proposed the concept of the social contract, where political authority is derived from the consent of the governed.
   • Montesquieu: Advocated the separation of powers, influencing the structure of future democratic governments.
2. American Revolution Influence:
   • The success of the American Revolution (1776) served as a model for French revolutionaries.
3. Socio-Economic Grievances:
   • Estate System: The First and Second Estates were exempt from taxes, while the Third Estate carried the financial burden.
   • Financial Crisis: France’s involvement in the American Revolution and lavish spending led to massive debt.
   • Food Shortages: Widespread famine and high bread prices in 1789 contributed to public outrage.
   • Rural Distress: Peasants were burdened by feudal duties and high taxes.
   • Urban Unrest: High unemployment and poverty in Paris added to the revolutionary fervor.

This roadmap and the inclusion of these facts will help you structure a coherent, well-supported answer that addresses the dual causes of the French Revolution.