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The French Revolution And The Revolution

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The French Revolution was caused by a number of factors, all of which contributed to substantial shifts in lifestyle, government and power in France from 1789 to 1799 . These factors included, population growth and a declining standard of living, both of which increased pressures on an inefficient economy. As well as writings and criticisms of the Royal government and Church, leading to harsher rule and subsequent rebellion. Also the efforts of the King and his ministers to reduce privileges, reform taxes, cut spending, and introduce free trade within France had all failed. Finally, the consistent power struggle that existed between the King, his nobles and eventually the entire population of France. These factors led to a period of time containing frequent power shifts and even more frequent death in a very unbalanced France. France’s Revolution lasted about a decade and in that time they will have solved many problems, but will have produced many more, leading to the rise of the Revolution’s son, Napoleon, and the subsequent revolutionary end he provided. To understand how the Revolution started, one must first understand the power structure under Louis XVI. France was made up of three estates, the first estate was the church, all of whom’s members were very wealthy landowners. The second estate was the nobility, a group that had regained some power since the death of Louis XIV. The final estate, the third estate, was the rest of France’s population. (McKay 627-630) This

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