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The Three Major Causes Of The French Revolution

Decent Essays

Throughout the course of history, economic, social, and political issues occasionally led to the revolt of citizens against their government. When the Old Regime held power in France the people were categorized into three estates. The Third Estate began the French Revolution due to the social, economic, and political problems they faced. Additionally the Third Estate caused the end of the old Regime with the storming of the Bastille. Overall the French Revolution impacted the lives of people in France and people in varying nations of the world.
To begin with the social inequality of France was one of the three major causes of the French Revolution. Under the power of the Old Regime the social class system included three estates (first, second, and the third estates). The first estate consisted of the Roman Catholic Church clergy who owned 10% of the land and made up 0.5% of the population. The second estate contained rich nobles that made up 1.5% of the population and owned 25% of the land. The first and second estates privileges included exemption from taxes and ability to hold high offices in government. On the other hand the third estate which included the bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and peasants could not hold power in high offices and …show more content…

The economy of France appeared as though it was intact because production and trade was expanding rapidly. However this worried merchants, factory workers, bankers, of the Third Estate because it made it difficult to conduct business. As a result of war debts, Madame deficit, and the increase of the cost of living the Third Estate was burdened with many taxes. These taxes included dues to the nobles, tithes to the church, and taxes to the king’s agents. Additionally, bad weather and crop failures caused a shortage of grain, resulting in the price of bread doubling. Because many could not afford the cost of bread people died of

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