The French Revolution Essay - 907 Words

During the eighteenth century, France was one of the most richest and prosperous countries in Europe, but many of the peasants were not happy with the way France was being ruled. On July 14, 1789, peasants and soldiers stormed the Bastille and initiated the French Revolution. This essay will analyze the main causes of the French Revolution, specifically, the ineffectiveness of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, and the Enlightenment. It will also be argued that the most significant factor that caused the French Revolution is the ineffective leadership of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The first and main reason for the French Revolution was the terrible leadership of King Louis XVI and†¦show more content†¦When they were brought back to be imprisoned in Paris, they French citizens looked at them with even more disgust and this soon led to the execution of King Louis and Marie Antoinette. Another cause of the French Revolution is the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, which consisted of the middle class, town workers and peasants. One of the major reasons for their discontent was that they had to pay taxes whereas the First Estate, the clergy, and the Second Estate, the nobles, didn’t have to. The Third Estate had to pay different types of taxes including income tax, feudal tax, a tax on wine and a tax on salt. This took a toll on the peasants, as it was often very difficult for them to sustain their families as well as pay all these taxes. There were also terrible harvests due to hailstorms in the years 1788 and 1789, which lead to less wheat and the skyrocketing increase in the price of bread, causing the peasants to have even less to eat and in many cases to starve. This led to the peasants, especially the women to take action. In October 5, 1789, they marched to the palace of Versailles, armed with weapons and protested, but the protests of the Third Esta te in general were seldom heard. Sieyes describes the Third Estate as â€Å"Everything; but an everything shackled and oppressed.† (1789) This was for a political pamphlet that argued the Third Estate was the main body of France, but had too little rights. This can be seen from theShow MoreRelatedThe French Revolution And French Revolutions2006 Words   |  9 PagesAlthough the American and French revolutions both took place in the late 18th century, both fought for independence, and both portrayed patriotism, the revolutions are markedly different in their origins; one which led to the world’s longest lasting democracy and the other to a Napoleonic Dictatorship. Political revolutions in America and France happened because people felt dissatisfied with the way their country was run. 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