Here is our second practice look at paper 3 topic questions. Time to begin reviewing notes from last year looking at the French Revolution. It you need to review texts, please see google classroom material under BLOG and Review for Blog Post 2, Paper 3 practice.
For your first post (10) due Fri. Apr. 7
1) Write your thesis statement for how you will initiate your answer
2) Provide three (3) specific points of evidence you want to explore to support your thesis.
Paper 3 - European History
Section 8: The French Revolution and Napoleon I (1774–1815)
15. “Social inequality was the main cause of the French Revolution of 1789.” Discuss.
Thesis: Social inequality was the main cause of the French Revolution due to the impacts that the estate system, concentration of wealth, and lack of rights for women had on the anger the French people felt towards the regime that they lived in, leading to the revolution of 1789
ReplyDeleteEvidence 1: French society was composed of three Estates; the aristocracy, the clergy, and the bourgeoisie and working classes, over which the King had absolute sovereignty. The aristocracy, the clergy, and the bourgeoisie were exempt from most taxes. The working class, however, had to produce most of the wealth for the other estates and paid most of the taxes. This caused a lot of tension between the lowest estate and the other estates.
Evidence 2: The top 10 percent of France held about 90 percent of the national wealth, and the top 1 percent held as much as 60 percent of the national wealth. The working class of France viewed this as unfair as they were the ones who worked to create most of the products that contributed to the national wealth.
Evidence 3: The women of France had no political rights before the revolution. They were unable to vote or hold any political office. They were considered ‘passive’ citizens and were forced to rely on men to determine what was best for them in the government and their place in the country. This social inequality created a lot of unrest in France as this lack of rights had the greatest impact on the working class, which were the ones who caused the revolution.
Thesis Statement:
ReplyDeleteWhile many factors contributed to the French Revolution, long-standing social inequalities between the upper-class and the peasants boiled over and resulted in revolution.
Points of Evidence:
Estate System - While the third estate comprised 90% of the population, they didn’t have the majority of political power and paid a large proportion of taxes to the monarchy. It was very difficult to escape the third estate if you were born into it
Cost of food - Poor harvests caused a shortage in bread supply, raising the prices beyond the point where peasants could afford it
Marie Antionette and Louis XVI - Louis XVI was not an assertive or popular leader, and many were frustrated hearing about his lavish lifestyle while peasants were starving to death
The French Revolution of 1789 was primarily driven by social inequality because while most of the population suffered from poverty and oppression, the country's nobility and clergy enjoyed numerous privileges, such as wealth and power, ultimately leading to widespread dissatisfaction and demands for political and economic reforms.
ReplyDeleteEvidence:
1)Economic: The French Revolution was fueled by economic inequality. The lower and middle classes were heavily taxed even when they didn't have the finances to pay their taxes, while the nobility and clergy were exempt from paying taxes. This unequal taxation policy created significant resentment and frustration among the majority of the population focused on the nobility and clergy. The unstable economic climate led to calls for a fairer tax system and economic reforms.
2)Political: France's political structure was also biased strongly in favor of the aristocracy and clergy. The clergy and nobility had excessive influence over the government, and the king possessed unchecked power. Demands for a more democratic style of government were sparked by the dissatisfaction and helplessness that resulted from the lower classes' lack of representation and voice.
3)Social: The French society was divided into three sections/estates, with the first and second estates (nobility and clergy) enjoying many privileges, such as exemption from taxes, access to education, and luxurious lifestyles, while the third estate (commoners and largest at that) suffered from poverty, hunger, and lack of basic necessities. The works of influential writers and philosophers, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire, inspired the lower classes to question the existing social order and demand change.
Altogether, these elements demonstrate how much social inequality contributed to the French Revolution of 1789. Above are the pieces of evidence that I will concentrate my paper on because the economic, political, and social gaps between the various segments of French society led to strong demands for dramatic change and reforms which led to the French Revolution.
Ashlyn
ReplyDeleteThesis:
While social inequality played a large role in the French Revolution, the economic insecurities, as well as a lack of strong leadership in the country, played a significant role in its becoming. To say that social inequality was the leading cause would require these other points to be reduced to mere background noise, which is not the case.
Evidence:
- France's economic situation during this period was marked by high amounts of debt as well as overzealous spending on the part of the monarchy, which exacerbated already existing social inequities causing increasing tensions
- A food crisis caused by an increasing population further raised tensions as the monarchy was so out of touch with the people
- The American Revolution, which had recently occurred, sparked ideas of a revolution in France, fanning the flames of an already rising discontent within the people.
Thesis: Although social inequality contributed to the tension behind the peasant revolt during the French Revolution, the economic inequity that harshly divided the wealthy from the impoverished was the primary cause of the revolution.
ReplyDeleteFirst point: just prior to the revolution, the top 10 percent of the French population hoarded 90 percent of the wealth.
- This enormous aggregation of wealth caused the populace to struggle to afford basic necessities, which although may have worsened social divides, ultimately drove the French to write a constitution that limited the rigid class divides intentionally instituted by the Second Estate
Second point: the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women, one of the foremost women’s groups founded in response to the revolution, stated that their primary interest was “combating hoarding [of grain and other food] and inflation”.
- This example demonstrates that although the women of France sought political and social equity, their foremost concern was feeding their families and being able to sustain themselves within the economy
- In other words, one of the most disenfranchised groups in France at the time was most focused on receiving the capital necessary to stay afloat, rather than prioritizing miscellaneous social issues
Third point: one of the most successful achievements of the revolution was the abolition of the tax-farming system.
- Wealthy landowners collected taxes on behalf of the government, eventually becoming one of the most wealthy groups in France
- The abolition of this system represents the peasants' goal to achieve economic equality by deconstructing systems designed to economically oppress the Third Estate, rather than exclusively focusing on social inequality
Social Inequality was the main cause of the french revolution of 1789 - Discuss
ReplyDeleteFrance before the revolution was under the rule of a monarchy that did not always make changes for the better of the people. This allows for the indications of a very split class system amongst the royals, clergy, nobles, and the remainder of the population going under the estate system. As the absolute monarchy was able to purchase lavish items, many of their people were going into debt to support themselves due to the high prices and unequal distribution of taxation. These were only pieces that infuriated the vast majority of France, yet overtime and the revolution it became clear what aspects really affected the public's opinion. This includes …
Discuss deeper into absolute monarchy
How the revolution began
WHO became in charge
Why violence became an answer
Formation of government
IT IS TRUE!!!
Thesis Statement:
ReplyDeleteWhile one of the most important causes of the French Revolution of 1789 was indeed the social inequality in France, it cannot be counted as the main cause because there were multiple factors that are tied together which combined to cause the Revolution.
Three Points of Evidence to Explore
1. There were Three Estates: the First (clergy) had many privileges and paid only a “voluntary gift”, the Second (noblemen/women) enjoyed many privileges of lordship and were only taxed very lightly, and the Third (commoners) paid heavy taxes and were made up of a conglomeration of vastly different social groups, ranging from very poor to well-educated and rich. Tensions arose between the growing middle class among the Third Estate (the bourgeoisie) and the nobility. The middle class grew rapidly in the eighteenth century, tripling, and became increasingly frustrated with the “feudal” laws that restrained the economy and the aspirations of the middle class; thus, the bourgeoisie led the entire Third Estate in revolution to destroy feudal privileges and establish a capitalist order based on individualism and market economy.
2. Revisionist historians question the existence of social conflict between a progressive capitalist bourgeoisie and a reactionary feudal nobility, arguing that they did not stand as unified blocs against each other. They stress that the nobility remained a fluid and relatively open order, that key sections of the nobility and the prosperous bourgeoisie formed together the core of the Enlightenment public, and that the nobility and the bourgeoisie were not actually at odds in the economic sphere (both looked to investment in land and to government service, and a merchant capitalist’s goal was to gain enough wealth to live nobly). In this revisionist perspective, an emerging elite including both aristocratic and bourgeoisie nobles was frustrated by a bureaucratic monarchy that claimed absolute power. (This has to do with social inequality (everyone was unequal to the monarchy) but also with King Louis XVI’s unjust rule as a cause.)
3. Counterpoint: It was not social inequality but rather swiftly rising prices that served as the main cause of the French Revolution. In 1788 when the harvest failed, the price of bread skyrocketed, unleashing an economic depression—food was so expensive that demand for manufactured goods collapsed and thousands of artisans were thrown out of work, etc.
Thesis: Social inequality was the main cause of the French Revolution of 1789:
ReplyDelete1: The Third Estate’s had no say in the Government: The Estates General
2: Financial problems in France due to social hierarchy that causes inequality as there was a large wealth disparity between social classes.
3: Food Shortages among the Third Estate or peasantry leading to riots.
Thesis statement: Despite the fact that the Enlightenment was a growing idea in the period leading up to the French Revolution, Social Inequality was in fact the main cause of this event.
ReplyDeleteSpecific Evidence 1: The Three Estates
Inequality was very evident in the estate system, where there was a 3-stage hierarchy. The First Estate was the church clergy and paid no taxes. The Second Estate was the nobility of France and only made up 2% of France's population. They were also exempt from taxes. The Third Estate was the rest of the French population who paid lots of taxes and had little say in the government. During the French Revolution, this inequality came to an extreme and the Third Estate rebelled against the other estates.
Specific Evidence 2: The power of Louis XVI, known as absolutism, also played a large role in developing social inequality. French citizens felt extremely disconnected from government decisions and the way that money was being used by the King was a large point of contention when the revolution began.
Specific Evidence 3: The ideas of the Enlightenment were widespread in the late 18th century, especially the ideas of self-determination and democracy. The promotion of science and reasoning over tradition, as well as the example set by the American Revolution, directly inspired the revolution. Without this period of intellectual development, the French Revolution may never have come to fruition.
While a large contributor to the discontent held by the French population, social inequality was not the main cause of the French Revolution.
ReplyDelete1. Food/Economic Crisis: Prices were inflating rampantly throughout the French Revolution, as the poorest class (which made up most of the population) could not afford to buy food. The population also grew faster then the agricultural system, causing widespread hunger in the poorest populations.
2. Economic Crisis/Dislike of monarchy: Lowest class only paid taxes, upper classes refused to. Caused looming economic crisis and government was going broke. King and Queen continued to live in luxury with ridiculously luxurious palaces and crazy elaborate dresses on the queen’s behalf. Populace hated them.
3. Political Failings: Louis XVI’s father, Louis XV had little interest in and involvement with ruling the country, weakening the monarchy and bringing a general sense of discontent. The reign of Louis XVI failed to get the governmental system back on track, as the sole parliament within the monarchy disregarded Louis XVI’s demands and became wildly popular with the commoners, who were around 90% of the population. Louis’s attempts to regain control of the country failed, as demands for democracy and a constitutional monarchy were disregarded by him and people blatantly criticized him with little consequence
Thesis: Social inequality was the main cause of the French Revolution of 1789.
ReplyDelete1) The social structure of France before the revolution
- The three estates and their roles in French society
- The privileges and disadvantages of each estate
- The growing discontent of the third estate
2) Economic inequality
-The financial crisis in France and its impact on the population
- The burden of taxation on the third estate
- The role of the first and second estates in magnifying economic inequality
3) Political inequality
- The lack of representation for the third estate in the Estates-General
- The ineffective government and leadership of King Louis XVI
- The influence of Enlightenment ideas and the desire for democracy
Thesis Statement: Social inequality had a major influence on the start of the French Revolution of 1789 but other factors such as inept leadership and regional trends were arguably equally catalytic.
ReplyDeleteSocial Inequality in France:
-First estate: assemblies of the clergy chose two-thirds of the delegates from the poorer parish priests (commoners by birth).
-Second estate: conservative majority was drawn from the poorer and more numerous provincial nobility.
-Third estate: Almost all male commoners ages 25+ years had the right to vote. Still, most of the representatives finally selected were well-educated, prosperous lawyers and government officials.
-Fourth estate: No delegates elected from the great mass of laboring poor, an exclusion that would encourage the peasants and also the urban artisans to intervene directly.
Tithe- Charges collected for land possessed by individuals from the third estate by the Roman Catholic Church prior to the French Revolution.
-Debt and annual budget were very high.
-Spending of nobility was sustained by taxes on working people and loans, people who could barely survive at all while the rich drained France of its economy.
Inept Leadership:
-Louis XVI believed that he had a divine right to rule but was an Incompetent ruler.
-Forced to give in to a constitutional monarchy set up by the National Assembly after facing bankruptcy among other charges.
-Facing imminent bankruptcy, the king tried to assert his authority.
-Dismissed the notables and established new taxes by decree
-When the king tried to exile the judges a tremendous wave of protest swept the country.
-Frightened investors also refused to advance more loans to the state. Finally, in July 1788, a beaten Louis XVI bowed to public opinion and called for a spring session of the Estates General. Absolute monarchy was collapsing.
-De Calonne- Royal minister whose attempts to reform the nation's revenue and tax system was a key step towards the brink of revolution.
-De Brienne- De Brienne instead convinced Louis XVI to enforce the stamp tax and led him to take more measures against opposition.
Regional Trends:
-The French assisted the Americans in their fight to gain independence from the British.
-The French entered the American revolution due to their hatred of the British but the Americans were also fighting for personal freedoms.
-French citizens were fighting for another country’s citizens to gain freedom/ independence when they themselves did not have such liberties under the monarchical system (helped to plant a seed of rebellion)
-Taxation without representation was also a key theme of the American revolution
-Enlightenment themes of benevolent leaders and democracy rather than absolute monarchism in the region
Thesis statement: The separation of social classes was the main cause of the French Revolution because its establishment of feudal privileges, economic development, and manorial rights, would suppress the lower classes, empower the wealthy upperclassmen, and become a means of revolution and change among the corrupt country.
ReplyDeleteParagraph #1:
Thesis of the effects feudal privileges and its impact on the French Revolution
Definition of feudal privileges
How feudal privileges affected social classes
Effects of lower social classes receiving the brunt treatment of feudal privileges
Paragraph #2:
Thesis of the effects of economic development and its impact on the French Revolution
Definition of economic development
Exploration of how economic development only favored the upper class
Effects of unequal distribution of economic resources and participation from members of the lower class/ means of revolution
Paragraph #3:
Thesis of the effects of manorial rights and its impact on the French Revolution
Definition of manorial rights
Investigation of how manorial rights was implemented on members of the nobility vs members of the bourgeoisie
Effects of manorial right pressure specifically on the lower classes/ how this element was a contributing factor to the lower classes uprising