Causes of the French Revolution

 

In 1789 France was one of the richest and most powerful nations in Europe. But that all changed when Louis XIV took over as king. Many factors led to the French Revolution:

  • Inefficient rule of Louis XIV. Nobody liked Louis XVI or his wife Marie Antoinette, and he was heading France in the wrong direction fast.
  • The rise of Enlightenment ideal. People in France had the example of the American Revolution, and thought that these ideas may work for their country too.
  • Frances debt. France was falling into an unimaginable debt because the such a high taxation rate.
  • Food was becoming more and more scarce in France. This was caused some part by failing crops.


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CAUSES OF TENSION AND CONFLICT IN THE OLD REGIME
The reign of Louis XVI were the breeding ground of later French Revolution, so it is so important a deeply knowledge about them, as son as its main features such as:
- Absolutely divine monarchy: the sovereignty of one person appointed by God laws.
- Wasteful spending of crown in luxuries and wars
- Fixed and hierarchical social system
- Unfair tax system and feudal dues
Causes of Tension in Old Regime.pdf
Adobe Acrobat Document 1.8 MB
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FUNNY VIDEO ABOUT CAUSES OF FRENCH REVOLUTION (FOR DUMMIES AND NOT SO DUMMIES)

CHART ABOUT SOCIAL SYSTEM IN OLD REGIME AND ITS DIVISION IN THREE DIFERENT STATES

First State


Second State


Third State


 

After reading about the economy and social structure of France under the Old Regime, create a table with these three sections. After that you have to fill it in with this information:

 

1.     Who belonged to which state

 

2.     How was this status awarded

 

3.     Benefits enjoyed by each state 

 

4.     Grievances expressed by each state 

 

5.     If they could or could not improve their position


 


What does this representation of relationship between social groups in

pre-revolutionary France suggest you?

 

Explain to what extent the representation presents a reliable view of the social structure of the old regime.

 

Why does this unfair social system lead to the French

Revolution?

"If you have got a new point of view about the World, you’ll have to find new ways of showing it”

Mark Rothko

 

Pilar Sánchez  has a double Degree in Literary Theory and Comparative Literature (2010), a Degree in History (2002), both by Salamanca University. She also has Advanced Studies in Philosophy.

 

She has been working as a teacher and researcher in  the Salamanca University, Art and Aesthetics Department, as an Art critic, a team member in specialised publications, teacher of Spanish as a foreign language in other countries (Ireland), Secondary teacher of Social Studies and Spanish Language and Literature in Madrid and Head of Department in SEK Les Alpes International School.

 

Her main goals when teaching are setting up the latest educational methodologies based on cooperative and blended learning, relying on emotional intelligence as one of the best means to enhance teacher and teenage students’ relationship.