IndexIntroductionSocial InequalitiesFinancial InfluencePolitical InfluenceConclusionIntroductionThe French Revolution was a radical period of extreme political and social upheaval from 1789 to 1799. Despite the many causes of the revolution, there is a need for My thesis is that the most significant reason was the social inequalities that triggered the demand for change and reform in the nature of political power in France. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The debate over the exact causes of the revolution continues and is prevalent among historians today, however the following reasons are given. The main reasons for the revolution lie in the social impacts, particularly the social inequalities in France due to the property system and the weak and inept leadership due to the absolute monarchy. The financial impact was the financial inequalities of the people in France and finally the political impacts were the Enlightenment ideas that had spread in the Third Estate. Ultimately, there are a number of reasons why the revolution occurred and continues to impact modern society today, however the inequalities in France at the time are undoubtedly the root cause of the French Revolution. In this essay I will explore how Enlightenment ideas influenced the French Revolution. Social Inequalities Social inequalities are argued by historians as the cause of the French Revolution. During the 18th century, France was under an absolute monarchy of Louis XVI, whose king took the blame for causing the French Revolution due to his weak and inept leadership. The French king ascended the throne in his twenties, lacking political insight and self-confidence due to his upbringing as his rule failed to prepare him for the challenges of governing. His weak and inexperienced leadership led France into deep debt, partly through an inadequate fiscal system in an attempt to minimize the real deficit. In support of this, historian John Hardman describes Louis XVI as "the greatest mistake of his reign". French society was divided into three estates: the First Estate which consisted of priests who ran the Catholic church, as well as some aspects of France such as collecting church taxes (the tithe), supervising education, and registering births, deaths, and marriages. The Second Estate was made up of members of the royal family and nobility. Finally, the Third Estate (made up of peasants, farmers and the bourgeoisie). The Nobility and Clergy were exempt from paying taxes, while the Third Estate had to contribute their earnings to the King, as well as having to pay half of their earnings to the tithes of the church and nobles. The social inequalities between the Third Estate and the First and Second Estates are clear and were a major factor contributing to the French Revolution. Louis XVI's decision-making and lack of authority dramatically changed the opinions of the French people, who resented the despotic monarchy and were described as indifferent to the needs of the French, therefore, triggering a radical change. The Third Estate had little to no power, despite making up the majority of the French population (98%). This ultimately led to dramatic inequalities between properties. A cartoon entitled 'Le peuple sous l'ancien Regime' (dated 1815) depicts King Louis XVI, a bishop and a member of the aristocracy riding on the back of a blindfolded and shackled man, on his hands and knees. The man represented the people and highlighted people's attitudes and their dissatisfaction with their owncondition. This may have been because they were taxed heavily by the government and were not entitled to the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and nobles. It is evident that there was tension between the people and the estates for this reason, and therefore it is a contributing factor to the cause of the French Revolution. This is further supported by another propaganda poster entitled “A faut esperer que jeu la finira ben tot”, dated 1789 depicting a peasant carrying the two orders – clergy and nobility). It is clear from this that the French people suffered under the succession system. 'A faut esperer que jeu la finira ben tot' and 'Le peuple sous l'ancien Regime' both highlight the heavy burden that the Third Estates have to bear on the clergy and nobles, while reaping the benefits. From this it can be understood that propaganda posters were used to communicate people's feelings and attitudes towards the upper classes, and heavily influenced people's demand for change, as well as playing an important role in politically influencing people's opinions, ultimately being an important factor. cause of the revolution. Financial Influence The financial crisis in France played an important role in creating the social context for the revolution. Throughout the late 1700s, France faced a growing economic crisis and by 1789 France was broke as peasants lacked the financial means to pay taxes and the nobility resisted paying taxes. The main reasons for this were the unfair tax structure implemented by King Louis XVI and the corruption and lifestyle of the royal family. France's involvement in the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) aggravated the country's debt due to the costs incurred in fighting the war. Their support in providing goods and billions of livres to the American Revolution (1755-1783) caused great financial strain on the French economy. The French population was growing, which resulted in a shortage of food supply. The winter of 1788 caused widespread famine. This is evident in the travel extracts of Arthur Young, a farmer. Young traveled through France from 1787 to 1789. “The lack of bread is terrible…from the provinces come stories of riots and disturbances…The bread has gone beyond the people's ability to pay. This causes great misery” (adapted) Food shortages and excessive prices have unleashed a wave of public outrage in the cities and villages of the Paris basin. This is further supported by a print depicting French aristocrats gorging on food while angry, protesting mobs starved. The print reflects the difference in quality of life based on the Estates. The peasants struggled a lot to get food, while the higher classes could enjoy these privileges. Young's extract and print strongly highlight France's economic crisis and the impact it has had on people. From 1789 to 1799, the Third Estate contributed heavily to the French Revolution by participating in widespread uprisings that eventually overthrew the rigid segregation of the feudal system known as the old regime. Thus, financial grievances in France sparked distrust, violence, and demands for change, thus playing a significant role in the French Revolution. Political Influence The Enlightenment played a significant role in the French Revolution. The Enlightenment was a movement that opposed absolute monarchy and ultimately inspired revolutionary ideas to transform France into a republic. Philosophers such as Abbé Sieyes played an important role in spreading the ideas of the Enlightenment to the French people by inspiring people to put.