Describe the circumstances that led to the french Revolution
Answers
Answer:
answer
Explanation:
The French society was a stratified society. There was a clash of interests among the social between the privileged and unprivileged. There was a great tension between the hereditary aristocracy represented by the clergy and nobility, and the bourgeoisie representing upper layers of the Third Estate.
A social phenomenon was emerging in the discontent bourgeoisie. Despite their wealth and contribution to the economy of the state and to the intellectual richness of the country, the bourgeoisie were denied social mobility, absorption or admission to the rank of nobility despite their distinction.
Added to this was the resentment of the artisans in the urban centres particularly the city of Paris. They depend on the food supplies from the rural areas. They supply of food was regulated by the government. There was high price of wheat and bread in the towns and cities. They resented the government's negligence of their problems. The urban artisans, shopkeepers, factory workers, bakery makers including women became the striking hands of the revolution.
The peasants had grievances. The French agriculture was well developed. But heavy taxation on agricultural fields by the land owing nobles alienated the peasants from the agricultural lands. The dissatisfied peasants resorted to local level protests and even armed against the feudal lords and the churches. These protests were suppressed with strong hands.
The financial crisis during the reign of Louis XVI who was a well meaning but incompetent ruler compelled him to convene the age old Estate General of France to find a solution to the problem of finance. The Estate General was usurped by the leaders of the Third Estate to start the Revolution to start the Revolution in 1789.