Question

Describe the economic and social circumstances that led to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.

Answer 1

The four main causes that led to the outbreak of French revolution were as follows-
1] Political causes - 

a)The autocratic and despotic rule of the french kings drained the treasure

b)Long years of war between France and Britain [ especially the 7 years war] was a very big problem. As France was defeated in this war, they had to pay a huge amount to Britain.

c)The cost of maintaining an extravagant court at Versailles.



2] Social causes - 

a)The French society was divided into three - Clergy, Nobility and the third estates or the commoners. 

b)The first two estates, ie, Clergy and Nobility, enjoyed certain privileges by birth.

c)These included exemption from paying taxes.

d)Only the Commoners had to pay taxes.




3] Economic causes - 

a)Two types of tax collection was introduced. They were as follows
               1)Tithe - The tax given by the commoners to the Churches
                 2)] Taille - The tax given by the commoners directly to the state.


b)The subsistence crisis also led to the outbreak of the French Revolution.



4] Psychological causes - 

a)Some people of the third estate were literate and they told the common people that privileges should not be given by birth, but, instead, it should be given by looking at the social position or status of a person.

b)John Locke, in his book 'The two treatises of the government ', critizised the Divine Right Theory and the absolutism.

c)Rousseau, in his book 'The social contract ', tried to bring a relationship between people.

d)Montesquieu, in his book; The Spirit of the laws ', proposes the division of powers between legislative, executive and the judiciary