Question

Note some important points in french revolution

Answer 1

1. Political causes (or) Louis XVI and his problems

Louis XVI came to power in 1774 at the age of 20.
Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. So the French treasury was empty.
LouisXVI helped the thirteen American colonies to gain theirindependence from the common enemy, Britain.
France had taken 3 billion Livres loan from moneylenders who began to charge 10% interest.
To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintainingan army, the court, running government offices or universities, the ruler was forced to increase taxes.

2. Social causes(or) Division in the French Society

French society in the eighteenth century was divided into three estates- Clergy, Nobility and Common People.(I, II and III Estates)
Clergy and Nobility were 10% of the population but possessed 60% of lands. III Estate was 90% of the population but possessed 40% of the lands.
Clergy and Nobility enjoyed many privileges based on birth. The church collected taxes from people.
They were exempted from paying taxes. Nobles collected feudal dues from III Estate people.
Peasants were obliged to render services to the Clergy and Nobility to work in their houses, fields, servein the army or to participate in building roads.

3. Economic causes (or) The Struggle to Survive

The population of France rose from 23 million to 28 million in 1789.
This led to a rapid increase in the demand forfood grains.
Production of grains was less because drought or hail reduced the harvest.
Most workers were employed as labourers in workshops. Owners of the workshopsdid not increase the wages of workers.
This led to a subsistence crisis (scarcity of food grains) which occurred frequently in France.


4. Growth of Middle Class and influence from USA

Answer 2

the important points of the french revolution are:
social inequality: french society in the eighteenth century was divided into three estates namely the clergy, the nobility and the third estate. first two estates, that is, the clergy and the nobility enjoyed certain privileges by birth. they were exempt from paying taxes. the third estate comprised of businessmen, merchants, peasants and artisans, labors had to pay taxes to the state.

economic problems: long years of war had drained the financial resources of france. france had a debt of more than 2 billion lives. to meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court etc.the state was forced to increase the taxes.

immediate causes: on 5 may, 1789, louis xvi called together and an assembly of estates general to pass proposals for new taxes. third estate protested against it  but as each estate have one vote, the king rejected the appeal.