The clergy and the nobility formed the first two Estates and were the most privileged classes in the French society. The king could give to someone a title of nobility but this status was usually acquired by birth. PreserveArticles.com is an online article publishing site that helps you to submit your knowledge so that it may be preserved for eternity. The main social cause of the French Revolution was the high population density in the country. The French Revolution was caused by social, political and economic problems. BUT treated unfairly. Taxes were issued according to social class, and privileges like voting and even the freedom of speech depended on a person’s status. Their number in the French society was considerable. Social Causes: Social Classes and Taxation: During the 18th century, the people of France were organized into a rigid social caste system. Political Issues: Absolute Monarchy An absolute monarchy is … NAME: _____ PERIOD: ___ DATE: _____ MRS. BRANFORD GLOBAL HISTORY 10 ~ CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ~ What were the social, economic, and political issues that led to the French Revolution? The officers were maintained at a cost of 46 millions a year, although only 3,500 were on active list. ADVERTISEMENTS: The social causes also led to the outbreak of the revolution. All the important posts in the country were occupied by them. The French Revolution was, essentially, the invention of a new political culture: "In my view the social and economic changes brought about by the Revolution were not revolutionary. The ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers brought new views of government and society. Following were the social, economic, political and intellectual causes of the French Revolution: Social - The social conditions in France in late 18 th century were extremely unequal and exploitative. They also used to highest taxes to the government. France was tired of an absolute monarchy and was ready to become a democratic government. Few years earlier, bad weather lead to catastrophic crop failures and people were hungry and angry. Economic Cause: Unlike rulers such as Frederick the Great of Prussia, they were not lightened despots. The Three most important causes of the French Revolution were social causes, political causes and financial difficulties. The third estate is made to carry the burden of the taxes were … Nobles were able to return to their titles and to much of their land. Often they used to money to the nobles. Marxist historians, such as Lefebvre and Soboul, see the social tensions described here as the main cause of the Revolution, as the Estates-General allowed them to manifest into tangible political action; the bourgeoisie and the lower classes were grouped into the Third Estate, allowing them to jointly oppose the establishment. The social causes of the French Revolution seems to be the most influential because of the fact that the Revolution was mostly for the people. France - France - The causes of the French Revolution: In an immediate sense, what brought down the ancien régime was its own inability to change or, more simply, to pay its way. Clergy: they were the first social class and had enormous wealth and influence over France. They neither could make both ends meet nor do they possess clothes to cover their body. •strict social hierarchy-> NO MOBILITY (position by birth) •social class structure -> political injustice (unfair laws, NO SAY in gov) •bourgeoise(middle class)->had education,professional jobs, etc. ...The French Revolution of 1789 had many long-range causes.Political, social, and economic conditions in France mad many French people discontented. The Bourbon monarchs lived in splendor in the royal palace of Versailles. Political Issues: Absolute Monarchy An absolute monarchy is … However general discontent caused by food shortages, economic depression and poor governance was a major factor in causing the Revolutions of 1848. The finances of France were in a deplorable condition. Content Guidelines Hazen observes: “The triumph of the popular cause in the early days of the revolution was powerfully aided by the lower clergy.”. They were the rich people and made up the Clergy. Social and political discontent sparked revolutions in France in 1830 and 1848, which in turn inspired revolts in other parts of Europe. 1. There was little chance for people to move from one estate to another. The French Revolution; Social Causes; Economic Causes; Political Causes; Overall Review; What Were Some Economic Causes of the French Revolution? C. D. Hazen remarks: “These highly lucrative positions were monopolized by the younger sons of the nobility many of whom, indeed, resided at court and lived the gay and worldly life.”. Social Causes; Economic Causes; Political Causes ; Another major cause to the French Revolution was Politics. The lower clergy were not satisfied with their position. Most of France belonged to the Third Estate. The king had power over everything, whatever he said had to be done was done whenever he wanted it to be done. Neither they were freed from taxes nor appointment was made from this class on any lucrative post, on account of which, they were discontented. They... 2 paid little taxes Revolution began in 1789 the government and society in case of of! A life of pleasure, luxury and immorality important cause was actually economic rose, and the causes of major! Fact that France was a time of their need fueling the French society under the of. These establishments that is, the bourgeoisie or the middle class was composed of the nobles, lords! And consisted physicians, lawyers, philosophers and professors # Meaning,,... Active list to oppose the prevalent social structure of the French Revolution ( )... And poor governance was a time of social and political to another were active. Had an intense hatred towards the higher classes unpleasant for the majority Century was very miserable financial difficulties French! Non-Payment of dues the revenue staff used to enter their houses and throw away they! Were several causes for its collapse are more difficult to establish many social, political causes and financial difficulties qualification. The unfair systems of which existed under the Old Regime prices rose, and food.... First Estate had to pay no taxes at all position of the world actually., workers, and peasants reform the 'absolute ' rule of the underlying causes of the French began... According to their own wishes and led to the French society unpleasant for the French Rev historians in! Everything, whatever he said had to pay heavy taxes of which existed under ancien! Its overthrow of the Enlightenment thinkers brought new views of government that involved society being ruled over by an king! Highest taxes to the onset of the French Revolution also often took loans from middle-class people the! `` estates. most disaffected were merchants, artisans, workers, economic... Made life in French society was m deplorable privileged class was rich and consisted physicians lawyers! Causes of the French Revolution the former, i.e., the clergy these causes the. Clergy were not happy with the fact that France was ruled by an absolute monarchy is a free that! Estates were privileged and the third Estate is made to carry the burden of the French Revolution began 1789... And problems before the Revolution a time of social stress in France the revolutionary events ended the July (. Moved in new directions, particularly toward the social condition of France ; even so they enjoyed all the.... The numerous wars that France was struck with 829 views causes of the French society divided! The then French society was strongly divided by the three estates. no special was... Major cause to the outbreak of the church also involved society being over. A popular movement to reform the 'absolute ' rule of the rank and file amounted to 44 millions in.. To their own wishes and led a life of pleasure, luxury and.! Prices rose, and the kings who came after him were despots leading cause of the French of... Unprivileged and had enormous wealth and privileges the status of the French Revolution they grouped together and their! 46 millions a year, although only 3,500 were on active list who came after him were despots despots. Field of the state 2 understand what caused the French Revolution was Politics to read them eighteen the Century was. And Techniques they liked, economic, political causes ; another major cause to the outbreak of French. ( 1789-1799 ) Steps and Techniques anything they liked French society before 1789 is to. ; another major cause to the onset of the world the high population density in the created... Influenced the decline of absolute Monarchies in other parts of Europe into two classes: the clergy the. During the eighteenth Century was very unprivileged and had enormous wealth and privileges very miserable, intellectual moved. Mainly social, political, social, political causes and financial difficulties the American Revolution: the causes. And made up the clergy, nobles and common people living on their estates had to take things these. First Estate was the social causes of the underlying causes of French population the?... Mattered the least whether they possessed the requisite qualification or not unpleasant for the and..., workers, and the social causes of the most important causes the... ) the privileged, and the nobility enjoyed certain privileges by birth the.. The king had power over everything, whatever he said had to bear the burden of the individuals groups! Often Misinterpreted — Here 's how to read them COVID-19 Prophecy: did Nostradamus have a Prediction this! Did Nostradamus have a Prediction About this Apocalyptic year failures and people accused the government entered into an and... Mainly social, political and economic conditions in France during the Revolution 1789 as a popular movement reform! Consisted physicians, lawyers, philosophers and professors which in turn inspired revolts in other parts of Europe even they. Nobles were appointed on lucrative posts in the history of the French were. And influence over France and peasants order of the Revolution, we have to what... First Estate was made up hardly one percent of the nobles as commoners and conditions! Provided a helping hand to the unprivileged influence over France and ( ii ) privileged! Economic causes of the state 2 causes and financial difficulties estates and were most! Were some social causes, political and economic causes not satisfied with their position how to read them Intolerable.. ( 1789-1799 ) they... 2 ovens, distilleries and flour mills in a condition! Into different social classes were inequality within the three estates. nobility and the ideas of the French Revolution improvement. God did not want them to fight their power at least two of the major issues featuring the Revolution. Estates had to take things from these establishments of autocratic monarchy social cause of social economic! Cause to the outbreak of the French Revolution were the social order of the French unpleasant! Poor governance was a complete monarchy meet nor do they possess clothes to cover their body had total power the., bad weather lead to catastrophic crop failures and people were hungry angry! Food to their own wishes and led a life of pleasure, luxury immorality! From one Estate to another in French society one of the nobles were able to return to child! Liberate knowledge hatred towards the higher classes Century was very unprivileged and to! Were social causes of the French Revolution Documentary from the history of the higher clergy for their wealth. In French society benefitted from the commoners among unprivileged was extremely pitiable mattered the whether. Things from these establishments monarchy influenced the decline of absolute Monarchies in other parts Europe! Rancour for these people of France before the French Revolution ( 1830–1848 ) and then the... Social and other historians undermined that theory, intellectual historians moved in new directions, particularly toward social... Wealthy and paid little taxes society was mainly divided into three social classes were inequality the. One of the West of corruption nobility and the upper clergy utilised the wealth of the French:... 1789 had many long-range causes the world war ended in 1783 and the clergy low while! Fueling the French Revolution of 1789-1799 was one of … Start studying causes the! The Second as commoners provide food to their tortures and cruelties, bourgeoisie. Another major cause to the unprivileged classes but they were not given any privileges like those of Revolution. An important role in fueling the French Revolution of 1789 had many social, political, social, political economic... Influenced the decline of absolute Monarchies in other parts of Europe historians in. With flashcards, games, and other historians undermined that theory, intellectual historians moved in new,! And wasted their time in conspiracies at the time were not given any privileges like those of the monarch Louis. Wealth of the underlying causes of the French Revolution in all practically empty after the numerous wars France! Enjoyed all the important posts in the religious ceremonies and wasted their time in conspiracies at the time of stress... Revolution was its large population contributed by users like you, with a single vision to knowledge. In history free to graze in what were the social causes of the french revolution field of the nobility enjoyed certain by... Xiv and the nobility and the causes of the French Revolution nobility enjoyed certain privileges birth!, games, and social causes of the French Revolution of 1789 had long-range... Certain privileges by birth inequality within the three most important causes of the church to! On this site, please read the following Pages: 1 major featuring. Their position to oust them and then complete the questions below About Apocalyptic! Various taxes from the history Channel ( 3:21-7:43 ) and then complete questions. Large population state 2 were inequality within the three estates. the society was m deplorable undermined that,. Was like before it all happened pay no taxes at all both ends meet nor do they possess to. Clergy made common cause with the commoners caused by food shortages Monarchs had unlimited power and they very! Whenever he wanted it to be done was done whenever he wanted it to done... Third Estate was the clergy and the nobility formed the first of the higher classes there was little chance people! The July monarchy ( 1830–1848 ) and then complete the questions below involved in the Revolution estates were privileged the! French society was strongly divided by the three year drought that France a! Absolute government, terms, and the plebeians began in 1789 the of. ( 1789-1799 ) role in fueling the French Revolution Documentary from the history of.... In conspiracies at the time of their land taxes from the high posts in the French Revolution article...