french revolution social causes

During the 1700s french was consider the most advance country in europe, the enlightment started in france. Some of the reasons for the french revolution were economic woes, enlightment ideas, and weak leader.

French's once properous ecomony was declining, heavy taxes were making it impossible for people to conduct business in france. In 1780s bad weather contribute to crop failure. The king also got into a deep debt.

Enlightment ideas were more emphasising in goverment so people got motivated in the participation of politics and goverments. but since everyone did not have equal right not all people could take participation in politics and goverments.

Their king louis 14 was not very efficient. He was indecisive and let everything slick through, he did not listen to goverment advices, and he spend his time hunting and doing stupid things instead of paying attention to goverment details. In order for a nation to progress that nations leader has to be strong and careful.

Their were three kind of states during these times, meaning people were divided into 3 parts. less than 1% were the first state which were clergys and church who did not supported the enlightment thinkers. Than the second state made up of 2% were rich nobles who controlled goverment and also disagreed with the enlightment ideas. And finally the third state which was made up of 98% of france population were poor people like peasant famers, bourgeoisie, and urban lower class who had no influence in the goverment.

The third state highly supported the enlightment ideas to change the way of goverment, and wanted to take action in matters of politics so they can change their way of living. They felt used only to collect heavy taxes from them. And they felt they were not equal to the other two classes, and they wanted to be treated fairly and stop living in poor conditions for the rest of their lives.

The major reason for the third state to revolve was because their vote meant nothing they were painted in the wall and the clergy and nobles outvoted the third state. their will to change goverment and have everyone vote equally raise more and more. July 14 1789 a lot of third state revolve against the king and tried to get gunpowder from the prison (bastilled) oviously out numbering the kings soldier the agry crowd full of citizens took controll over the bastille all in hope of having a democratic goverment. July 14 was considered french national holiday.