French Revolution Research Paper

When the topic of the French Revolution comes up so does its benefits and its ever lasting effect. There were many catalyst that sparked the revolution but I will only discuss a few. The economic situation in France in 1774 specifically when Louis XVI ascended to the throne. The financial woes of the new king was not entirely all of his but instead a national debt that rose from financing wars, such as the Seven Year War and the American Revolution, and maintaining the military. The main reason why France was struggling with its debt is because it did not have an adequate system specifically a taxation system to control the debt. Additionally the only ones who paid taxes was the struggling peasantry whereas nobility did not. Not only did the …show more content…
Louis XVI attempted to ease the tension and growing contempt his people held with summoning the Estates General in 1789 that has not meet until the first time in 1614. Obviously it failed because the control the nobility had in monarchy also transferred to the Estates which produced a deadlock over organization and voting. As a result of this the third estate, made up of commoners, peasantry, and bourgeoisie, declared itself a National Assembly on June 17 1789, and soon they took the “Tennis Court Oath”, vowing not to disband until France had a constitution. Because of that oath the Assembly later on celebrated the “end of feudalism” with the “end of serfdom, special taxation rights” and others” (559). As a result of this the Declaration of the Rights of Man was created on August 26 in 1789 that established how “men are born and remain free and equal in rights” (559). What makes this document special is that is not made for just French citizens but instead all men in the world later becoming a guideline some people will use because it is a model of freedom. As the national assembly passed law the end of monarchy and the rise of constitutional monarchy