Revolution in a country by its common people is a demand for change. The common people, the ones dong the work day in and day out fell as if they are have been betrayed by the very people that are supposed to be helping them prosper in life, the government. This is exactly what Benjamin Franklin believes to the truth, and what the people of France in 1789 found to be a stark reality. The peasants, typically farmers, and the Bourgeoisie, France’s wealthiest class, felt that their chances to better their lives were being restricted by their own government. Shortly after this consensus the Third Estate, which was another name for this group of people, followed in suit with Benjamin Franklin’s predictions and a Revolution began to form. For
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There was social division between the three estates, specifically between the upper two estates and the 3rd Estate. The 3rd Estate was given no social standing and aside from a select few Bourgeoisie members of the 3rd Estate were unable to hold public office, giving them no say in politics. When the National Assembly wrote their “Declaration of the Rights of Man” in 1789 it is clear how they felt about social classes in their first article that stated, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.” The National Assembly was strongly opposed to social distinction on the basis of birth. They believed that this left no chance for the lower class families to prosper because their future family members would always be restricted to the same position that they were. They were strong supporters of the idea that all men were born equal and that society was meant to function that way. Another problem with the social arrangement of France was the fact that the Bourgeoisie were responsible for the majority of France’s wealth but the clergy and nobles still retained their position as the highest rank in the societal structure. A keen observer of this issue was Georges Lefebvre, a French Historian, who wrote on this issue saying that, “Such a discrepancy never lasts forever. The …show more content…
Although many members of the 3rd Estate were not satisfied that they were below the 1st and 2nd Estates with not chance for social advancement, they only decided to revolt when their lives and way of life were threatened. The taxes and destruction of the French economy by the government went further than restricting social advancement, it took away the populist chance of prospering in what little of a life they had. Even members of the upper class were willing to acknowledge the true failure of French’s government and the overwhelming effects the economic issues it created influenced the French Revolution. Marquis de Bouille, a French Aristocrat and closes friend of the king involved in the failed flight to Varennes spoke on the causes of the Revolution in
There was social division between the three estates, specifically between the upper two estates and the 3rd Estate. The 3rd Estate was given no social standing and aside from a select few Bourgeoisie members of the 3rd Estate were unable to hold public office, giving them no say in politics. When the National Assembly wrote their “Declaration of the Rights of Man” in 1789 it is clear how they felt about social classes in their first article that stated, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.” The National Assembly was strongly opposed to social distinction on the basis of birth. They believed that this left no chance for the lower class families to prosper because their future family members would always be restricted to the same position that they were. They were strong supporters of the idea that all men were born equal and that society was meant to function that way. Another problem with the social arrangement of France was the fact that the Bourgeoisie were responsible for the majority of France’s wealth but the clergy and nobles still retained their position as the highest rank in the societal structure. A keen observer of this issue was Georges Lefebvre, a French Historian, who wrote on this issue saying that, “Such a discrepancy never lasts forever. The …show more content…
Although many members of the 3rd Estate were not satisfied that they were below the 1st and 2nd Estates with not chance for social advancement, they only decided to revolt when their lives and way of life were threatened. The taxes and destruction of the French economy by the government went further than restricting social advancement, it took away the populist chance of prospering in what little of a life they had. Even members of the upper class were willing to acknowledge the true failure of French’s government and the overwhelming effects the economic issues it created influenced the French Revolution. Marquis de Bouille, a French Aristocrat and closes friend of the king involved in the failed flight to Varennes spoke on the causes of the Revolution in