Without the spread of public opinions through France in the late eighteenth century, it is likely the French revolution would not have occurred. The spread of ideas along with other factors such as class wars, financial and political crisis; France was able to usher in a new age that benefitted most rather than a select few. This essay will explore the influence public opinions had on the causation of the revolution while briefly looking at the other contributory factors.
Before the revolution, France was divided by a system called the Ancien Règime (Old Regime). The Ancien Règime divided France into the Three Estates. The First Estate was the Clergy, the Second Estate consisted of the French aristocracy, and the Third Estate was everyone …show more content…
The thoughts grew out of many things; a bourgeoisies’ desire to be part of the aristocracy, poverty, famine, and international influences. A number of historians believe that the primary reason for the revolution was because of the class war between the aristocracy and the emerging bourgeoisie class. This interpretation, developed by Geoges Lefebvre and Albert Soboul, is called the Marxist interpretation. One main argument for this interpretation of the French Revolution was the exemption from taxes that the French Aristocracy and the clergy were given. France before the revolution was amassing a great amount of debt due to the heavy spending of the aristocracy. People from the lower class were expected to pay for this lifestyle and debt that it created. When things started to get worse for France, the aristocracy were made to pay some tax but the sacrifice was modest. This shows one way of how the thoughts surrounding the revolution came about. French Journalist Mallet du Pan stated in January of 1789 that “King despotism and constitution have become only secondary questions. Now it is war between the Third Estate and the other two orders.” This shows that the people of 18th century France believed it was a class war. The Marxist interpretation suggests that the bourgeoisie started the revolution and the peasants finished it. It is likely that the ideas that sparked the revolution would have
Before the revolution, France was divided by a system called the Ancien Règime (Old Regime). The Ancien Règime divided France into the Three Estates. The First Estate was the Clergy, the Second Estate consisted of the French aristocracy, and the Third Estate was everyone …show more content…
The thoughts grew out of many things; a bourgeoisies’ desire to be part of the aristocracy, poverty, famine, and international influences. A number of historians believe that the primary reason for the revolution was because of the class war between the aristocracy and the emerging bourgeoisie class. This interpretation, developed by Geoges Lefebvre and Albert Soboul, is called the Marxist interpretation. One main argument for this interpretation of the French Revolution was the exemption from taxes that the French Aristocracy and the clergy were given. France before the revolution was amassing a great amount of debt due to the heavy spending of the aristocracy. People from the lower class were expected to pay for this lifestyle and debt that it created. When things started to get worse for France, the aristocracy were made to pay some tax but the sacrifice was modest. This shows one way of how the thoughts surrounding the revolution came about. French Journalist Mallet du Pan stated in January of 1789 that “King despotism and constitution have become only secondary questions. Now it is war between the Third Estate and the other two orders.” This shows that the people of 18th century France believed it was a class war. The Marxist interpretation suggests that the bourgeoisie started the revolution and the peasants finished it. It is likely that the ideas that sparked the revolution would have