Textbook Assignment 1. What were the causes of the French Revolution? There were multiple causes to the French Revolution, but one of the biggest was the existence of social classes, or Estates, in France. The First Estate was composed of clergy members. They composed approximately two percent of the population, owned about twenty-five percent of the wealth, and did not pay taxes. The Second Estate was made up of nobles. These people composed approximately three percent of the population, owned around fifty percent of the wealth, and did not pay taxes either. The Third Estate was everyone else, who were mostly peasants. Ninety-five percent of the population owned only twenty-five percent of the wealth, yet they had to pay all of France’s taxes, including royal and Church taxes. Besides this horribly unequal society, France’s financial administration was disastrously complex. Incompetent officeholders who bought their position from the king placed tariffs on intrastate goods along with differing measurement systems between provinces hampered trade. The commoners saw this system as flawed, which led to increased tension between the government and the people. Debt was very high as a result of France’s involvement in the American Revolution, and as previously stated, virtually all taxes originated from the poorest Estate. This would result in the Third Estate to eventually crack, and as a result the French Revolution would begin. 2. How did the Enlightenment and the American Revolution influence the French Revolution? Many Enlightenment thinkers criticized French society and its inequality between its classes, and advocated for a freer, more equal, and more tolerant society. The rise of these ideas helped strengthen the soon-to-be revolutionaries of France – the common people. The American Revolution’s success also helped to push French citizens to the edge, and the Declaration of Independence’s call for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all men further increased the French’s trust in themselves. 3. Why are the old reforms of the National Assembly described as the death warrant of the Old Regime? They removed the special “privileges” that the first two Estates had, which eliminated the medieval aspect of French society. Rights to liberty, freedom of religion and thought, and equal treatment under the law were included in a new document entitled the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen,” which helped to further empower the Third Estate. Also, the Catholic Church’s influence was severely reduced when the government ended tithes, sold Church lands, reduced the number of bishops and priests, and allowed for people to elect clergy members. A constitution that limited the power of the king was enacted in September 1791. This was a huge blow to supporters of the Old Regime, since the king no longer had as much power as he used to in the days of the Regime. Administrative reforms were made as well since the people compla ...

1. Textbook Assignment
1. What were the causes of the French Revolution?
There were multiple causes to the French Revolution, but one of
the biggest was the existence of social classes, or Estates, in
France. The First Estate was composed of clergy members. They
composed approximately two percent of the population, owned
about twenty-five percent of the wealth, and did not pay taxes.
The Second Estate was made up of nobles. These people
composed approximately three percent of the population, owned
around fifty percent of the wealth, and did not pay taxes either.
The Third Estate was everyone else, who were mostly peasants.
Ninety-five percent of the population owned only twenty-five
percent of the wealth, yet they had to pay all of France’s taxes,
including royal and Church taxes.
Besides this horribly unequal society, France’s financial
administration was disastrously complex. Incompetent
officeholders who bought their position from the king placed
tariffs on intrastate goods along with differing measurement
systems between provinces hampered trade. The commoners saw
this system as flawed, which led to increased tension between
the government and the people. Debt was very high as a result
of France’s involvement in the American Revolution, and as
previously stated, virtually all taxes originated from the poorest
Estate. This would result in the Third Estate to eventually
crack, and as a result the French Revolution would begin.
2. How did the Enlightenment and the American Revolution
influence the French Revolution?
Many Enlightenment thinkers criticized French society and its
inequality between its classes, and advocated for a freer, more
equal, and more tolerant society. The rise of these ideas helped

2. strengthen the soon-to-be revolutionaries of France – the
common people. The American Revolution’s success also
helped to push French citizens to the edge, and the Declaration
of Independence’s call for life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness for all men further increased the French’s trust in
themselves.
3. Why are the old reforms of the National Assembly described
as the death warrant of the Old Regime?
They removed the special “privileges” that the first two Estates
had, which eliminated the medieval aspect of French society.
Rights to liberty, freedom of religion and thought, and equal
treatment under the law were included in a new document
entitled the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen,”
which helped to further empower the Third Estate. Also, the
Catholic Church’s influence was severely reduced when the
government ended tithes, sold Church lands, reduced the
number of bishops and priests, and allowed for people to elect
clergy members.
A constitution that limited the power of the king was enacted in
September 1791. This was a huge blow to supporters of the Old
Regime, since the king no longer had as much power as he used
to in the days of the Regime. Administrative reforms were made
as well since the people complained about the ineptness of some
of the country’s administrators, particularly in trade and
finance. A standardized system of courts were added in order to
give everyone the right to a fair and impartial trial. Finally, all
tolls and duties on intrastate trade was abolished, and a uniform
measuring system was established. The formation of unions and
striking was banned.
Analysis
King Louis XIV, the “Sun King” of France, can be considered
an eighteenth century despot, as he used many thoughts and

3. ideas that were spread during the Enlightenment such as the
social contract theory, a renewed passion for religion, and
increased production of the arts and sciences.
With the rise of the Enlightenment, people of Europe
started educating themselves about philosophy, society, and
science. Most of these learned people started phasing religion
out of the European lifestyle, and started advocating the “social
contract.” The social contract stated that governments are
formed by men, must respond to the needs of men, and can be
changed by men if seen as undesirable. This is why some
enlightened despots started to treat their citizens with more
respect and consideration than did previous absolutist
monarchs. In Louis XIV’s case, he is quoted to have said,
“Complaints and petitions arrived in great numbers but I did not
allow that to put me off...They enabled me to inform myself in
detail about the condition of my people...When cases of
injustice came to my attention I made further inquiries and
sometimes stepped in to rectify them. One or two examples of
this kind prevented a thousand similar abuses,” (Document 1).
By saying this, he shows his caring of his people, and his
devotion to the betterment of their quality of life. There is little
doubt that Louis XIV wanted to make life better for his people
because of his reading of texts of the Enlightenment.
Louis XIV, a devout Catholic, wanted everyone to be
Catholic, but did not force anybody to convert since he was an
enlightened despot. To his surprise, however, he started
receiving daily reports of entire towns converting to
Catholicism, and deemed that it is his mission from God to
remove France of heresy. “...By this date the king is receiving
almost daily reports of the conversion of whole towns to the
Catholic church. The king, somewhat taken aback, has
concluded that God wishes to make use of him to bring to
perfection the holy work he has begun which is the conversion
of all his subjects...he is the invincible hero destined by eternal
wisdom to destroy the terrible monster of heresy...” (Document
10). These conversions are likely to be of his fair treatment to

4. his people, as stated in Document 1.
Besides his increased zeal and will to improve his citizens’
lives, Louis XIV also believed in the increase in productivity of
the arts and sciences. When one of his guests at his palace
stated that intelligence was not necessary, Louis XIV disagreed.
“The king said to Monseiur de Vendome: 'You, sir, who are a
man of parts, should belong to the Academy.' 'I have no merit,
sire, but perhaps they might overlook that, since no great
intelligence is necessary.' 'What!' exclaimed the king. 'Not
necessary? Look at Monsieur the archbishop, Monsieur de
Bussy and all these other gentlemen, if you consider
intelligence not necessary,’” (Document 3). He is then said to
have argued with the man for hours regarding this matter. There
are other instances where Louis XIV’s value of the arts and
sciences shows, an example being the occasional performances
he allowed at Versailles (Document 2).
Homework
The Ancien, or “Old”, Regime was the term used to
describe the political, social, aristocratic, and monarchic
systems of France. This regime existed from about the fifteenth
century to 1789, and during this time period there existed an
absolute monarchy. The eldest son usually was the heir to the
throne, and it was believed that the monarch of France took
orders from God, so if anyone went against the ruler, it was
believed that he/she went against God.
Society during this time period was split into three estates, or
classes. The first estate was composed of Catholic clergy
members. The people in this estate did not have to pay taxes,
owned approximately twenty-five percent of the land, and made
up approximately two percent of the French population. The
second estate was the nobility. These people made up
approximately three percent of the population, owned
approximately fifty percent of the land, and did not have to pay
taxes either. This left all taxes and approximately twenty-five
percent of the land to the remaining ninety-five percent of the

5. population, the peasants, who composed the third estate.
The quality of life for the average citizen in the Ancien Regime,
though it was slowly rising. Diseases were quite common and
widespread. Many could barely afford to feed their families.
Most powerful positions were held by men, leaving many
women with less power and influence politically than their male
counterparts. Education was improving in the later years as the
Scientific Revolution brought the notion that rational
knowledge was key to a successful nation. Religious conflicts
were still widespread, however, as traditional Catholics argued
against progressive Protestants.
In 1789, with the storming of the Bastille, the Ancien Regime
would be no more as the ninety-five percent were fed up with
the inequality that existed between the social classes. The
French Revolution had begun.