The French Revolution was influenced by Enlightenment thinkers who challenged the divine right of kings. The social structure in France was unequal, with the poor paying most taxes. A growing middle class demanded more political power. France faced an ongoing financial crisis due to massive war debts and excessive spending by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, whose weak leadership and rumors of corruption further upset the public. Famine and poor harvests exacerbated economic problems and unrest.

1. Causes of the French
Revolution
Intro to the French Revolution (0:00 to 3:36)

2. 1. Influence of the Enlightenment
Philosophers
 Challenged the theory of “Divine Right of Kings”
 Quote from Voltaire, “A little evil is often
necessary for obtaining a great good.”
Enlightenment Clip (1:30 to 3:37)
Causes of the French Revolution

3. Causes of the French Revolution
2. The Social Structure in France
A. The Old Regime
 The Three Estates
 Taxes were uneven (the poor paid almost
everything)
B. Peasants not as oppressed in France as in
other countries
 Revolution often occurs NOT when conditions are
the worst
 People begin to expect better conditions.

4. Causes of the French Revolution
3. Growing middle class
 Known as the Bourgeoisie
 Gaining wealth & Demanding a voice
 France contained the most numerous,
prosperous, and influential bourgeoisie – middle
class in all of Europe
 Furnished the revolution with its principal leaders

5. Causes of the French Revolution
4. Ongoing Financial Crisis
A. Massive Debt
 Huge war debt left over from Louis XIV
 Inability to solve the tax situation
Two failed attempts:
 Turgot tried to tax all three Estates (ideas were
shut down by the Parlements & the “Flour War”)
 Necker strategy of borrowing money
 Interest alone on the debt was more than 50% of
France’s income

6. Causes of the French Revolution
4. Ongoing Financial Crisis (continued)
B. Continued Spending and Corruption
 Louis XVI had the most extravagant and most
corrupt court in all of Europe
 Louis support of the American Revolution (100% of
this money was borrowed)
 Debt Video Clip (3:38 to 5:38)

7. Causes of the French Revolution
5. High prices, famine, cold and mobs
 Ongoing issues of unemployment in Paris – up to
50% unemployment
 Constant food shortages – intensified by the poor
harvest in 1788
The food Crisis (8:12 to end)
Food Crisis continued (0:00 to 1:25)

8. Causes of the French Revolution
6. The example of the American Revolution
 9000 Frenchmen fought alongside the Americans
in their revolution
 Lafayette was a key leader in the American
Revolution and the French Revolution

9. Causes of the Revolution
7. The character of Louis XVI
and Marie Antoinette
 Louis XVI was weak an
indecisive
 Antoinette was from Austria
(4:33 – 7:45)
 People were publishing
pamphlets and were
spreading rumors about the
king and queen
(5:39 – 8:10)

10. Causes of the Revolution
7. The character of Louis XVI
and Marie Antoinette
 Louis XVI was weak an
indecisive
 Antoinette was from Austria
(4:33 – 7:45)
 People were publishing
pamphlets and were
spreading rumors about the
king and queen
(5:39 – 8:10)