French Revolution Events and Processes

The French Revolution, also known as the Revolution of 1789, was a revolutionary movement that shook France between 1787 and 1799, climaxing in 1789—hence the term “Revolution of 1789,” which denotes the end of the ancient régime in France and also serves to distinguish it from the later French revolutions of 1830 and 1848.

Events of french revolution: and its causes 

The French Revolution had both general and specific causes that explain why it was by far the most violent and universally significant of all the revolutions in the Western world at the end of the 18th century. The social structure of the West was the first of the general causes. The feudal system had been gradually weakened and had already vanished in parts of Europe. The bourgeoisie, an increasingly numerous and opulent group of wealthy commoners—merchants, manufacturers, and professionals—aspired to political power in countries where it did not already exist. The peasants, many of whom owned land, had improved their level of living and education and desired to abolish the final traces of feudalism in order to gain full landowner rights and the freedom to expand their holdings. Furthermore, since around 1730, improving living standards have significantly reduced adult mortality rates. This, combined with other factors, resulted in an unprecedented increase in Europe’s population, which doubled between 1715 and 1800. The problem was particularly acute in France, which had 26 million inhabitants in 1789 and was Europe’s most populous country.

Food and consumer goods demand increased as the population grew. From around 1730, when new gold mines were discovered in Brazil, prices rose across the West, indicating a prosperous economic situation. This trend slowed around 1770, and economic crises became more common, causing alarm and even revolt. Arguments for social transformation started to emerge. Although 17th-century theorists such as René Descartes, Benedict de Spinoza, and John Locke influenced the philosophes—intellectuals whose writings inspired these arguments—they came to very different conclusions on political, social, and economic issues. To put Montesquieu’s, Voltaire’s, or Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ideas into practise, a revolution seemed necessary. The many “societies of thought” that were founded at the time, such as masonic lodges, agricultural societies, and reading rooms, spread the Enlightenment among the educated classes.

However, it is unclear if revolution would have occurred in the absence of a political crisis. Faced with the high costs of the 18th century’s wars, European rulers sought to raise funds by taxing the nobles and clergy, who had previously been exempt in most countries. To justify this, the rulers adopted the role of “enlightened despots,” invoking the arguments of advanced thinkers. The reaction from Europe’s privileged bodies, diets, and estates was swift. This response sparked the American Revolution in North America, which began with a refusal to pay a levy levied by the British king. Monarchs attempted to quell the aristocracy’s response, and rulers and privileged classes alike sought supporters among the nonprivileged bourgeois and peasants.

Although scholarly discussion regarding the precise origins of the Revolution continues, the following factors are frequently cited: (1) the bourgeoisie resented their exclusion from political power and honorific positions; (2) the peasants were acutely aware of their situation and were becoming less and less willing to support the anachronistic and burdensome feudal system; (3) the philosophes had been read more widely in France than anywhere else; (4) French participation in the American Revolution had driven the government to the brink of bankruptcy; (5) France was the most populous country in Europe, and crooked politicians were

Conclusion:

It was in In February 1787, France’s controller general of finances, Charles-Alexandre de Calonne, convened an assembly of “notables” (prelates, great noblemen, and a few representatives of the bourgeoisie) to propose reforms aimed at eliminating the budget deficit by increasing the taxation of the privileged classes. The assembly refused to take responsibility for the reforms and proposed convening the Estates-General, which included clergy, aristocracy, and the Third Estate (commoners) and had not met since 1614. Calonne’s successors’ efforts to impose fiscal changes against opposition from the privileged classes sparked the so-called “aristocratic bodies” revolt, which included the parlements (the highest courts of justice), whose powers were restricted by the edict of May 1788.