DBQ: The French Revolution

Words: 692
Pages: 3
Open Document
The French revolution overthrew the country’s ancient monarchy, proclaimed Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and fought off a hostile Europe. It ushered in a new age, but at a terrible price in blood and human suffering. The French social pyramid was riddled with contradictions both within and between its constituent parts. Today we believe everybody is treated equally in a system of law. This was not the case in France before the revolution. The French people belonged to one of three classes or estates.There were many causes of the Revolution. The French Revolution appears to have been the outcome of both long term and short term factors, which arose from the political, social, and economic conditions and conflicts of the ancient regime. The …show more content…
France was tired of an absolute monarchy and was ready to become a democratic government. As Document 4 suggests, the French were inspired by the Americans and also wanted a revolution to achieve their democratic government and among other requests. France had an unfair tax system. In Document 1, it reads, “Lands held by the nobility are not taxed but lands held by commoners are taxed heavily…” As well as in Document 6, the political cartoon implies that the 1st and 2nd estates were too good for taxes and were above them, but the 3rd estate was not. It shows the 3rd estate being crushed by the 1st and 2nd estates, and taxes. These documents help to represent the idea of France’s unfair tax system. France’s was divided into three estates. The first estate consisted of the clergy; the second estate was made up of the nobility, and the third estate was the bourgeoisie, better known as everyone else. For more than one hundred years before the accession of Louis XVI, France was the most powerful country on the European continent. She had held this position for over 150 years, thanks to her fertile land, large population and many resources. However, the government had undergone periodic economic crisis, resulting from long wars, royal
Show More

Related Documents: DBQ: The French Revolution

French Revolution Dbq

The French Revolution was built on some of the principles of the Americans, although both were very different and very similar to each other. First, both these wars led to documents being formed. However, one was called the Declaration of Independence, and the other was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. They were both formed at different times, American in 1776 and French in 1789. Second, both wars were based on John Locke's idea of natural rights. The American Revolution was also…

Words 152 - Pages 1

Dbq On French Revolution

The French Revolution, 1789, was an attempt to form a new government in France. According to the text, “It was a revolution that did not follow a simple path. One broadside from the time read, “ ‘Unity, and visibility of the Republic, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity or Death.’ ” it is the last word, of it is the last word, of course, that is troubling.” The focus of this Mini-Q is to consider the revolutionary values expressed in the quote consider the revolutionary values expressed in the quote and…

Words 418 - Pages 2

DBQ: The French Revolution

is not a law at all.” The French Revolution began in 1789 and ended in 1799. The French Revolution was the product of economic, social, and political problems. The French helped the colonies break away from the reign of the British. The French payed for the expenses that the war caused. The French Revolution caused due to a lack of representation of the 3rd Estate in government, unfair taxes, and social ideals created by the Age of of enlightenment. The French Revolution was started by people wanting…

Words 604 - Pages 3

French Revolution Dbq

The French Revolution had a great impact on the lives of many French people, including people within different social classes. Before the start of the French Revolution, there were three different social classes- the peasants, the bourgeoisie, and the nobles. At the bottom of the hierarchy were the peasants, who made up most of the French population, with nearly twenty million people. The bourgeoisie, made up of almost three million people, were a growing middle class. Some people in this class included…

Words 1224 - Pages 5

French Revolution Dbq

The French Revolution was built on some of the principles of the Americans, although both were very different and very similar to each other. First, both these wars led to documents being formed. However, one was called the Declaration of Independence, and the other was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. They were both formed at different times, American in 1776 and French in 1789. Second, both wars were based on John Locke's idea of natural rights. The American Revolution was also…

Words 152 - Pages 1

French Revolution Dbq Analysis

The French Revolution was the culmination of many new ideals sparked in 18th century France, and the result of years of imbalance of power. When the nation lacked strong leadership, Napoleon Bonaparte stepped in and took advantage of the current situation. Through his 15 year reign, two wars began and his lust for power proved reckless at his fall in 1814. He claimed to be a supporter of the revolution, but as more time passed, his abuse of power became evident. The French Revolution satisfied…

Words 812 - Pages 4

French Revolution Dbq Essay

Thesis: The main two causes of the French Revolution in 1789 was the third estate’s struggle to survive and which sparked ideas of the enlightenment for the fight of independence. TS: Due to the unfairness and mistreatment of the third estate, which further lead to the struggle to survive, and so, being influenced by the American revolution and the enlightenment of ideas. CD#1: “ The poor people seem very poor indeed… I was joined by a poor woman who complained of the hard times… The tailles and…

Words 467 - Pages 2

What Are The Causes Of The French Revolution Dbq

The 1700’s were a very crucial time for change in France. Before the revolution and the idea of change would start being conspired there were conversations that would inspire the motives to rise against the powerful and wealthy. The abundance in land made France suitable for farms, this would benefit what are the first and second class of the population in France. At this time France’s population was divided into three different classes, the first being the church, second being the nobles that owned…

Words 797 - Pages 4

How Did Louis Xvi Cause French Revolution Dbq

believed in the Divine Right. He was very selfish like because he focused on his personal issues. He spends most of the money on luxury and expensive wars. Later on, he was in severe debt where he taxes the Third Estate(Commoners). One cause of the French Revolution is the government taxation. According to document 1, it states, “He levied taxes and spent the people’s money as he saw fit. He controlled the expression of thought by a strict censorship of speech and press”. This emphasizes that Louis XVI spent…

Words 214 - Pages 1

Causes Of The French Revolution

Alex Zhang Mr. DeBruin Honors World History 9 P0 14 January 2015 DBQ: Causes of the French Revolution Why do people get unhappy about the government and rebel? In the case of the French Revolution of 1789, there were several reasons why the French citizens weren’t happy about the government. Three of the main reasons consist of unfair taxation, unfair land distribution, and prices of bread. France during that time period had 3 estates. The first estate consisted of the clergy. The second one consisted…

Words 447 - Pages 2