1.1 French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century

Description

Quick Overview

The late eighteenth century marked the rise of tensions in French society due to financial crises, social inequalities, and the subsequent revolution culminating in the events of July 1789.

Standard

The late eighteenth century in France was characterized by severe economic burdens placed on the third estate, the growing dissent against feudal privileges enjoyed by the nobility and clergy, and ultimately led to the outbreak of the French Revolution. Key events such as the storming of the Bastille and the protests against rising bread prices were pivotal moments in this period.

Detailed

In 1774, Louis XVI ascended the throne with an empty treasury. Long years of warfare and excessive court costs led to increasing taxes, primarily fallen on the poorly treated third estate, which composed the majority of the population yet bore the financial burdens of the state. The feudal system and social divisions of the Old Regime stoked resentment as philosophers like John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau proposed ideals of equality and representation. The situation deteriorated with rising food prices, leading to protests and violence, notably the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. These tensions represented a critical juncture in French history that eventually gave rise to the revolution and significant political change.

Key Concepts

  • Economic Burdens: The third estate bore the financial brunt through excessive taxation amidst national debt.

  • Social Inequality: The feudal system obstructed social mobility and perpetuated privilege among the nobility and clergy.

  • Revolutionary Ideas: Enlightenment thought stimulated demands for equality and rights among the populace.

Memory Aids

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Taxed and Tired, we rise to demand, Liberty and rights, we take a stand!

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Once in France, the people grew weary under heavy taxes; they envisioned a land where equality could dry their tears and help them rise in arms for their rights.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • 'BRS' for Bread, Rights, and Sovereignty as the key concerns during the revolution.

🎯 Super Acronyms

'FRANCE' = Freedom, Rights, Abolition of privileges, National assembly, Change towards a constitution, Equality.

Examples

  • The influence of Enlightenment thinkers such as Rousseau and Locke on revolutionary ideals.

  • The storming of the Bastille as an act symbolic of resistance against tyranny.

Glossary of Terms

  • Term: Third Estate

    Definition:

    The social class in France that comprised commoners, including peasants, laborers, and the bourgeoisie, who were subject to taxation.

  • Term: Feudal System

    Definition:

    The social and economic system in pre-revolutionary France, characterized by a rigid hierarchy and obligations between different estates.

  • Term: Bastille

    Definition:

    A fortress in Paris that became a symbol of royal tyranny, stormed by revolutionaries on July 14, 1789.

  • Term: Enlightenment

    Definition:

    An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.