Causes of the French Revolution

What is the most important ideas for the concept of REVOLUTION?

• peaceful transition

• deep change

• political system

• social change

The French Revolution happened in the...

• late 1780s

• late 1890s

• early 1700s

• 19th century

One of the main causes of the French Revolution was...

• political unrest

• social inequality

• conservative ideas

• liberal ideas promoted by the nobility

It was TRUE about the 1st ESTATE (clergy)...

• They were the priests, bishops, archbishops, monks... who worked for the Church.

• They paid fewer taxes than the commoners

• They did not pay any taxes to the government

• The Church held a lot of land and power

• The lower clergy had a lot of political power and was close to the king.

It is TRUE about the 2nd ESTATE or the NOBILITY...

• People with hereditary titles like dukes, counts, barons.

• Nobles rarely worked for the government and were not close to the king.

• Many nobles had government positions and were advisors to the monarch

• Nobles had a lot of land.

• Paid no taxes

It was FALSE about the 3rd ESTATE or commoners...

• If you were not the monarch, a noble, or part of the clergy, you were part of the 3rd estate

• About 98% of the total population

• A very diverse group, from the bourgeoisie (middle class) to poor workers and peasants.

• Did not pay all the taxes

Other important CAUSES of the FRENCH REVOLUTION were

• Financial crisis due to expensive wars in the 1700s

• Expensive wars against Austria

• Unfair taxation system

• Good harvests and an inexpensive food

• Enlightenment ideas of rights and freedom

Which social class(es) paid ALL the taxes in pre-revolutionary France, before 1789?

• 1st estate or clergy

• 2nd estate , or nobles

• 3rd estate, or commoners

• both the 2nd and 3rd estates

Which ENLIGHTENMENT philosopher(s) influenced the French Revolution?

• Thomas Hobbes

• John Locke

• J. J. Rousseau

• None of them

Which ENLIGHTENMENT IDEA(S) had the strongest impact(s) on the outbreak and the demands of the revolution?

• A positive view of human nature and the state of nature

• Basic natural rights to life, liberty, and property

• The right to rebel against an unfair or inefficient government

• Defense of the rule of law or a government that was under the law