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Summary CIE A Level French Revolution
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1. What were the causes and immediate outcomes of the1789 revolution
France was ruled by an absolute monarch, Louis XVI. There were regional
differences across the country, and a strong tradition for each part to
deal with their own local issues. The country had dated legal systems and
different taxation systems, and trade could not move freely between
parts of France due to barriers. Made being king harder.
v Social divisions
§ Majority of the population were poor peasants
§ agriculture was not highly developed and was inefficient. Peasants
farmed tiny plots of land with the sole aim of survival while being
taxed heavily by government, their landlords and the Church.
Peasants also had to maintain their local communities and
landlords’ roads with no pay.
§ 1770-1789 only 3 good harvests, resulted in rural poverty and
hunger. The economy couldn’t provide for those living in the
countryside, which saw many move to towns.
§ The now growing poor and unskilled population moving into the
town and no chance of employment because unlike Britain, France
didn’t have as many factories.
§ The existing urban class saw their wages decline as food prices rose.
After a poor harvest when prices increased dramatically the fear of
starvation arose with no money for necessities.
§ Increasing poverty, worsened by a decline in real wages, led
to unrest. A hungry, highly taxed lower class not represented
, by politicians with the gap between the rich and the poor was
growing.
§ The poor saw those they paid taxes to enjoying lives of luxury, the
legal system worked against them.
§ The middle class was well educated and rich. They were involved in
either commerce or industry, or in professions.
§ The vast majority of France’s future leaders came from middle
class. Some were increasingly involved in aspects of local
government and administration, but became frustrated by their
powerlessness. They weren’t allowed in senior positions
§ Only the higher class could expect to take up those jobs. While
people in the middle class were not as heavily taxed, they did pay
some taxes, and resented the system. Many traditional middle-class
career posts, began to be passed from father to son, or could be
bought for cash. Jobs were no longer decided by ability. As a result,
money influenced local administration and the law.
v The church and the aristocracy
The Roman Catholic Church was a very wealthy organisation. It owned
land across the country and paid no taxes they also controlled most of
the education in France and also approved or disapproved all
publications. The Church was determined to maintain its control over
France, and to keep hold of its wealth. The most senior posts in the
Church went to members of the aristocracy, often inexperienced men
with little interest in their duties. As a result, many clergy from the lower
classes – often more devout men could not progress to senior roles
where they would be able to direct. Although the Church did not pay
taxes, it did pay a contribution to the government. This contribution was
paid, by the lower clergy and not the wealthy bishops. These factors led
to a growing division between rich and poor within the clergy. This was
one of the reasons why the Church was not able to present a united front
to the revolutionary forces that later set out to destroy it.
The aristocracy dominated France. They paid virtually no taxes. They
were also exempt from things like conscription and responsibility for road
repairs. Instead, they enjoyed a range of benefits, often created centuries
earlier. They dominated all the key posts at court and in the government,
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