Problems present prior to the French Revolution

	Conditions
Political lack of rights unfair treatment liberals wanted a constitution	barbaric tortures third estate had no voice in making or changing the laws that kept them under the absolute control of their landlords End of the Bourbon dynasty and the kings seemed to lack wisdom or care for their people and country Marie Antoinette was viewed as a foreigner and further aggravated the situation with her extravagant spending
Economic unequal distribution of wealth heavy taxes	lords collected feudal dues from the peasants heavy taxes 1/10 to church (tithe) rents of peasants raised nobles began charging for services previously free in the cities food prices increased because of shortage of food bourgeoisie wanted freedom to trade with other countries without interference large national debt left over from the wars fought by Louis XIV All RESULTED IN INFLATION third estate resented paying taxes while the other estates did not
Social lack of freedom	great inequalities population grew attitude of the nobility was that the lower classes were born to bear the burden of taxes only advancement of the social classes was through an unlikely marriage to upper class (no social mobility)

Religious Intolerance-only religion permitted was Roman Catholic

back to general conditions

1. lack of rights

2. unequal distribution of wealth

3. lack of freedom

4. heavy taxes

5. unfair treatment

1. Wealth and power are distributed unequally. (Social/Political)

The nobility and clergy together owned 30% of the land even though they were 2% of the population. The king was an absolute monarch. Civil rights do not exist.

2. Severe economic problems exist. (Economic)

The tax system allowed the Church to collect the tithe from everyone. Nobles collected taxes in money and kind from their estate workers. Tax farming was practiced. The nobles and clergy paid very few taxes. The vast majority of tax money came from the peasants and middle class. Commoners paid the salt tax and the corvee. France was bankrupt because of extravagant court spending. For three years before the revolution there were bad harvests resulting in inflation and food shortages.

3. A group of intellectuals criticizes the government (opposing sides)

The philosophers of the Enlightenment criticized the government of France. They wanted advancement based on merit, civil liberties, and a democratic constitution.

4. The government uses its power to maintain things as they are and repress dissents such as protect action and literature.

The"lettre do cachet"was used to arrest people without a charge.

5. The classes of people are in conflict, and the most ambitious are blocked from gaining power.

The middle class intellectuals who believed in the ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers wanted a voice in running the country. They resented nobility because of taxation. Only members of the nobility could hold high government, military, or church offices.

6. Different groups may want different changes.

Many intellectuals wanted France to be a constitutional representative monarch as England was. Other intellectual leaders wanted to get rid of the king and the nobility.

7. The people are able to obtain weapons in fairly large amounts.

The mobs of Paris attacked the Hospital of the Invalids and obtained weapons.

8. There are ideals in which the people can believe that are worth fight. These ideals often stated in very simple terms such as slogan or war cry.

The slogan of the French Revolution was"Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity."