Causes of the French Revolution

The French Revolution is one of the most important events in modern European history, setting the stage for the spread of popular government not only in Europe, but also onto every inhabited continent. While the French Revolution could be explained in an infinite number of ways, I am highlighting five causes in this post.

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1. The French Financial Crisis

• France’s loss in the Seven Years’ War and its subsequent support (military and financial) for the American Revolution added debt that strained the French government’s finances.
• The royal family lived in inordinate luxury at Versailles and there was a perception of extravagance while others in France suffered (Marie Antionette was known as “Madame Deficit.”)
• The Church and the nobility were exempt from most forms of taxation (e.g., the taille), making it difficult for the French government to raise revenue.
• The French government’s financial crisis provided the emergency situation that made it necessary for Louis XVI to call the Estates General.

2. Poverty Among the Lower Classes

(Urban Working Class and Peasantry)

• Bad harvests in 1788 and 1789 caused grain shortages, leading to higher grain prices and an overall higher cost of living.
• At the same time, the working class faced lower wages, making it even more difficult to cope with the higher cost of living.

3. The Rise of the Bourgeoisie

• The French professional class (educated people who don’t work with their hands) gained wealth and influence in the 18th century, but this increased wealth and influence was not accompanied by any institutional political power.
• This increasingly influential class wanted to be represented in an official representative body with legislative authority, resembling the British Parliament.
• When the Estates General was called, it was divided into the Three Estates, with 95% of the population getting one of three votes. Louis DID NOT allow the delegates to the Estates General to vote by head (as a nation), insisting on keeping the traditional form of the Estates General, which gave the privileged estates the opportunity to run the table.

4. The Influence of Enlightenment Philosophy

• Government is created by a social contract in order to better protect each individual’s natural rights of life, liberty, and property. Divine Right monarchy is illegitimate. (Locke)
• Religious toleration and a contempt for the power of the Catholic Church. (Voltaire)
• Government power should not be consolidated in one place. Its powers should be separated in order to prevent tyranny. (Montesquieu)
• Government policy should reflect the General Will of the people. (Rousseau) 
  NOTE: Rousseau’s ideas were most influential during the Radical Phase of the Revolution.

Voltaire's Enlightenment philosophy influenced the French Revolution.

5. The Ineptitude of Louis XIV

• After the failure of the Estates General, Louis allowed the National Assembly to meet in 1789 but threatened delegates by bringing troops to Versailles. The Women’s March on Versailles led to the royal family being relocated to Paris.
• In the early stages of the French Revolution, Louis had a veto over legislation, which he used to veto measures that were popular with the people.
• In 1792, he attempted to escape from Paris and join with Royalist military forces near the border. He was caught and brought back to Paris under guard.