Royal AbsolutismRoyal Absolutism

In the late seventeenth century, the king of France, Louis XIV, declared his rule to be an absolute monarchy.

An absolute monarchy is when the king or queen controls every aspect of their citizen’s lives.

This concept was designed by a man by the name Jacques- Benigne Boussuet

Royal AbsolutismRoyal Absolutism

Initially the citizens and parlements came to the king with proposals for civil liberties and other amendments to the king’s will, however the king disregarded them and said he held all the power in the kingdom.

Royal AbsolutismRoyal Absolutism

After hearing these proposals, the king dissolved parlement and instituted his own courts that would rule the way he wanted.

The kings decisions, which did not have the influence of his citizens led to unnecessary war, famine, debt and ultimately a revolution

National DebtNational Debt

Another main cause of the French Revolution was the horrible debt that the country was beginning to fall into.

This national debt caused for a major uproar in the demand for change, this change brought about the Revolution

Debt Cont.Debt Cont.

The National Debt problem was a direct result of the Inequitable System of Tax and how it was so poorly managed by the financial systems

Because of this the government plummeted into even deeper debt since no system could relieve the country of its debt.

Types of DebtTypes of Debt

Internal Debt- this was the money that was owed to the lenders with the Country. This lead to a type of civil distrust amongst the government and the people due to the large amounts of overspending.

External Debt- money that is owed to foreign lenders. To compensate for the debt the Government attempted to issue securities in return for the money they were given such as government bonds and bills. These external spendings affected France’s foreign affairs in a major way.

Enlightenment IdealsEnlightenment Ideals

Discontent of the Discontent of the BourgeoisieBourgeoisie

Power in Paris

Royal gov’t

March of the Bourgeoisie

Raising money

Taxes abolished

Church not opposed

Oath of allegiance to the Constitution

Pope puts an anathema on Revolution

FamineFamine

Main Reason – Shortage of Grain

Prices Rise

Poor/Lower Class (Majority) Cannot afford

Starvation

Another reason - El Nino

El NinoEl Nino

Periodic Change in atmospheric pressure (Heat rises or lowers based on water temperature)

Laki Eruption 1783

Raised Temperatures – irregular harvests

Works CitedWorks Cited

"1789: France." World Socialist Movement. July 1989. Web. 08 Sept. 2009.<http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/etheory/

1905-1985/89French%20Revolution.htm>.

Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack R. “Monarchy Embattled.” Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution. 2001. George Mason University and City University of New York. 8 Sept. 2009 < http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/ credits.html>.

Works CitedWorks Cited

"Causes of the French Revolution." Tgv reservation: timetable, maps and tgv tickets reservation on bonjourlafrance.net. Bonjour La France. Web. 08 Sept. 2009. <http://bonjourlafrance.net/ france-facts/france-history/causes-of-the-french-revolution.htm>.

"Causes of the French Revolution." Wikipedia. Web. 5 Sept. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_the_French_Revolution>.

"El Nino - Southern Oscillation." Wikipedia. Web. 6 Sept. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_nino>.