Causes of the french revolution essays

Causes of the french revolution essays The statement citing the essential cause of the French Revolution was the power clash between the powerful, rising bourgeoisie and a well-established aristocracy defending it's privileges. The causes of the French Revolution, being provoked by this collision of powers, were the financial debt of the government and the long-standing political differences in the government. After the Seven Years War, the government of France had major financial troubles. Marie Antoinette had very lavish tastes and only added to the huge debt France was currently stuck with. This was worsened when France aided the American Revolution against Great Britain, seeing as the government had already reached great financial debt. Also with the American Revolution, French soldiers came back and realized that they too, were oppressed and wanted representation for the people. The financial problems were not fixed and continued because of the government's inability to be allowed to tax the wealth holders of the French nation. There was a great absurdity in France being a rich nation with a government in poverty. The deteriorating finances of the government are what triggered the prolonged differences between the Bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. The political differences between the monarchy and the nobles came about after the Seven Years' war also. The increasing debt of the government escalated the hope for the monarchy to resume an "absolute power" status as it did with Louis XIV. The only result of the attempts for absolutism by the monarchy was a series of new and increased taxes on the nobles. The aristocracy immediately reacted to these taxes as declaring them unfair and would not pay them. The monarchy made many attempts at taxation, such as a land tax, feudal dues, and salt tax, but the nobles defeated each of these. The government continued to become poorer and poorer and it seemed the only successful taxation was done towards the pe...