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DBQ: The French Revolution

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The French revolution began in 1789 and dramatically changed France and all of Europe.
While there were many causes of the revolution including influence from the American revolution, most of the causes centered around the socioeconomic inequality of the 3rd estate. The 3rd estate, which made up 92% of French’s population, owned most of the land, paid most of the taxes, but they were not given as much legislative power in the National Assembly and that made the 3rd estate extremely angry.
King Louis XVI was the king at the time before the revolution and because of food shortages, prices rose and there was great discontent throughout France and at the same time, the French government was almost bankrupt. The king rose expenses to pay for wars. …show more content…
The 3rd estate believed that this social system was not right because it determined the rights and social standing of a person. They believed that there should be a document, like the Constitution, that provides basic human rights for everyone in France. Jean Jacques Rousseau believed in the same things as the rest of the 3rd estate. He wrote a pamphlet, later banned by the French government, that showed his support for the basic human rights of every person in France. He, just like the 3rd estate, believed “Man is born free” and “ The power to make laws belongs to the people and only to the people.” (Document F) The French government banned this pamphlet because it went against what the government believed and so the 3rd estate decided to work together to change France. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was created based on the beliefs of the 3rd estate and people like Jean Jacques Rousseau. Because of the 3rd estate, people who believed in different things “ [could not] be disturbed (bothered, arrested) because of his opinions, even religious…” ( Document K) and that helped people safer and France become a republic. There were many causes to the French revolution, but most of it comes from the socioeconomic inequality of the 3rd estate. King Louis XVI spent so much money that caused the 3rd estate to fall into poverty

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