The French Revolution
The French Revolution was a large period of time with major uproars and protests in the country, which started in the year 1789. This uprising dramatically changed the ways of not only the country but the rest of Europe. The people managed to change the government system from an absolute monarch, which had been their active rulinlg for many years, to a republic by the end of the revolution. Some of the causes of the French Revolution include that they had taken part in the Seven Year War, and the American Revolution prior, and that due to all of the money spent on these wars and other expenses, they were in a bad economic state. Also, the people were sick and tired of their monarch, King Louis XVI having all the power whilst most of the population was poor and in the Third Estate.
This image was painted to resemble a typical assassination using the guillotine.
The Death of Louis XVI
During this time, France was deep in an economic crisis. This was because of their involvement and aid in the Seven Year War, and the American Revolutionary War. They were under great pressure to redeem themselves from the mess that they had caused. They tried making the entire third estate pay extremely high taxes, but nothing seemed to work. The public began to become angry with their monarch, Louis XVI, blaming him for their country's problems. Luckily, with the new invention of the guillotine, they planned on executing their king. They ended up successful, and Napoleon Bonaparte came to power.
High Food Prices
One of the most predominant reasons as to why the population of France revolted, was because they were starving. During the time, society was divided in to the first, second, and third estates. With 97 percent of the population in the third estate with hardly any money and paying all of the taxes, most of the population could not even afford to feed their children. At the time, France was in tough economic state, and bread prices began to increase. The people got extremely angry, and began to revolt. In one incident, a baker tried to sell his bread for 34 sous (pennies) one day, when the previous day it only had cost 30. The local people began to attack his house by throwing flour and dough at it. This was also known as the Women's March on Versaille, because many women took part in the protests. However, the main reason why bakers at the time began to raise their prices, is because the government regulated how much flour each baker was allowed to use each day.
Works Cited:
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/frenchrev/context.html
Modern World History textbook, published by McDougal Littell
http://www.historywiz.com/womensmarch.htm
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/frenchrev/context.html
Modern World History textbook, published by McDougal Littell
http://www.historywiz.com/womensmarch.htm