Causes and Key Events of the French Revolution

📋 Course Outline

1. Causes of Revolution
2. Political Causes
3. Economic Causes
4. Social Causes
5. Intellectual Causes
6. Key Events
7. Estates-General and National Assembly
8. Storming of Bastille
9. Declaration of Rights
10. Reign of Terror
11. Major Figures
12. Robespierre

📖 1. Causes of Revolution

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Absolute Monarchy: A political system where the king holds supreme authority, with power believed to be granted by divine right, limiting political participation by citizens.
• Estates System: France's social hierarchy divided into three estates—clergy (First), nobility (Second), and commoners (Third)—with the Third Estate bearing most taxes and having limited political power.
• Enlightenment: An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, and skepticism of traditional authority, inspiring revolutionary ideas.
• Financial Crisis: Severe government debt caused by war expenses and royal spending, leading to economic instability and calls for reform.
• Tax Inequality: Disproportionate taxation where the Third Estate paid most taxes, while the privileged estates were largely exempt, fueling resentment.
• Famine and Food Shortages: Poor harvests and rising grain prices in the late 1780s caused widespread hunger, unrest, and economic hardship.

📝 Essential Points