Practice+InNo+christopherc2012+08.25.10

[from textbook: the lives of the peasants compared to other social classes]




 * Causes of the French Revolution**
 * unequal social classes
 * poverty
 * unequal taxation
 * scientists opinions


 * French Revolution**
 * 1789 -
 * to change their government, society, religion and economy

I believe that the French government during that time could have done a better job to help france become more stable. It was only because France was ruled by a king or queen that made it impossible for them to make negotiations without the use of violence.

Social Classes
 * first estate - clergy (own law courts, did not have to pay certain taxes)
 * 130k people
 * 138 archbishops and bishops
 * 2800 cannons and priors
 * 37,000 nuns, 23000 monks
 * 60,000 parish priests
 * second estate - nobility (could carry swords, special treatment in laws, did not need to pay certain taxes, no military service)
 * 120k - 350k people
 * king and queen
 * nobles: knights, barons, lords, dukes
 * third estate (no privileges)
 * 27M people
 * lawyers
 * doctors
 * businessmen
 * merchants
 * soldiers
 * peasants
 * shopkeepers
 * craftsmen
 * clergy ran education and religion, and were therefore given privileges
 * nobles became less powerful

Poverty
 * wealth was unequal among people
 * many were incredibly poor, nobles were rich
 * millions relied on charity funds to stay alive

Unequal Taxation
 * families paid 10-15% of earnings to government
 * nobles and clergy could avoid some taxes
 * nobles and clergy rented land to peasants
 * everyone had to give funds to the church
 * some had difficulty that they had to pay in crops

Scientists
 * only the scientists and educated people questioned society and how it worked
 * scientists invented new ways of growing crops and proposing reforms to help the society
 * Voltaire: writer and philosopher who questioned the beliefs of the french church, and how it was unjust
 * because of scientists, public views started to change, and most people wanted a more humane system where everyone was equal

Summary: This section of the textbook talks about some of the causes that led up to the French Revolution in political, social, economical, and ideological ways, all four of the factors of anylasis

Questions: Was there anything the neighboring countries did to help France improve their government?