Chapter : 1. French Revolution
Causes Of The French Revolution
5. Influence of the Philosophers and Writers : There were many French Philosophers and thinkers like Montesquieu, Rousseu, Voltaire and Mirabue who exposed the evils prevailing in the system. They infused people with the ideal of liberty, equality and fraternity.
1. Charles Monstesquieu : A nobleman by birth, he become a lawyer and a judge. In his book, “The Spirit of Laws”, he criticised autocracy and praised the democratic republic.
2. Francis Aronet Voltaire : Voltaire was another out standing philosopher of the Revolution. He wanted the people to think about their material life on earth and forget about heaven. He condemned the Church which supported the privileged class and ignored the poor.
3. Jean, Jacques Rousseau : Rousseau is regarded as the architect of the French Revolution. He gave the slogan “Man was born Free yet he is everywhere in chains”. In the famous book, “The Social Contract”, he proved that the government was the result of a social contract between the people on the one hand and ruler on the other. So if the ruler did not fulfill the contract, the people had the right to withdraw their loyalty to him and bring down the tyranny of the ruler by revolting.
6. Political Causes :
(i) The political structure of the French state was highly unpopular with the people who were burdened with heavy taxes and insecure conditions of life and property.
(ii) Divine rights of the Kings, despotism and tyranny of the French monarchs topped by the extravagance and inefficiency of the Bourbon kings.
(iii) Louis XV indulged in a life of ease and pleasure, was not interested in administrative reforms or the welfare of the people.
(iv) Louis XVI through good natured was completely under the influence of incompetent and corrupt ministers and a domineering queen, Marie Antoinette.
(v) Absence of any representative body to voice the needs of the people. Local bodies called Parliament were courts of justice rather than voice of people
Trending Articles & Blogs
Download Old Sample Papers For Class X & XII
Download Practical Solutions of Chemistry and Physics for Class 12 with Solutions