Conditions Prior to The French Revolution
Prior to the French Revolution, France was going through a hard time, there was a vast distance between the Rich and the normal people. The Rich did not understand the poor people. It was so bad infact that one author states "The rulers treated the ruled, the vast mass of the nation, as people created for their convenience"(Finnemore) this was void between the rulers and the ruled is what eventually would be a major part of why there was a revolution. In addition to treating the peasants like slaves the rich also did not pay taxes, even a land tax, even though they owned most of the land. This was because the King of France wanted to make all the Nobles loyal to him by taking away all their taxes and by building majestic court which to name a few were in Paris, Versailles, and Fontainebleau.
The rich did not understand the poor and continued to taxe them at crazy rates. An example the people had to pay three taxes, which were "in coin, in kind, and in labour"(Finnemore) this meant that they had to pay an income tax, do house work for the Lord, and also give goods to the Lords house. The poor people became ever more unhappy leading to the French Revolution.
At the same time that all of this was happening bread prices increased by "tenfold"(HowStuffWorks), because of this people began attacking bakers, and taking bread. Because of all the tormoil, the French Finance Minister called a meeting of the Estates General, which was a three chamber version of government, much like our own but our own is a two chamber version with a Senate and House. The Three Estates were the Clergy, the Nobility, and the third was the people. But the problem with the three estates was that the Clergy and the Nobility were often voted together, and shouldered the the third estate with all the taxes.
After much debate in the General Estates the First and Second Estates locked out the Third Estate, who reconvened on a tennis court and pledged to make a constitution for the people of France.The Third Estate called themselves the National Assembly.
After the National Assembly convened the King Louise the XV or 15th if you prefer rounded up the army and placed them outside of Paris. After the people of Paris realized that he was not going to accept the National Assemblies decision, they invaded the armories, and then stormed the Basilica. Which led to the begining of the French Revolution.
At the same time that this happened France entered a Famine that cause most of the wheat, a main component in bread to go bad, because of the the price of bread went up by a ridiculous amount and everybody had to pay a larger amount of their paycheck that went to bread as shown below by the chart.From (The Cave)(Counted as quote
BREAD AND THE WAGE EARNERS BUDGET* 1st # is average wage 2nd # is percentage spend on bread in 1788 and 3rd # is percentage spent in 1789
Occupation
Laborer in Reveillon wallpaper works $15
60%
97%
Builders Laborer $18
50%
80%
Journeyman mason $24
37%
60%
Journeyman, locksmith, carpenter, etc. $30
30%
48%
Sculptor, goldsmith $60
15%
24%
*The price of the 4 pound loaf consumed daily by workingman and his family as the main element in their diet **Effective wage represents the daily wage adjusted for 121 days of nonwork per calendar year for religious observation, etc.
The rich did not understand the poor and continued to taxe them at crazy rates. An example the people had to pay three taxes, which were "in coin, in kind, and in labour"(Finnemore) this meant that they had to pay an income tax, do house work for the Lord, and also give goods to the Lords house. The poor people became ever more unhappy leading to the French Revolution.
At the same time that all of this was happening bread prices increased by "tenfold"(HowStuffWorks), because of this people began attacking bakers, and taking bread. Because of all the tormoil, the French Finance Minister called a meeting of the Estates General, which was a three chamber version of government, much like our own but our own is a two chamber version with a Senate and House. The Three Estates were the Clergy, the Nobility, and the third was the people. But the problem with the three estates was that the Clergy and the Nobility were often voted together, and shouldered the the third estate with all the taxes.
After much debate in the General Estates the First and Second Estates locked out the Third Estate, who reconvened on a tennis court and pledged to make a constitution for the people of France.The Third Estate called themselves the National Assembly.
After the National Assembly convened the King Louise the XV or 15th if you prefer rounded up the army and placed them outside of Paris. After the people of Paris realized that he was not going to accept the National Assemblies decision, they invaded the armories, and then stormed the Basilica. Which led to the begining of the French Revolution.
At the same time that this happened France entered a Famine that cause most of the wheat, a main component in bread to go bad, because of the the price of bread went up by a ridiculous amount and everybody had to pay a larger amount of their paycheck that went to bread as shown below by the chart.From (The Cave)(Counted as quote
BREAD AND THE WAGE EARNERS BUDGET* 1st # is average wage 2nd # is percentage spend on bread in 1788 and 3rd # is percentage spent in 1789
Occupation
Laborer in Reveillon wallpaper works $15
60%
97%
Builders Laborer $18
50%
80%
Journeyman mason $24
37%
60%
Journeyman, locksmith, carpenter, etc. $30
30%
48%
Sculptor, goldsmith $60
15%
24%
*The price of the 4 pound loaf consumed daily by workingman and his family as the main element in their diet **Effective wage represents the daily wage adjusted for 121 days of nonwork per calendar year for religious observation, etc.