Discussion: Contributing factors to the French Revolution.
The French monarchy had been losing the confidence of the French people for many years. French monarchs at least from the time of Louis XIV had been spending extravagantly. They had built lavish palaces, thrown massive banquets and spent small fortunes on numerous mistresses. Meanwhile the common people were struggling to make ends meet as they worked long hours, ate small portions if at all and lived in conditions marginally better than the animals they raised. When monarchs were informed of the conditions that the majority of their people lived in they were unmoved. The accepted knowledge of that time stated that the king was chosen to rule by God and the benefits and lifestyle that came with the monarchy were deserved. The people who least could afford it shouldered the lion's share of the tax burden.
Ideas such as liberty, equality and democracy are ascribed to the time period surrounding the French Revolution. These ideas did not really belong to the French people so much as they were slogans shouted by the new middle class of merchants, bankers and craftsmen. They had lived in the shadow of the upper class for centuries. They had been considered inferior simply because of the name of their family. The fact that they contributed to the French culture and economy meant nothing to the nobles of France. As this new socio-economic class grew in numbers and influence they began to realize that France literally could not continue to function without their economic input. This realization emboldened them to begin to push for more inclusion in the political process. As they gained small concessions they desired to have a greater voice in the governance of their country.
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