Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Origins of the French Revolution
- Short Term Factors
- Foreign Policy
- The American War of Independence-
(1776-1783), 1066 million livre spent, in the
short term worsening the already weak
financial situation of the crown.
- Ideas such as liberty and democracy spread.
- Financial Crisis
- On 20th August 1786-
nearing bankruptcy, 112
million livre deficit in 1786.
- Increased in 1788 to 126 million livre, anticipated that for
1780, interest payments of the deficit would amount to
62 per cent of receipts.
- Economic
Crisis
- The economy was largely based on agriculture,
therefore the bad harvests in 1778-9,
1781-2,1785-6 had a large impact.
- In 1788-9 bread was 88 % of a
labourer's wage.
- Textile production fell by 50% in 1789, largely affecting
women in rural areas .
- Ordinary people accused land-owners and tithe-owners of grain
hoarding.
- Politicisation of the
Third Estate came out of
the economic crisis.