What are the causes and consequences of French Revolution?

Causes of French Revolution were-

a. Political causes-

i. Despotic rule of the Bourbon dynasty- the Bourbon dynasty was ruling over France from 1553 and all the rulers followed the divine right theory which stated the absolute rule of king. The common masses had no say in the conduct of the government as the king had the complete rule over the whole system of France.

ii. Aggressive policy of taxation- the king exercised a great amount of tax over the common masses of France. The society which comprised of three estate generals only the third estate of peasants, artisans and small businessmen were bearing the burden of paying taxes.

iii. War-the increasing participation in war increased the burden over the royal treasury so the king compelled the third estate to pay as much taxes as he wanted them to pay.

2. Social cause-

i. France was following an old regime wherein the nobles and clergies were given the birth privileges of not paying any taxes whereas the whole burden would be borne by the third estate. The third estate people were also bound to serve the other two estates whenever they need their services.

3. Economic Causes-

i. Subsistence crisis- the time when king Louis 16^th decided to increase taxes France was experience the situation of subsistence crisis i.e., the common masses did not even have the money to afford food and other necessities of life.

ii. Bankruptcy of France- due to the oppressive policies of king the people were facing grim situations of poverty, starvation and government was least bother to look after them due to the long wars they were fighting with Britain.

4. Intellectual Causes- Foreign trade led to the birth of the middle class. These people wants to abolish the divine rule and eradicate the birth rights of estates. They were the intellectual people who wanted the government to work on the ideas of freedom and equality.

Effects of the French Revolution-

1. Principles of democracy- the French revolution gave impetus to the principles of democracy i.e., liberty, equality and fraternity. It talked of equality to all the people and removal of all the birth rights.

2. End of monarchy- the French Revolution brought an end to the long monarchical rule and national assembly rose to prominence which made the constitution of republican France.

3. End of Feudalism- feudalism which was a feature of the medieval Europe ended in France after the revolution. The government confiscated the lands of rich feudal and destroyed their special rights and concessions.

4. Declaration of human rights- The French declaration of human rights was based on the thoughts of French philosophers. It gave the fundamental rights of equality, liberty and fraternity, private property to common masses.

5. Rise of Nationalism- Revolution destroyed inequality and it created unity among the people which resulted in the rise of nationalism among the people of France.