Before the French Revolution, the social system was divided into three parts: the clergy, the nobility, and the peasants (or the common man). Like the social system in the current-day United States, the people with the most control were fewest in number. The nobility was the governing class and they imposed taxes on the lowest class and was exempt from taxes, itself. The clergy had a right to rule, and that right was given to them by the Creator. The top two classes were free of taxes and the poorest class carried the financial burden for the country while having little to say in the governance. Because the people with the least amount of money was responsible for creating revenue for the country, France was having some extreme financial difficulties. France resorted back to selling offices to raise money for the country. This does little to help because people didn't consider the country's economic strain as enough reason to do the right thing. Most of the people were still concerned with their own financial gain as opposed to the financial gain of their countrymen and their country. The nobles decide to offer a hand in fixing the economy of France but they want to do this in exchange for some political power, but the clergy didn't want to agree with that. Because there were three estates (or social classes) in France, the King decides that they will vote on how to fix the situation. Each estate, collectively, would get one vote. To appease the largest and weakest estate, the King tells them that they can double their number of representatives. Doubling the number of representatives technically weakens the individuals' voting power because there are more people making a decision on one vote. However, the third estate has decided since they are the most populous estate, they can be the voice of the common man in the country. So, they decide to call themselves the National Assembly, which would now represent the people of France. All in all, France is redistricted and the third estate is giving much of the power that it had requested, or demanded through protest. They establish a new consistution for the country. Many cultural and political changes are made because of the revolt of the people. Anytime I read about the struggle in France, I instantly think of events that have occurred in American history. There have been many instances were the people were denied the right to do as they choose--civil rights, women's rights, abortion rights, etc.--and the people have to stand up to authority to let them know that the government that governs the "people" must include the "people's" input. I think that revolutions across the globe are very similiar regardless of their historical background or their reasons for revolting. I think the pattern will continue to repeat itself throughout time.
Before the French Revolution, the social system was divided into three parts: the clergy, the nobility, and the peasants (or the common man). Like the social system in the current-day United States, the people with the most control were fewest in number. The nobility was the governing class and they imposed taxes on the lowest class and was exempt from taxes, itself. The clergy had a right to rule, and that right was given to them by the Creator. The top two classes were free of taxes and the poorest class carried the financial burden for the country while having little to say in the governance.
ReplyDeleteBecause the people with the least amount of money was responsible for creating revenue for the country, France was having some extreme financial difficulties. France resorted back to selling offices to raise money for the country. This does little to help because people didn't consider the country's economic strain as enough reason to do the right thing. Most of the people were still concerned with their own financial gain as opposed to the financial gain of their countrymen and their country.
The nobles decide to offer a hand in fixing the economy of France but they want to do this in exchange for some political power, but the clergy didn't want to agree with that. Because there were three estates (or social classes) in France, the King decides that they will vote on how to fix the situation. Each estate, collectively, would get one vote. To appease the largest and weakest estate, the King tells them that they can double their number of representatives. Doubling the number of representatives technically weakens the individuals' voting power because there are more people making a decision on one vote. However, the third estate has decided since they are the most populous estate, they can be the voice of the common man in the country. So, they decide to call themselves the National Assembly, which would now represent the people of France.
All in all, France is redistricted and the third estate is giving much of the power that it had requested, or demanded through protest. They establish a new consistution for the country. Many cultural and political changes are made because of the revolt of the people.
Anytime I read about the struggle in France, I instantly think of events that have occurred in American history. There have been many instances were the people were denied the right to do as they choose--civil rights, women's rights, abortion rights, etc.--and the people have to stand up to authority to let them know that the government that governs the "people" must include the "people's" input. I think that revolutions across the globe are very similiar regardless of their historical background or their reasons for revolting. I think the pattern will continue to repeat itself throughout time.