Main Ideas
France's social structure was made up of three estates. The First Estate, the church, had all the power and money. It was the smallest group. The Second Estate, the nobles, was also a small group that had money and reserved privileges. The majority of the population was in the Third Estate, with the least money and rights. They were unjustly taxed. France had become in dept from deficit spending. They were having poor harvests, and the Third Estate was starving. The Third Estatecreated the National Assembly as an attempt to reform France's government.
Details
The American Revolution happened right before the French Revolution. It had influenced France to reform. The majority of the citizens wanted to limit the power of the monarchy and the catholic church, end feudalism, and gain their rights. The French wrote the Declaration of Rights of Man using The Declaration of Idependence as a model.
Compare/Contrast
- The French, Glorious, and American revolutions all had written constituions. The French Revolution had the Declaration of Rights of Man and the American Revolution had the Declaration of Independence, both were to protect the rights of the countries's citizens. The Glorious Revolution had the English Bill of Rights that limited the monarchy. Some ideas from the English Bill of Rights were used in the US Constituion which changed all other governments.
- The French, Glorious, and American revolutions also created a seperation of powers in their government. England seperated their government into a ruling monarch and Parliament. The US divided the government's powers into 3 branches: the judicial, legislative, and executive branches. Both governments have using the same model today. France made their government into the National Assembly and a ruling monarch, but it soon failed.
- The Declaration of Independence and Declaration of Rights of Man both emphasized idividual liberty. They were to protect the natural rights of their citizens. The Declaration of Independence is still used today, and it is an example for other countries, but the Declaration of Right of Man didn't last.
- Like the Glorious Revolution, the American and French revolutions limited their government. They were to protect against tyranny. Many governments used their ideas to get rid of dictatorships.
- The American and French revolutions established freedom of religion in their countries. The French Revolution put church rule under the state. The American Revolution seperated the powers of church and state. In Syria, one small religious group has all the power.
- The American Revolution was successful and has lasted, unlike the French Revolution and the conflict in Egypt. The French Revolution was able to get rid of the three estate system, but monarchy was soon re-established. Egypt's protests have not yet been able to reform their government.