Monica Geary
Pre-AP World History P.7
Mr. DeVries
Document Based Question
Why, if the First Estate had better financial benefits under the
rule of Louis XVI, did they contribute to, and help lead the French
Revolution?
French Revolution DBQ
The French Revolution happened when there was a huge economic downfall in
France. This of course, happened during the absolute reign of King Louis XVI. He and
his wife, Marie Antoinette, gambled the country into debt. Also, the people were being
influenced by enlightenment thinkers about how they could change their government for
the better.
Primary Sources:
1. "Browse French Revolution Texts." Center for History and New Media. Web. 22 Feb.
2010. <http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/browse/texts/>.
“2 February 1766
Sire,
The good of Your Majesty’s service, the interests of your justice and your authority,
and the salvation of the State, all make it imperative for your parlement to convey to Your
Majesty the just protest of the magistracy crushed by continuous illegal acts, the last of
which clearly reveals the use of absolute p ower, the subversion of the law’ s authority, and
the open infraction of the most sacred rights of the State. . . . New orders have formed a
body of commissioners at Saint -Malo responsible for co ntinuing the prosecution of this
same case against the members of the parlement sitting at Rennes.
If the criminal impulses of the enemies of the magistracy, secret enemies of the
State and of Your Majesty, can prevail to such a point that magistrates can be tried before
commissioners, then all rights of station and dignity are henceforth trampled underfoot, and
are, from then on, extinguished in the kingdom. . . .
Sire, if this law can be broken, all hierarchy by birth and distinction, all bodies, all
ranks, all dignities must henceforth fear the imperious force of absolute power. They then
must watch with terror each movement of a small number of persons who, at a word, are
transported to the farthest extremities of the kingdom, transformed into a tribunal , placed
into action, suspended and made to disappear, but who, in a new disguise, are placed
immediately in possession of the sole power to which all the legitimately established
powers in the state would be subordinated.
Sire, your parlement has already shown Your Majesty the contradiction that the
establishment of these commissions have with the laws of the state, the injuries they cause
to the security of the citizens, the impressions of fear and terror which they arouse in the
citizens' minds, and the slow but inevitable deterioration they would cause to even the
authority of the sovereign, whose principal strength is closely bound to the love of his
subjects and their confidence in his justice. . . ”
Source: Jules Flammermont, Remonstrances du Parlement de Paris au XVIIIe
siècle, vol. 2 (Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1888Ð98), 534Ð38.
2. "Cahiers 2." History Department, Hanover College. Department of History,
University of Pennsylvania. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
<http://history.hanover.edu/texts/cahiers2.html>.
“…Happiness ought not to be confined to a small number of men; it belongs to
all. It is not an exclusive privilege to be contested for; it is a common right which
must be preserved, which must be shared, and the public happiness is a source
from which each has a right to draw his supply.”
“…Art. I. In order to assure the exercise of this first and most sacred of the rights
of man, we ask that no citizen may be exiled, arrested or held prisoner except in
cases contemplated by the law and in accordance with a decree originating in the
regular courts of justice.”
Secondary Sources:
3. Clay, Casey. "French history: The causes of the French Revolution - by Casey
Clay - Helium." Helium - Where Knowledge Rules. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.helium.com/items/439670-french-history-the-causes-of-the-frenchrevolution>.
“The members of the First and Second Estates had traditionally held a position of power
within French society. These two estates were made up of the French Nobility and the
Clergy. In years past the nobles had much more autonomy. Throughout the course of the
18th century previous monarchs had consolidated power. This consolidation of power by
the monarchs also led to a decrease in power of the Catholic Church in matters of state.
These groups desired to regain some of this lost power; they wanted more of a say in the
political decision making process.”
4. "Causes of the French Revolution." Tgv reservation: timetable, maps and tgv tickets
reservation on bonjourlafrance.net. 1998. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-facts/france-history/causes-of-the-frenchrevolution.htm>.
“The system also excluded the nobles and the clergy from having to pay taxes (with the
exception of a modest quit rent). The tax burden was thus paid by the peasants, wage
earners, and the professional and business classes. These groups were also cut off from
most positions of power in the regime, causing unrest.”
Pictures:
5. "The Financial Crisis - French Revolution HistoryWiz." HistoryWiz: for students,
teachers and lovers of history. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.historywiz.com/financialcrisis.htm>.
Cartoon 1789 - Collection Banque Nationale de Paris (Paris: Editions Hervas,
1988)
The financial minister, Necker, looks on and says "the money was there last time
I looked." The nobles and clergy are sneaking out the door carrying sacks of
6. "Image:Revolutionary France 1789-94.jpg - QED." Main Page - QED. Web. 22
Feb. 2010.
<https://qed.princeton.edu/index.php/User:Student/Revolutionary_France_178994>.money, saying "We have it."
In 18th century France, revolution was stirring, among the First Estate, which
consisted of nobles and clergy. The nobles and clergy did not have to pay taxes, and even
with this privilege, they helped lead the French Revolution. Of course, the Third Estate
helped, but they had far less to gain then the First Estate. The First Estate revolted because
King Louis XVI had taken away their power, he was abusing the power that he had, and they
were also being inspired by enlightenment thinkers.
Nobles’ power had been decreasing from the beginning of King Louis XVI’s reign. He
made a point of taking away power from them. He did this by creating his palace at
Versailles, and encouraging them to spend their money on gambling. After a while, the
nobles wanted their power back, and also wanted a say in what was going on in the
government. “..These groups desired to regain some of this lost power, they wanted more of
a say in the political decision making process.”[Document 4]. Not only had the power of the
nobles been decreasing, but also that of the clergy. “This consolidation of power by the
monarchs also led to a decrease in power of the Catholic Church in matters of
state.”[Document 4]. Throughout history, the church had been the center of law. The fact
that its power was being taken away was enough to cause unrest in members of the church.
The moving away from the church and gaining of power of the monarchs could only lead to
one thing; absolute monarchy. After losing so much power, the nobles and clergy were
ready to stand by the Third Estate and even help lead during the French Revolution, in
order to get their power back.
The First Estate was not happy with the way that King Louis XVI was using his
power. He was spending all of the money that his country had on wars, an example is the
American Revolution. He and Marie Antoinette gambled their country into debt, and Marie
Antoinette broke many laws as well. To go along with the fact that the king and queen
abused their power, many were afraid of the powers of the absolute monarchs, which is
displayed in a letter to the king, “Sire, if this law can be broken, all hierarchy by birth and
distinction, all bodies, all ranks, all dignities must henceforth fear the imperious power of
absolute power.”[Document 1]. Not only were people scared of the power of an absolute
monarch, but they were also beginning to think differently about this form of government
because of the power it gave the king, and how he abused that power. They also were
thinking differently about it, because of the ideas of the enlightenment thinkers.
The Enlightenment thinkers John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de
Montesquieu all had theories about an ideal government. These thinkers were the largest
contributors to the American Revolution, which also inspired the French to make changes in
their society. John Locke states that “all people are born with the natural rights of life liberty
and property.” This idea is clearly expressed in a cahier of a noble at the time: “...Happiness
ought not to be confined to a small number of men; it belongs to all. It is not an exclusive
privilege to be contested for; it is a common right which must be preserved...” [Document 2].
This also corresponds with the beliefs of Rousseau who believed that the “government
should work for the common good, not for the wealthy few…” Locke also expressed how
important the judicial system was, which can also be found in a noble’s cahier: “…Art. I. In
order to assure the exercise of this first and most sacred of the rights of man, we ask that no
citizen may be exiled, arrested, or held prisoner except in cases contemplated by the law…”
[Document 2]. As for Baron de Montesquieu, he stated that the perfect system for
government was a separation of powers, which is not an absolute monarchy. The people of
France, mainly the First Estate, were ready to overthrow the monarchy and try out this new
“perfect” form of government. The enlightenment thinkers kick started the already
threatening French Revolution.
Although the First Estate had more to gain than everyone else, the Second and Third
Estates were large contributors to the revolution. Though, it was mainly the First Estate that
led it. They wanted to regain lost power, stop the king from abusing power, and bring an
end to absolute monarchy by using enlightenment ideas. Overall, the French Revolution was
successful in reforming the government of the time.
Bibliography
1. "Browse French Revolution Texts." Center for History and New Media. Web. 22 Feb.
2010. <http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/browse/texts/>.
2. "Cahiers 2." History Department, Hanover College. Department of History, University
of Pennsylvania. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
<http://history.hanover.edu/texts/cahiers2.html>.
3. "Causes of the French Revolution." Tgv reservation: timetable, maps and tgv tickets
reservation on bonjourlafrance.net. 1998. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-facts/france-history/causes-of-thefrench-revolution.htm>.
4. Clay, Casey. "French history: The causes of the French Revolution - by Casey Clay Helium." Helium - Where Knowledge Rules. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.helium.com/items/439670-french-history-the-causes-of-the-frenchrevolution>.
5. "The Financial Crisis - French Revolution HistoryWiz." HistoryWiz: for students,
teachers and lovers of history. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.historywiz.com/financialcrisis.htm>.
6. "Image:Revolutionary France 1789-94.jpg - QED." Main Page - QED. Web. 22 Feb.
2010.
<https://qed.princeton.edu/index.php/User:Student/Revolutionary_France_178994>.