Jean-Jacques

Rousseau:Influence: Rousseau's
political philosophy, particularly
outlined in his work "The Social
Contract," emphasized the idea
of the general will and the
concept that political authority
should derive from the consent of
the governed. His ideas on
equality and popular sovereignty
inspired revolutionary
sentiments.

Montesquieu:Influence:
Montesquieu's "The Spirit of the
Laws" proposed the separation
of powers within a government to
prevent tyranny. His ideas on
political liberty and the
importance of checks and
balances influenced the framers
of the French Revolution in their
quest for a more equitable
political system.

Voltaire:Influence: Voltaire was a

proponent of free speech,
religious
tolerance, and the separation of
church and state. His satirical
works and writings critiquing the
monarchy and the Catholic
Church contributed to a climate
of questioning authority, fueling
revolutionary sentiments.

John Locke:Influence: While

Locke was an English
philosopher, his ideas on natural
rights, individual liberties, and the
right to revolt against unjust
rulers had a profound impact on
Enlightenment thinkers and
subsequently influenced the
French Revolutionaries.
Denis Diderot:Influence: As the
editor of the "Encyclopédie,"
Diderot played a crucial role in
disseminating Enlightenment
ideas. The encyclopedia aimed
to compile and spread
knowledge, promoting reason,
science, and critical thinking.

Étienne de Condillac:Influence:
Condillac, a French philosopher,
contributed to Enlightenment
thought with his ideas on
sensation and empiricism. His
work influenced debates on
human nature and knowledge
during the era.

The philosophers' writings on

reason, individual rights, and the
limitations of absolute monarchy
provided intellectual fuel for the
revolutionary fervor. Their ideas
challenged existing social and
political structures, laying the
groundwork for the aspirations of
liberty, equality, and fraternity
that became central to the
French Revolution. While not all
aspects of the Revolution aligned
perfectly with the philosophers'
visions, their influence was
undeniable in shaping the
ideological
landscape of the time.
The success of Enlightenment
philosophers in influencing the
French Revolution was
significant. Their ideas provided
the intellectual underpinning for
the revolutionary ideals of liberty,
equality, and fraternity. While
they didn't directly control the
events of the revolution, their
writings and philosophies played
a crucial role in shaping the
mindset of the revolutionaries
and the broader public. Key
aspects of their impact
include:Ideological
Foundation:Enlightenment
thinkers laid the groundwork for
revolutionary ideals through their
writings on democracy, individual
rights, and the rejection of
absolute monarchy. These ideas
became rallying points for the
revolutionaries.Challenge to
Authority:Philosophers like
Rousseau and Voltaire
challenged traditional authority
structures, fostering a climate of
skepticism toward monarchy,
aristocracy, and the clergy. This
contributed to a willingness to
challenge and overthrow existing
power structures.Influence on
Revolutionary
Documents:Enlightenment ideas
found expression in revolutionary
documents such as the
Declaration of the Rights of Man
and of the Citizen. Concepts of
human rights, popular
sovereignty, and the social
contract reflected the influence of
philosophers.
However, it's important to note
that the revolution didn't unfold
precisely as the philosophers
envisioned. The radical phase of
the revolution and the Reign of
Terror saw deviations from some
Enlightenment principles.
Nevertheless, the enduring
impact of Enlightenment ideas
persisted beyond the revolution,
influencing subsequent political
and social
developments in France and
around the world.
The poor harvests of 1787 - 1789

-The general expansion of the

French economy since the 1730s
was interrupted by periodic
economic crisis which hit the
unpriviledged the hardest.
- It was the crop failures and
consequent crises of the years
1787 to 1789 which led to food
shortages.
-Corresponding sharp rises in
prices , a decrease in textile
production and widespread
unemployment in cities.
-The misery which resulted in the
cities as well as in rural areas
from these short-term economic
crises and crop failures created
an explosive situation, which
could be ignited by unpopular
political decisions.
-The rural-urban drift as a result
of the crop failures created the
so called Paris
mob,which was restless and
ready to explode into action.
-The poor crops of 1788 not only
caused incessant rises in prices
between 1788 and 1789 ,but also
drastically reduced the
purchasing power of the people
and hampered international
trade.
-Unemployment was therefore
rife at the precise moment when
the cost of living was rocketing.
How are harvest failures related
to the outbreak of the French
Revolution?

-During the 1780s the general

agricultural prosperity came
suddenly to an end .This was
brought about by a series of
disastrous harvests in 1778-1779
; 1781-1782 ; 1785 - 1786 and
1787.
-ln 1788 there was a very wet
spring and freak hailstorms in
many areas in Jult resulting in a
very poor harvest.
-This was particularly disastrous
for peasants who produced wine
as a cash crop.
-A bad harvest in a pre-industrial
society always led to massive
unemployment.
-The resulting rise in urban
workers needed employment
more than ever to cope with the
high prices .
-Poor harvests also led to rural-
urban migration and therefore
the formation of the Parisan mob
which formed the militant wing of
the revolution.
-It is believed tht the economic
crisis was in part fault of the
nobility.
*Harvest failures therefore
provided the meeting point of all
grievances, thus providing the
spark that characterized the
outbreak of the _French_
_Revolution_
Taxation played a crucial role in
fueling the discontent that led to
the French
Revolution. Here are key points
highlighting its
contribution:Heavy Tax Burden
on Commoners:The French
monarchy imposed a
disproportionately heavy tax
burden on the common people,
particularly the Third Estate
(commoners), while the nobility
and clergy often enjoyed
exemptions.This economic
inequality fueled resentment
among the commoners who bore
the brunt of the financial
burden.Corruption and
Inefficiency in Tax Collection:The
tax collection system was marred
by corruption, inefficiency, and
abuse.Farmers and urban
workers faced exploitation by tax
collectors, exacerbating their
economic hardships and
contributing to social unrest.Taille
and Gabelle Taxes:The taille was
a land tax levied on peasants,
and the gabelle was a salt
tax.These taxes were regressive
and disproportionately affected
the lower
classes, intensifying their
grievances against the ruling
elite.