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What caused the French Revolution? - Tom Mullaney
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What caused the French Revolution? - Tom Mullaney

What Rights Do People Have?

The Context of the French Revolution

  • The French Revolution was driven by fundamental questions about rights, authority, and societal organization amidst significant upheaval.
  • By the late 18th century, Europe experienced an Enlightenment shift emphasizing reason and human freedom over tradition and religion.
  • France's rigid social structure consisted of three Estates: the privileged First and Second Estates (clergy and nobles) versus the Third Estate (commoners), who bore the tax burden.

Economic Strain and Political Awakening

  • King Louis XVI appointed finance minister Jacques Necker to address financial crises but faced opposition from his advisors regarding reforms.
  • The Third Estate, representing 98% of the population, broke away due to lack of fair representation in the Estates-General, declaring themselves as the National Assembly.

The Storming of Bastille and Revolutionary Ideals

  • Outrage over dismissal of Necker led to Parisians storming the Bastille prison, marking a pivotal moment in initiating the Revolution.
  • The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen established individual rights as fundamental, challenging existing privileges held by nobility.

Downfall of Monarchy

  • King Louis XVI's attempted escape in 1791 shattered public faith; he was arrested and executed for treason, ending a millennium-long monarchy.
  • Queen Marie Antoinette was also executed shortly after; her downfall symbolized broader revolutionary changes beyond just government reform.

Radical Transformations During Revolution

Video description

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-caused-the-french-revolution-tom-mullaney What rights do people have, and where do they come from? Who gets to make decisions for others, and on what authority? And how can we organize society to meet people’s needs? Tom Mullaney shows how these questions challenged an entire nation during the upheaval of the French Revolution. Lesson by Tom Mullaney, animation by Sashko Danylenko.