West European Studies

The French Revolution was fueled by the political, social, and economic inequalities that existed under the rule of King Louis XVI. Enlightenment thinkers like Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire discussed the natural rights of man that could not be infringed upon.  These Enlightenment ideals and examples of the English Bill of Rights and the American Declaration of Independence led the French citizens to fight for their liberty, equality, and brotherhood in France.
         
The despotic rule of King Louis XVI fueled many crises in France.  The Estates General in France was comprised of three estates the first estate was the clergy which included 1 of the population,  the second estate were the nobles which included 2 of the population and the third estate were the peasants and bourgeoisie that made up 97 of the population.  Each estate was given one vote in the Estates General, which caused great political inequality in France.  The Third Estate were carried the burden of excessive taxes which were imposed by the government to offset the debts that were accrued by engaging in foreign wars and the extravagant spending of King Louis XVI while the other estates had optional taxes. The members of the Third Estate suffered from widespread poverty and starvation.
           
The citizens of France were inspired by the Declaration of Independence which had been drafted 13 years before by the American colonists to make a similar declaration called the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.  Both declarations were inspired by the English Bill of Rights.  Each of the three documents demanded protection of the natural rights of man such as life, liberty, and property.  King Louis XVI ignored the demands of the French people which prompted them to rise up in rebellion to fight for the   liberty, equality, and brotherhood among all the citizens of France.