The Estates General | A Level History
Learning Academy・2 minutes read
The political, social, and economic state of France in May 1789 before the French Revolution was marked by mistakes in the calling of the Estates General, corruption within the church, resentment in the nobility, a divide between rural and urban areas, and poor harvests leading to economic issues culminating in the broader financial problems faced by Louis XVI and the French crown. These factors ultimately contributed to the political disaster at the Estates General meeting in May 1789.
Insights
- Mistakes in calling the Estates General in 1789, such as lack of clear decisions and agenda, caused political chaos and animosity among the Estates, setting the stage for the French Revolution.
- Socially, corruption within the church and resentment towards the nobility, particularly Court Nobles, fueled societal tensions in France, adding to the volatile atmosphere preceding the revolution.
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Recent questions
What were the political mistakes in France in 1789?
Lack of clear agenda at Estates General.
How was the social state of France in 1789?
Corruption in church and nobility.
What was the economic divide in France in 1789?
Rural-urban economic disparities.
What were the consequences of poor harvests in 1788 in France?
Increased food prices and economic issues.
How did land holding policies impact agriculture in France?
Divided inherited land led to inefficiency.
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Summary
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France in 1789: Political, Social, Economic Overview
- This lesson focuses on the political, social, and economic state of France at the calling of the Estates General in May 1789, preceding the French Revolution.
- The political state of France in 1789 was marked by mistakes in the calling of the Estates General, such as leaving crucial decisions to be made at the first meeting and lacking a clear agenda, leading to political chaos and animosity among the Estates.
- The social state of France during this period was characterized by corruption within the church, with higher clergy members keeping most of the revenue from tax collections, leading to resentment and perceptions of corruption in society.
- Resentment also existed within the nobility, with some members feeling animosity towards Court Nobles for their privileged positions and close ties to the king, contributing to social tensions.
- The economic state of France in May 1789 showed a clear divide between rural and urban areas, with the growth of towns due to new industries, but issues like poor harvests in the countryside impacting both the economy and society.
- Land holding policies, where heirs split inherited land equally, led to an ever-dividing agricultural land, resulting in subsistence farming becoming more prominent and less efficient.
- Poor harvests in 1788 led to increased food prices by July 14, 1789, exacerbating economic issues and contributing to the broader financial problems faced by Louis XVI and the French crown, ultimately leading to the political disaster of the Estates General meeting in May 1789.
