Tea at Trianon: What Was an Economic Cause of the French Revolution?

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Saturday, September 16, 2023

What Was an Economic Cause of the French Revolution?

The expenses of the court were almost nothing compared to the huge debt incurred by wars, particularly by the aid given to the Americans. From Investor Times:

What Was an Economic Cause of the French Revolution?
The French Revolution, which lasted from 1789 to 1799, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. While there were many causes behind this revolution, one of the key factors was economic instability. The economic conditions prevalent in France at the time created a sense of inequality and hardship among the population, leading to widespread discontent and ultimately, revolution. In this article, we will explore the economic causes of the French Revolution in detail.

The French economy during the late 18th century was burdened by a range of problems. The monarchy’s outdated system of taxation placed a heavy financial burden on the lower classes, while the nobility and the clergy were largely exempt from paying taxes. This regressive tax system led to a significant wealth gap, with the wealthy elites enjoying immense privileges and the lower classes struggling to make ends meet.

Additionally, France was facing a severe economic crisis. The country had accumulated a massive national debt due to costly wars, extravagant court expenses, and a failing agricultural system. King Louis XVI attempted to address this issue by implementing tax reforms and reducing government spending, but these efforts were met with resistance from the nobility and the clergy who opposed any encroachment on their privileges. (Read more.)