Revolutions
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French Revolution
Causes
Women's Rights
Primary Sources
Russian Revolution
Causes
Women's Rights
Primary Sources
Egypt Revolution
Causes
Women's Rights
Primary Sources
Direct Causes to the Revolution
Economic
The tax system can not solely rely on tariffs to generate income.
Nobles and Clergy were exempt from paying taxes, leaving the burden on peasants and business class.
The country was in deep debt.
The building of the Palace of
Versailles
contributed to the debt of the country.
Nobles would sell the noble title, exempting someone else from paying taxes.
Social
The social structure caused a huge wealth gap among the people.
1st estate: the clergy (100,000 people) owned 10% of the land and paid no taxes.
2nd estate: the nobles (130,000 people) owned 25% of the land and paid no taxes.
3rd estate: 98% of the population (27 million) owned 65% of the land and paid 100% of the taxes.
The third estate was broken into two separate groups - middle and lower class, the majority being lower class.
The groups paying taxes did not make as nearly enough money as the first two groups.
Their discontent helped spark the revolution.
Military
The army used to be very strong, led by Napoleon.
When the government began to decline, so did the military.
The military remained loyal to the king.