Renaissance Politics, Economics, and the French Revolution
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Politics and Economy of the Renaissance
The enlightened despot implemented changes to promote legislative reforms, pushed by councilors personally or through educational efforts aimed at society. Enlightened despotism was not an attempt to change the political organization from absolute monarchy, but rather an attempt to adapt to the ideals of the Enlightenment, which ultimately failed.
Economic Theory: Physiocracy
Physiocracy was the primary economic theory of the Enlightenment. Its basic principles were collected by Quesnay in his Tableau Économique:
- Agriculture was considered the only true source of wealth, from which all others derive.
- The State must protect productive forces.
- The system relied on the enlightened individual.
The principle of economic freedom was advocated by Adam Smith. This economic practice was soon overcome when the Industrial Revolution began.
Causes and Origins of the French Revolution
Primary Causes
- Philosophical Influence: The ideas of the Enlightenment.
- Social Tensions: Conflicts arising from the estate-based society.
- Economic Problems: Subsistence crises.
- Triggering Event: The revolt of the privileged in 1789.
The Beginning of the Revolution
In 1789, France faced an economic crisis caused by poor harvests, rising bread prices, and increased taxes. This revolt was joined by the privileged classes. Calonne proposed the establishment of a tax on agrarian possessions, but the Assembly and the Parliament of Paris opposed these reforms and demanded the convening of the Estates General.
The bourgeoisie used the Estates General to impose their objectives. They demanded voting by individual rather than by estate and declared the formation of the National Assembly, representing all citizens—a major revolutionary step. The people rose up, leading to the revolutionary days of June 1789 and the seizure of the Bastille.
Revolutionary Outcomes
The Assembly decided on the abolition of seigneurial rights and published the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The Assembly proposed drafting a constitution to guarantee these rights and became known as the Constituent Assembly.