The faulty political system of France was certainly responsible for the French revolution.
These faults can be understood under the following points :
1. Centralised rule and Autocratic regime : An autocratic, dynastic rule prevailed in France. The monarchy enjoyed unrestricted power and divine sanction. The king was seen as a manifestation of God. The King’s dictat was the basis for taxation and treasury expenditure. The king could arrest anyone and punish him through a sanction letter called ‘Letrre de Cache’. Thus, the common man in France was terrified. A person’s freedom was not secure. Louis XII increased this oppression.
2. Incapable rulers : The French ruler Louis XV was a pleasure loving and incapable ruler. Instead of making improvements in his regime, he spent all his time on pleasure pursuits. Louis XVI was also an incapable ruler who was an indolent, pleasure loving and foolish person. He was unaware of the pitable condition of France under the influence of his wife and courtiers.
3. Corruption in the judiciary : The Judicial system of France was faulty, unorganised, expensive, unjust and corrupt. The king’s dictats were the law. In the way that language changes every 5-8 miles, French laws changed very frequently. The king had such a sanction document by which he could arrest and punish anyone, anytime. The penal system was the most cruel one. No judicial remedy existed. In such political disarray, how long could the people of France live in subjugation! Thus, a revolt against this system became unavoidable.
4. Extravagant regime : The kings of France used to spend most of their time in the palaces of Versailles, for away from Paris. These palaces had thousands of servants who served to fulfill the king luxurious, pleasure seeking needs. The money spent on them was very large. France condition became so bad that the income of the state was less than its expenditure. As a result, due to levying of extra taxes, the common man was oppressed, and this became a cause for the revolution.
5. Incapable representative assembly : There was a representative assembly named ‘Estates Generale’ in France,which included the elite class, clergy class, intellectual class and common citizens. This assembly was dominated by the elite, clergy and intellectual classes. It war unable to decide in favour of the common citizens. No other convention was called after 1614 AD. There was no one to listen to the common man. In this way, the faulty political system of France created the background for the French Revolution.
