Causes:
1. Political causes: The king of France were autocratic and self-willed. They ignored the suffering of the people. They imposed new taxes on people and spent money on luxuries. Thus, the people were much distressed from them.
2. Economic causes: Economic condition of France was very bad. Because of luxurious life of high class, the entire burden of taxation fell on the common people, and the taxes were collected mercilessly. People belonging to first and second class were exempt from paying taxes. Hence, pitiable condition of people became the cause of revolution.
3. Social causes: Before French revolution, the clergy and the high class people were leading a luxurious life. They were privileged. On the other hand, common people were living a miserable life. They were under heavy taxes. Thus, people of this third class supported the Revolution.
4. Impact of American struggle of freedom: French soldiers went USA for army help. From there, they got the inspiration of patriotism, freedom and self-respect. Freedom struggle of USA gave birth to French Revolution.
5. Emergence of middle class: Peasants and labourers had no power to oppose the high class. Middle class people-advocates, teachers, doctors, thinkers, etc. opposed them. They all wanted a reform in France.
6. Intellectual awareness: Condition like in France pervaded in almost all the European countries. The revolutionary ideas of philosophers and writers became the first cause of the revolution. Their ideas sowed seeds of the revolution. Montesque, Voltaire, Rousseau, played an important role in the revolution.
7. Religious Dissatisfaction: During the rule of Louis XVI, there were 1,25,000 clearg in France. This clergy was living luxurious life, while the poor people even had no food. Poor and hungry people did not approve the prosperity of church. Religious tax Tithe’ was collected forcefully. This increased dissatisfaction.
8. Fall of Bastille: In 1789, an advocate Camille Desmoulins’ rousing speech incited the crowd in Paris. On 19 July, the rebels attacked Bastille. They broke open its gates and got released all the prisoners. They assassinated the security guards. This incident of 14 July 1789 started the French.
Results:
1. End of feudalism as well as in other countries too. King, queen and their relatives were killed. End of autocratic and self-willed rule of Louis.
2. Emergence of concept of secular state i.e. encouragement to religious tolerance. Efforts were made to end religious inequality.
3. Encouragement to the feeling of liberty, equality and fraternity. Fundamental Rights were declared by the Assembly.
4. It paved the path of socialism le. Laisse Faire.
5. The people of high classes lost their position.
6. Emergence of political parties.
7. It gave equality in justice to rich as well as poor, special rights of rich were ended.
