Social and Economic Discontent

• How did religious tension add to social discontent?

  The parish clergy (curés) complained about not receiving their tithe, as the archbishops, bishops and abbots collected them and kept the tithe. Therefore, they were very wealthy and their positions were very desirable. However, higher nobles were appointed by the King and often reserved for young sons of court nobles. Consequently leading to absenteeism and pluralism.
• How did grievances of peasants add to social discontent?

  Due to absolutism, unfair tax system and the corruption of the Church peasant grievances were worsened by the Seven Years War, costing 1.8 billion Livres the 3rd estate was under more tax burden. Having to pay tithe, gabelle and taille.
• How did the grievances of the middle-class add to social discontent?

  Having been heavily influenced by the Enlightenment and the expansion of books, newspapers and journals led to a growth in political awareness of the middle-class. Consequently, leading to a sense of class consiousness. Therefore, exacerbating the resentment of the bourgeoisie and curve clergy towards the higher nobility. Despite, the income for the monarchy through venality it often led to wasteful corruption and blocked the advancement of the talented middle-class.
• How did harvests add to economic discontent?

  The harvests of 1770-89 were bad harvests badly impacting rural poverty. The weather of early months of 1789 was the coldest in living memory and food prices rose steadilu to a high point on 14th July 1789 (Battle of Bastille). The agricultural problems adversely affected the wollen industry.
• How did land holding add to economic discontent?

  When the father dies the land is not inhereted by the eldest son but divided between the siblings. Therefore, leading to smaller estates for farming. By 1789 roughly 1/4 of French farm land was owned by small peasant farmers and the rest were rented out in small plots. This led to substitence farming and no incentive to improve methods of farming.
• How did population rise add to economic discontent?


  Due to increase in industries success such as silk and port of Nantes many people lived in towns. This led to tensions as both nobility and bourgeoisie now lived in towns. This meant small traders, craftsment and labourers now lived in overcrowding and unhealthy living conditions. Having been dependent on bread any sudden rises in cost would lead to bread riots - becoming a common feature of urban life.
• How did urban discontent add to economic discontent?

  Similar, to population rise - most unskilled workers and urban poor lived in towns. Therefore, tension led to bread riots and attacks on employers. Including the attack of the wallpaper manufactuer such as Reveillon in Paris in April 1789.