Alex Schiff Tobin European History - H 26 January 2012

The Enlightenments Influence on the French Revolution Not only did the Enlightenment, an evolutionary time in history, influence members of the third estate, it actually was one of the major causes for the French revolution. During the time of the Enlightenment, society went through major changes. People began to realize that certain aspects of life were becoming more relevant in everyday life. People began to see values in the arts. However, there were also negative aspects of life during this time. The economy was collapsing and many people were impoverished. The population was split up into three estates divided by the countrys social hierarchy. The first and second estates were comprised of the royalty and the nobles three percent of the total population. The other ninety-seven percent was comprised of the poor and made up the third estate. The first and second estates were able to stay rich by receiving multiple tax cuts, whereas the third estate was taxed heavily. The third estate did not believe that this was right and thus the French Revolution was born. The ideals of the Enlightenment gave the third estate reason to revolt. Citizens were also affected by books and articles that gave them different outlooks and ideas that they had not previously considered. [The Third Estate] is like a strong and robust man with one arm still in chains. If the privileged order were

removed, the nation would not be something less but something more. (Sieyes). Peoples educations grew; they learned math and science, language and history. People were inspired by men like Galileo who, against the will of the Church, kept advancing science and thought at the risk of his own life. They were inspired by Rousseau and Voltaire, who both spoke openly about their controversial views on the government. The people grew more aware of how they were being used, abused, and taken advantage of. This was their reasoning when they decided they had to make a change they had to revolt. The Tennis Court Oath was an example of the peoples strive for power. The third estate locked themselves in a tennis court and vowed not to leave until they had a full, written constitution. They realized their power as ninety-seven percent of the population, but they also knew that they had to use this power wisely, so as not to become what they were trying to abolish. They wanted to have equality, in both taxes and natural rights. They even wrote a list of grievances given at the Estates General meeting that included the following quote: That his subjects of the third estate, equal by such status to all other citizens That all the orders [all three estates] contribute equally to the needs of the State. (Grievances of the Third Estate). The Enlightenment caused great thought and provocative questions for people. There were developments made in science, literature, history, and in the arts. New ideas were thought of everywhere and the people of the third estate realized their importance and power. The Enlightenment was the soul cause for the French Revolution.

Works Cited: Grievances of the Third Estate, Representative of the Third Estate Bourgeois Disdain for Special Privileges of the Aristocracy, Emmanuel Sieyes