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Source analysis about the French revolution

I am trying to analyse a source about how this source is valuable for an inquiry into the reason for the collapse of the absolute monarchy in 1789. But I am struggling because I do not really understand the purpose of the source. Can I get some help about how to approach this question?

Antoine Barnave- Leading member of the National Assembly and wrote this reflection on the causes of the French revolution whilst he was waiting execution during the Terror of 1793.

The democratic ideal, virtually stifled under all European governments while the feudal system remained powerful, has gathered strength and continues to grow...The two privileged orders who still retained control of the government were ruined through their taste for luxury and had degraded themselves by their way of life. The Third Estate, in contrast, had produced enlightened thinkers and acquired enormous wealth. The people were restrained only by their habit of servitude and the limited hope they had of breaking their chains. The government had succeeded in containing this hope; but it had nevertheless flourished in the heart of the nation.

Answers
Hello,What you must bear in mind to understand the French revolution is that it burst out because of the people being fed up of the self-interest and selfishness of the government. It was a monarchy and so the king Louis XVI allowed himself pretty much everything without concern for his country. M, he Moreover, he started governing in the middle of a financial crisis and he arrived after two other monarchist kings. Besides all these reasons, the rising of the Enlightenment was very rapid and the philosophers gave a voice to the poor people who were not able to speak up or to rebel. Afterwards, you must understand why the French Revolution took place. It was an accumulation of all those reasons that led to a rebellion.I hope I answered your question, if not, I would be glad to provide you more guidance!
Camille L.
12 January 2016
Hi, I see that your question was 12 days ago and you may have sorted it by now. Just in case you haven't try starting from the fall of the Bastille and the meeting in the tennis rooms. These two events are key in the revolution at its beginning. As for sources try Eric Hobsbawm a key writer in revolution. There are also paintings of both events to give you a flavour of how key players felt about the revolution itself. Hope this helps.
Simon H.
22 January 2016
Did anyone get back to you about this?
lucys
25 January 2016
There was a rise of the bourgeois class. They were not nobles, nor clergy, and they were not fairly represented in the French council. Moreover, they had to pay taxes while the other groups didn't.This new class of wealthy people was disgruntled and expressed themselves in the Enlightenment movement. They were supported by hungry workers that could not afford food and envied the wealth of the nobles and clergy.Combined they overthrew the privileged classes and after a reign of terror and dictatorship returned to a monarchy.The fact that the Bourgeois were able to rise to such wealth was due to the industralization and increase in international trade. This, in turn, was fueled by the age of discovery and colonization.
Rob O.
28 March 2016
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