world. The concepts of democracy and republic became widespread. The political and social changes were on the lines of democracy and equality. USA became a land of opportunities and freedom for all settlers.
Education gained prominence. The principle of federalism became widespread. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette Signing of Treaty of Paris The Age of Revolutions have a voice in government. So the bourgeoisie took the lead and were instrumental in bringing about the French Revolution.
The Bourgeoisie comprised the educated middle class. Writers, doctors, teachers, lawyers, judges, and civil servants formed this class. Financial Bankruptcy France was in constant war with neighbouring British Empire that proved to be too costly for the exchequer. It had spent enormous sums on the Seven Years’ War with Britain and Prussia, and more again during the American war with Britain.
The valuable assistance which the French gave to the American colonists was such as it could not really afford. The government had to pay high interests on the loan. In order to settles the dues, the government imposed more taxes on the common people. The nobles and higher clergy hesitated to come forward and save the state by voluntarily giving up their claims to exemption from taxes.
Matters were further complicated by the extravagance of the court and the incompetence of the Louis XVI. Role of Intellectuals Long before the revolution of there was a revolution in the realm of ideas. Public intellectuals (who were called philosophes in the French language) who were inspired by the Enlightenment ideal of applying reason to all spheres of knowledge played a key role in preparing the soil for the outbreak of the French Revolution. The writings of Voltaire and Rousseau acted as an impetus to the revolution.
Montesquieu ( – ), in his The Spirit of Laws , argued for the division of power among the legislative, executive and judiciary and opposed the concentration of power in a single hand. Voltaire ( – ), in his The Age of Louis XIV , opposed the religious superstitions of