Liberty, equality, fraternity

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity The absolute monarchy that had been ruling France for a long period of time would finally end with raised voices demanding a new France, a nation free of oppression and inequality in which everyone had his own place to live decently and freely. The trends of the Enlightenment would remain strong especially in the well-off middle class intellectuals that saw the movement’s philosophical ideas as principles that could be used to amend the political and economic crisis. In addition, the lower class cry of hunger for both justice and equality triggered a number of events that would challenge the government of Louis XVI. The social and economic injustice, and the poverty and misery caused by a regime would lead up to one of the biggest and most influential revolutions in Europe. France’s great deficit due to previous wars, the sudden rise in the cost of living, and Louis XVI’s failed attempts to reform the economic system aggravated the country’s financial situation in immeasurable ways. This crisis was crushing more than 90% of the French population who were trying to survive the poor harvests, while in the Palace of Versailles the royal family and many nobles were living extravagantly. When Louis XVI convoked the representatives of the three Estates to look for solutions to the country’s crisis, people from the Third Estate knew that this was their opportunity to raise their voices and stand for their rights. Among the grievances of the Third Estate were primarily equality for all citizens, establishment of their rights, and reforms in the court and financial system. The Third Estate called for equal tax rates to all citizens, and the cutoff of certain taxes, such as the salt and hides taxes. They demanded to be treated fairly before the law, and to allow them the right to own property, hunt, and work their land. They also requested the end of the sale of offices and a more rigid examination for court candidates. Finally, they asked