“Social inequality was the main cause of the French Revolution of 1789.” Discuss.

Candidates should offer a considered and balanced review of a range of causes of the 1789 revolution. Many will agree with the statement arguing that the estates system with its inherent inequalities, both social and financial, was the main cause of the Revolution. Others may argue that a range of factors combined to cause revolution and that no one factor was more significant. There may be discussion of the indecisive rule of Louis XVI with frequent ministerial change (Calonne, Necker) and the increasing unpopularity of the “extravagant” monarchy. There may be discussion of the financial crisis caused by government debt because of war in America, an inefficient taxation system and bad harvests. Some might point out that the initial stages of the Revolution were instigated by some of the nobility and the lawyers of the Third Estate who were attempting to reform the government of Louis XVI. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that social inequality was the main cause of the French Revolution of 1789. This was a relatively popular question. Stronger candidates were able to discuss the role of social inequality and examine other factors that could be argued to have caused the Revolution, e.g. economic issues. Weaker candidates tended to give simple narratives of events before and during the Revolution.