Eric Barragan

December 5, 2013
Period A4
AP European History
Term 2 Project (Option #1)
The French Revolution started in 1789. In all simplicity, the French Monarchy was
overthrown by the people. The elimination of the monarchy occurred because of several
significant social and economic conditions. In Pre-Revolution times France was a Catholic
country. 95-98% of the population was poverty and faced starvation. These people were labeled
as a lower group in society, known as the Third Estate. All poverty were forced to pay La
Taille which was a direct tax placed to peasantry and all non-nobility according to what they
had. The tax took a substantial amount of their income. The higher classes were nobility and
clergy; they made up 2-5% of the population. Land between the two groups (First/Second Estates
and Third Estate) was divided unfairly. The church and state were in unison and all clergy and
nobleman had power. The First and Second Estates were exempt from the enforced national tax
(which was a major reason for rebellion in the revolution). The high class lived in major
extravagance and relative vanity as the lower class lived in famine, poverty, and in a life of
intensive labor. For stretched periods of time, the monarchy spent money generously and
unthoughtfully. People grew tired and acted upon the actions of the unjust society. The people
wanted bread, literally and symbolically. The people wanted the king who was The Baker.
During the French Revolution executions occurred daily by the tens to hundreds. Social classes
or estates changed because a middle class was established. The Bourgeoisie was the top of the
middle class and could transition to the Second Estate, these people were education and/or
wealthy but were not born in nobility. Most scholars, shopkeepers, writers, officials, politicians,
etc. were part of the Bourgeoisie. A major part of the French Revolution is that church and state
were separated and many priests were executed were cast out of France. The French Revolution

Eric Barragan
December 5, 2013
Period A4
AP European History
led to most of the populace of France to turn against the government for just rights and more
equality.
Today in the United States, the economy is less than good. Recently the nation went
through a second major recession and was close to going into another. The budgets nationally for
different branches and areas of authority (such as the military or education) are very high and
every year spends billions of dollars. Currently the country is in debt $17,315,000,000,000
(seventeen trillion, three hundred and fifteen billion dollars and counting). In addition the
country uses more resources and consumes them more than we provide and export them,
resulting in a significant loss of money nationally. In the U.S. the wealthy (who receive $500,000
or more a year) pay a higher, more expensive tax compared to the rest of the country. Needless to
say in proportion the (relatively) poorer Americans pay the most which means the taxes falls
more heavily on the poor. One in seven (roughly 14%) people in the United States live below
the poverty line. Poverty, an aging population, outsourcing, frugal consumers, wage stagnation,
and unemployment each, to varying degrees, poses a threat to the U.S. economic system. In
politics there are numerous parties, the biggest two are the Republican and the Democratic
parties. Many people oppose each other in which party to support. The U.S. is a Christian
dominated country (78%), but several other religions are present. Many people disagree on
religion, politics, education, rights, etc.
The United States and Revolution France are similar and different in several ways. Both
governments spent/spend incredible amounts of money and drive their countries in disdain from
its own citizens and to an economic crisis. Both also had a middle class, and this middle class
had education and privileges. In revolution France the middle class was a small percentage, but

Eric Barragan
December 5, 2013
Period A4
AP European History
in the United States the middle class is most of the population. Dealing with the lowest class or
the Third Estate, in France most of the population (95-98%) were poverty and in the U.S. a
relatively minimal 14%. Religion plays a key role in both countries and in France, Catholicism
was the state religion and the church and state were combined powers. In todays U.S., church
and state are completely separate. Although both countries are Christian based, the U.S. is
primarily Protestant (78% of the people). Revolution France and current day America are very
similar in education, ethics, drive for rationality/secularism, and philosophy. The American
Dream consists of teachings that a man can become whoever and whatever he wants to be and
that success in fit for everyone. The French Renaissance drove society to believe in similar
principles and a revolution occurred.
A revolution in the United States to occur is very unlikely. Based off income per
household, most people make a decent amount of money and are not in any financial danger or
physical hunger. Many today disagree with the government and the decisions it makes but most
press forward with what they are given as did the French for a long time. Although in France 98
percent of the people were starving and dying. Present day United States, many are not hungry
and are healthy, if not the government can provide medical aid and food to an extent. The
country would need to be in dire distress and in great turmoil as a people for a radical revolution
like in France to occur.
If the people of the United States want a political reformation, citizens have the power to
vote who they want in authority and have the power to run in the presidential elections every so
many years if they meet the criteria. If change is wanted and really needed, the people can easily
do it. Our limit of how long someone can be in office also prevents the wrong people being in

Eric Barragan
December 5, 2013
Period A4
AP European History
power for too long. Our government is set up that the congress of the nation can overrule the
president showing that the president isnt completely in charge. All authorities are not above the
law and are as accountable and responsible to hold the laws of the land just as much as the
citizens are.
The want for a dramatic change is okay and a lot of times needed in many groups,
countries in particular. Nevertheless the lengths the French went for change were unethical,
radical, drastic, and murderous. They killed their king and their nobility, they executed and
casted out their priests, and eliminated all who opposed the revolution. These heinous acts are
not justified and will never be justified. Many significant victories occurred without the spilling
of blood and many could have occurred in that manner. Although in the eyes of the French, the
conditions were far from ideal and horrid, so a dramatic revolution required dramatic actions.