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French revolution - ancien regime

I'm struggling with this AS history essay - "How important were the ideas of enlightenment in undermining the Ancien Regime".

I have some ideas such as
* The Philosophes
* The effect of education
* The effect on society
* The effect on the monarchy.

Against -
* Foreign Policy
* Economic Crisis

Am I missing any points?

Reply 1

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Reply 2

Josb

Original post by Annie66

Just some quick ideas:
- The separation of powers was elaborated by Montesquieu.
- The trials of Sirven, Jean Calas, Jean-François de La Barre, and Lally-Tollendal (google them) were denounced by Voltaire, who called for a better judicial system.
- The Philosophers also pushed for the end of slavery, search for the Société des Amis des Noirs.
- Most of them were not catholic (atheists or theists) and therefore criticized the Church - which was part of the State - and the divine right monarchy.

You will get more ideas by reading the biographies of the Philosophers (Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu, Mably, Diderot, Condorcet, etc.) and the Encyclopédie. Several of their translated writings are available on Wikisource; it would be very valuable for both your essay and your knowledge to take a look at them.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Author:Voltaire

HTH

(edited 9 years ago)