French Revolution DBQ

Must there be any distinctions at all between men? Why give any greater dignity to him who carries a sword [traditional symbol of the nobility] than to him who forges it? Did Nature, who gave predominance to our species, command that it submit to other laws than those drawn up for all the other species of animate beings? Did it desire that one individual be less well-fed, less well-clothed and less well-housed than another? Is it likely that this is the way things were done in the earliest ages of life on earth? Our most advanced knowledge of what were the natural customs of our brothers, the American Indians, before we discovered their peaceful country and began treating them so poorly, certainly would disprove any assertion to that effect.

A holy respect for religion, morality, civil liberty, and the rights of property, a speedy return to true principles, a careful selection and due measure in the matter of the taxes, a strict proportionality in their assessment, a persistent economy in government expenditures, and indispensable reforms in all branches of the administration, are the best and perhaps the only means of perpetuating the existence of the monarchy. Therefore, the third estate of the electoral district of Carcassonne very humbly petitions his Majesty to take into consideration these concerns, weigh them in his wisdom, and permit his people to enjoy, as soon as may be, fresh proofs of his benevolence. *Term used in pre-revolutionary France to refer to all people who were not part of the clergy (the First Estate) or the nobility (the Second Estate)

The salt tax and the various sales taxes ought to be suppressed, or replaced, if need be, with a tax less burdensome. Customs duties should be limited to goods crossing the frontiers of France. Registry fees* have grown to an exorbitant figure. The irregularity of these charges from place to place creates frequent contentions. It is desirable to lessen the disadvantage under which poor country people labor in securing justice in the matter of over-taxation, on account of the considerable expense of bringing their cases to court. The shifting of certain taxes might bring them to bear upon various articles of luxury, and especially upon unnecessary articles of domestic use. *Legal fees charged for various transactions

The “Declaration of the King’s Intentions” made up the most bizarre, the most despotic, the most contradictory set of instructions ever to be found in history: the king annulled all limitation on his powers, and prohibited the establishment of any future limitations. He desired that all property rights should be observed, such as church tithes [taxes paid to the Catholic church], dues owed to noble landowners, feudal rights, etc. In fact, he had drawn up the constitution by himself. Some features of these arrangements which favored the clergy and the nobility were greeted by them with cries of “Long live the king!” while there was unbroken silence and no response from the deputies of the Third Estate.

The nearer July 14th came, the greater became the shortage of food. The crowd, besieging every baker’s shop, received a small distribution of bread, always with warnings about possible shortages the next day. Fears were redoubled by the complaints of people who had spent the whole day waiting at the baker’s door without receiving anything. As I was forced at the height of the shortage to go to Versailles for a short visit, I was curious to see what sort of bread was being eaten at court, or served at the ministers’ and deputies’ tables. Nowhere could I find even rye bread. Everywhere I saw only beautiful bread, of the finest and most delicate quality. It was served in great abundance and delivered by the bakers themselves.

It is astonishing that, having gone so far along the path of reforms, and having cut down much of the forest of prejudices, you would leave standing the oldest and most general of all abuses, the one which excludes half of the inhabitants of this vast kingdom from positions, dignities, honors, and especially from the right to sit amongst you. You have generously decreed equality of rights for all; you have made the humble march alongside the princes and lords of the earth. At last, thanks to your good influence, a serene day will break above our heads, a new people, of citizens, wise and happy, will raise itself on the ruins. Will women then be the only ones for whom the iron age of oppression will forever continue?