HBL+-+Group+2


 * HBL Source-Based Questions**


 * Source B**

Source B does not support the view that the French revolution was due to deteriorating economic conditions, as it suggests that the revolution was brought about due to the unhappiness regarding Absolutism, which led to the overthrowing of the monarchy. In the source, it is stated that "the idea (of the parlements) is to confine them to act as judges and to create another assembly that will have the right to register taxes and general laws for the kingdom." This shows that the parlements were not only unhappy about the economic system (which could be settled through tax reforms) at that time, but were discontented with how the monarchy had absolute power, whereas majority of the people (especially people from the Third Estate) had no say, and therefore advocated for a assembly where the interests of all 3 Estates could be represented. Cross-referencing to my contextual knowledge, this view-point is supported. The third estate were often subjected to heavy tax and the burden of supporting the country economically, but had no say in the inequality of the situation. The First- and Second- Estate could be taxed to relieve some of the Third Estate’s burden, but as the monarch Louis XIV wanted to retain their support, he refrained from doing so, leading to more discontent within the Third Estate. More French were also struck by ideas of Enlightenment, which produced ideas of equality amongst all people. The French also began to recognize that Absolutism could produce incompetent leaders, as of the case of Louis XIV, and therefore they began “troublemaking resolutions and protests” that were meant to pressure the king into submission, whose success was evident in the quote “any delay would reduce the resources for preserving and consolidating the King’s authority”. Therefore, as this source is supported by contextual knowledge, it is reliable.

However, this source may not be that reliable, as it provenance states that this source is a letter from Marie Antoinette to her brother, Joseph II of Austria. Therefore, Marie Antoinette’s intention may have been to exaggerate the situation so that her brother might offer some assistance, in which this source may not have been completely reliable. However, this can be overlooked as the contextual knowledge is sufficient to prove that this source is reliable.


 * Source C [Rosemarie]**

Source C does not support that the French Revolution was due to deteriorating economic conditions. From the Source, it is evident that the Third Estate was unhappy about the taxes that they had to pay and desired that it is "paid equally by Lords, Churchmen and the Third Estate according to the possessions of each". This shows that they are discontented due to the fact that the Second Estate and First Estate need not pay the taxes. Also, the Third Estate also begged that "the King should regard his people with pity and liberate them from this miserable scourge of the gabelle* which, by its name alone, makes the universe tremble" suggesting that the people are suffering due to the tax they have to pay, showing the discontentment amongst Third Estate towards the King. Furthermore, cross-referencing to my contextual knowledge, the Third Estate formed the National Assembly where the Third Estate said that "we, 27 000 000 are the nation, we are France, showing the unhappiness towards the King. Thus, Source C is reliable. However, Source C supports that one of the causes of French Revolution is the discontentment of the people, instead of the deteriorating economic conditions.