Source+D

Homebased Learning! Source D

**F - Francs**
Source D supports the statement that the French Revolution was due to the deteriorating economic conditions as it shows that wheat price was increased dramatically from 1786 to 1789 to an astonishing height, 30 Francs per 100 kilograms. The increasing wheat price greatly influenced peasants’ life because bread was their main food and they already had huge economic burden due to all kinds of taxes. The hardship of life and decreasing living standards created discontent among the working class and peasants towards the King and the government for their inability to deal with the economic crisis and ease their sufferings. Later, the anger stirred in the third estate led them to go on streets and protest to save the National Assembly as a means of making changes in the country to improve their living standards. These can be cross-referred to contextual knowledge. From a report done by a government committee, a Parisian used to spend 50% of income on food. The percentage increased to 80% in 1789 due to increasing food prices. For a family of five with average income for around 400 livres, after paying 200 livres for taxes, there were only 200 livres left for food which means the budget was only 13 livres for food per day. However, the price of four pond loaf bread was already around 13 livres. It’s clear to see that they could hardly have enough food. Therefore, the increasing food prices made the life more difficult for peasants and the working class and hence resulted in anger and discontent finally trigger the French Revolution. Lin Qing

Source D indicates a high and rising food price in the years right before the French Revolution which supports the statement. The price of staple food rose substantially in the 20 years before 1789 due to the several disastrous harvests. It was especially significant during the period 1788-1789. This is shown on the diagram by the ascending trend of the average wheat price in Paris from 1770 to 1790. And the ascending incline was steep between 1788-1789. Also, being the highest point on the graph, the average price of 100 kilograms of wheat in 1789 was about 28F. It indicates that in the year of French Revolution, food reached a very high pice in French history and further burdened the people. This resulted in discontent among French people especially the lower class and their protest against the government in not being able to deal with the economic crisis. These facts shown by the source is corroborated by our knowledge. Over the period 1726 to 1789 wheat prices increased by about 60 per cent in French. And it is estimated that in normal time, a labourer spent about half his daily wage on food. But during the winter of 1788-9 this proportion was increased to 88 per cent. This is coherent with the source in showing the rapid growth in food price. And shows that finally it was so high that the working people could hardly afford. Thus, there was likely to be a rise in food price as a part of the deteriorating economic condition before and during the year of 1789 that led to the dissatisfaction of the people and finally caused the French Revolution. Xiaoning Source D supports the view that the French revolution was due to deteriorating economic conditions to a large extent. As can be seen from the Source, towards 1789, the year when the French Revolution took place the price of wheat increased drastically. Wheat was a basic necessity for the French, and with this increase in price due to inflation, meant a reduction in buying power of the French, and meant that all of France had to pay more and thus they became poorer, and led to the economic deterioration. As the French became poorer, they became more dissented at their deprivation and the extravagance of the royals' lives, and this escalated and led to a need for tax reform and the Estates General and support from the people for the Storming of the Bastille. Thus, Source D shows that economic deterioration led to the French Revolution. Source D can be cross-referenced with contextual knowledge. According to the Wikipedia, the French Revolution began in 1789. This is consistent with Source D as the price of wheat reached a climax in 1789, and the outbreak of the French Revolution led to pricing control on bread and explains the drop in the price of bread thereafter. Thus, Source D is consistent with other sources with regards to the timeframe. Moira