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Unveiling the Core Complaints and Multi-Faceted
Causes of the French Revolution
The French Revolution of 1789 stands as a watershed moment in history,
representing the spirited uprising of the third estate against the suffocating grip of an
oppressive aristocratic system. The pages of Arthur Young's observations (p. 56), the list
of grievances from the third estate (p. 57), and Abbe Sieyes' eloquent pamphlet (p. 57)
in the Sherman collection offer invaluable glimpses into the complex sentiments
simmering within the third estate just before the explosive outburst of the revolution.
This essay endeavors to dissect the multifaceted main complaints of the third estate,
gauge the intersections and divergences between the documents, delve into the
motivations behind varying emphases, and ultimately identify the pivotal causes that
ignited the flames of the French Revolution, all grounded in evidence from these
documents.
Collectively, these documents amplify the primary grievances echoing through the
corridors of pre-revolutionary France. Arthur Young's meticulously crafted observations
amplify the dire economic plight experienced by the peasant class, an existence marred
by a stark contrast between the privileged nobility and the destitute commoners
[Young, p. 56]. The list of grievances resonates this sentiment, enumerating a litany of
injustices ranging from oppressive taxation to the dearth of political representation, all

of which were shouldered disproportionately by the third estate [Sherman, p. 57]. Abbe
Sieyes' pamphlet, an articulate manifesto, zones in on the very essence of the "Third
Estate," yearning to secure its rightful position within society's tapestry, a voice not to
be drowned amidst the clamor of the elite [Sherman, p. 57].
While these documents bear the common threads of simmering discontent, they
also unveil subtle divergences in emphasis. The list of grievances and Sieyes' pamphlet
stand united in their call for justice, amplifying the resounding cries against unjust
taxation and the denial of political power [Sherman, p. 57]. However, Arthur Young's
observations offer a distinctive panorama, focusing intently on the rural hardships and
economic burdens that weighed heavily on the peasantry [Young, p. 56]. This variance in
emphasis can be accredited to the disparate backgrounds and objectives of the authors.
The tapestry of varied emphasis among these documents can be traced back to the
nuanced motives and diverse audiences each author sought to address. Arthur Young,
an eyewitness to rural realities, vividly captures the struggle for survival experienced by
the peasants, providing a first-hand account of their economic tribulations [Young, p.
56]. Sieyes, a member of the clergy, crafts his pamphlet for the educated elite,
advocating ardently for the third estate's rightful place in the societal fabric, resonating
beyond mere economic concerns [Sherman, p. 57]. In contrast, the list of grievances
serves as a petition to King Louis XVI, presenting an encompassing inventory of
injustices suffered by the third estate, transcending individual perspectives [Sherman, p.

57].
Interpreting these documents, the essential causes of the French Revolution begin
to crystallize. Economic disparities, coupled with oppressive taxation and the absence of
political representation, emerge as recurrent motifs threading through the documents
[Young, p. 56] [Sherman, p. 57]. The grievances articulated by the third estate are
layered, stemming from a concoction of economic adversity, social stratification, and
political alienation. The amalgamation of these grievances collectively forged the spark
that ignited the furnace of the French Revolution.
The documents found within the Sherman collection meticulously unveil the
multifaceted grievances and catalytic causes that underpinned the French Revolution.
While exhibiting nuanced emphases attributed to the authors' backgrounds and target
audiences, the documents harmoniously echo the cries against economic disparities,
inequitable taxation, and political exclusion. Arthur Young's observations, the third
estate's list of grievances, and Abbe Sieyes' resonating pamphlet collectively form a
mosaic of grievances that galvanized the commoners against the entrenched ancien
régime. The climax of the revolution was the manifestation of the third estate's pursuit
of justice, political agency, and liberation from the yoke of an oppressive system that
had shackled France for generations.