Tag: Revolutionary Paris

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Beyond the Guillotine: Positive Outcomes from the French Revolution

the french revolution had many positive outcomes
LPLT / Wikimedia Commons (2010)

So many books, articles, and journals have been written on the French Revolution, and I’m not too sure there’s any stone left to be overturned. Every point of view concerning the impact of the Revolution has been covered (at least from what I’ve read).

What about some of the tangible items that came out of the Revolution that are still around? There has to be some positive outcomes that originated in those wonderful years we know as the French Revolution. Surprisingly, there are and many of them seem like natural outcomes but several may not.

First of all, probably the most significant and the one having the most impact not only on France but the rest of the world is the internationally accepted Metric System. Prior to the Revolution, every country had its own standard for measurement. During the Revolution, many traditional forms of measurement were replaced (e.g., the calendar). Today, you can see one of the two remaining meter standards at 36, rue de Vaurigard in Paris. These were placed around Paris so people could get used to the new system of measurement: the meter was considered the universal standard. Read More Beyond the Guillotine: Positive Outcomes from the French Revolution

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What I Learned about Taxes from Revolutionary Paris

054April, our traditional tax month

I spent one full weekend pulling all my information together just so I could hand it over to the CPA and they could fill out some forms (and then charge me $850). Now I don’t expect you to feel sorry for me but I really did spend all my time compiling information that weekend (from when I got up in the morning until I went to bed). You see, I have four tax entities to prepare (Stew & Sandy, Southeast Business Forums, Yooper Publications, and our HOA).

As I’m sitting at the dining room table doing all of this, I got to thinking about France, the three estates, and the French tax situation back in 1789. I decided I was part of the 99% known as the Third Estate. The other two estates—the clergy and the nobility—did not pay any taxes. Now I’m certainly not part of the clergy. And although I do own land (that was one of the prerequisites for being a noble), I still live from paycheck to paycheck. So that really does eliminate me from the nobility class.

So I guess I’m just a poor peasant or a member of the Third Estate

I suppose the kings figured out the clergy (or the first Estate) were non-profits even back then. I think it may also have been they didn’t want to get on the bad side of the pope. But the real reason for the clergy not paying taxes was the fact that they did perform necessary services for the folks in their respective parishes and therefore took that burden off the monarch’s shoulders (and treasury).

Now the nobility on the other hand, didn’t pay taxes because they were expected to bear arms and join the king whenever he declared war on someone. This was the quid-pro-quo of the day. That may have worked in medieval France, but by 1789 the king couldn’t afford to go to war. The days of the Crusades were over and all the Third Estate saw were the nobility prancing around in their fancy clothes, fast carriages, and going to endless parties. Read More What I Learned about Taxes from Revolutionary Paris