Changes

'''The French Revolution''' was a 1789 revolution which is oft-quoted as the beginning of the modern era.  In fact a set of several revolutions in a period of unprecedented turmoil, it saw the rise of [[Robespierre]] and the [[Reign of Terror]], a chaos wherein thousands were [[guillotine|guillotined]] for political leanings and moderatism.  

'''The French Revolution''' was a 1789 revolution which is oft-quoted as the beginning of the modern era.  In fact a set of several revolutions in a period of unprecedented turmoil, it saw the rise of [[Robespierre]] and the [[Reign of Terror]], a chaos wherein thousands were [[guillotine|guillotined]] for political leanings and moderatism.  

The French Revolution was very [[atheism|atheistic]] in nature, as radicals outlawed the Church and tried to establish a [[Cult of Reason]] in its place.  The Revolution also saw the rise of [[evolution|evolutionary]] thinking, a result of extreme [[rationalism]].  It inspired fear into European moderates like [[Edmund Burke]], who realized it was proof of the danger of [[liberalism]] run amok.

The French Revolution was very [[atheism|atheistic]] in nature, as radicals outlawed the Church and tried to establish a [[Cult of Reason]] in its place.  The Revolution also saw the rise of extreme [[rationalism]].  It inspired fear into European moderates like [[Edmund Burke]], who realized it was proof of the danger of [[liberalism]] run amok.

Before the Revolution, [[France]] had three levels in its social system: The First, Second, and Third Estates.  The [[First Estate]] was about 1% of the population, but it controlled 10% of the land.  The First Estate consisted of the clergy, and they did not pay any taxes.  The [[Second Estate]] was about 2% of the population and they controlled 20% of the land.  These were the nobility, and they too paid very little taxes.  The [[Third Estate]] was everyone else, and they were badly overtaxed by the monarch.  This overtaxing was a major cause of the [[French]] Revolution.   

Before the Revolution, [[France]] had three levels in its social system: The First, Second, and Third Estates.  The [[First Estate]] was about 1% of the population, but it controlled 10% of the land.  The First Estate consisted of the clergy, and they did not pay any taxes.  The [[Second Estate]] was about 2% of the population and they controlled 20% of the land.  These were the nobility, and they too paid very little taxes.  The [[Third Estate]] was everyone else, and they were badly overtaxed by the monarch.  This overtaxing was a major cause of the [[French]] Revolution.