In Crane Brinton's theory of revolutionary characteristics, he compared a revolution to a

fever. There was the symptoms, the fever itself, and the breaking of the fever. In the French

revolution, the symptoms were quite obvious.

The first symptom Crane Brinton discussed was economic problems. Obviously, what

first springs to mind is the system of taxation in France. 3% of the population was high class, and

97% low class and poor. And yet, the burden of taxation rested on those who were unable to

pay, and not the nobility who ended up squandering their funds on parties and gambling anyway.

Also, the old tradition of charging a pittance for use of land was still very much alive, much to the

bad fortune of the third class. Though the serf idea had been abandonded quite a long time ago,

the old-fashioned notions attached to serfdom still existed.

The second symptom in Crane Brinton's theory was inefficency of government. Louis

XVI was a prime example. He was a good man at heart, always wanting to give his people the

best, and yet he utterly failed as a ruler. He was such a pushover that toward the beginning of the

revolution, he let his own National Assembly boss him around, and he met their demands without

complaint.

Finally, the third symptom was a rise of self-revolutionaries. One word says it all: Bastille.

Once those Frenchmen take it into their heads to have a revolution, there's no stopping them.

What with all the underground newspapers and anti- Antoinette propaganda floating around, it's a

wonder the royalty had any dignity left at all.

In conclusion, Brinton's three symptoms were dutifully fufilled in the French Revolution.

The fever broke out like wildfire, leaving a victorious France in its wake.