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Foreign News October 31, 1792

National Gazette

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

What is this article about?

France's pre-revolutionary state is described as marked by an overgrown clergy, disaffected army, exhausted treasury, unsustainable public expenditure, heavy taxes leading to despair, and risk of starvation, contradicting claims of national prosperity; the revolution has led to political confusion.

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OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

France, we are told, has been brought by the revolution from the highest pitch of national prosperity to the lowest abyss of political confusion. What was the state of France before the revolution? an overgrown clergy, a disaffected army, an exhausted treasury, a public expenditure, for which all the expedients of three successive ministers could not provide; a populace reduced to despair by the enormous weight of taxes, and in danger of starving for want of bread. Such was the state of things which the sycophants of power represent as the highest pitch of national prosperity. From such grinding prosperity, may heaven shield the people of this country.

What sub-type of article is it?

Political Economic

What keywords are associated?

French Revolution Political Confusion National Prosperity Overgrown Clergy Disaffected Army Exhausted Treasury Heavy Taxes Starvation Risk

Where did it happen?

France

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

France

Outcome

brought from claimed national prosperity to political confusion by the revolution

Event Details

Pre-revolution France had an overgrown clergy, disaffected army, exhausted treasury, public expenditure unmanageable by three successive ministers, populace in despair from heavy taxes and risk of starvation for lack of bread; sycophants called this prosperity.

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