Why had France turned against the Jesuits?
By the time the French government had
supressed the Jesuit order in 1764, France was sliding towards
one of the bloodiest revolutions in history--the French
Revolution (1787 - 1799). The merchant and peasant classes were
clamouring for political power and more economic freedom. The
political leaders knew that change was coming, and they were
afraid of losing their power. By publicly lashing out against
the Jesuits,
the French government hoped to focus the citizens' anger
towards the Jesuits and the Pope and away from the government
and the king.
© Illinois State Museum
31-Dec-96
