Final answer:
Corruption and abuses in France led to economic hardship for the populace due to high taxation and embezzlement. Political scandals and ineffective governance undermined trust and exacerbated social inequality. Some reforms in the early 20th century did begin to improve conditions by regulating work and reducing religious control over education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The corruption and abuses in France had significant negative impacts on the people and the country's social and political stability. During the late 19th century, a series of political scandals eroded public trust in the government. High taxation and embezzlement of funds meant that the common people faced worsening economic hardship. This economic strain came despite advancements like repaying debts owed to Germany and expanding France's overseas empire. Moreover, during the 1848 revolution, after the abdication of King Louis-Philippe, the establishment of national workshops threatened to bankrupt the country due to increased government spending to alleviate unemployment.
Similarly, the declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was a reaction to the social injustices and government corruption, setting forth rights and liberties aimed at curbing abuses of power. However, the actual implementation often left much to be desired, with officials finding ways to inappropriately benefit from their positions, contributing to social inequality and promoting unrest among the populace. By contrast, some reforms in the early 20th century, following the Dreyfus Affair, did positively impact France by improving workers' conditions and reducing the religious power of the Roman Catholic Church in education.