Chapter 23 Section 1 The French Revolution Begins

France…before the Revolution n n 1700 s: Most advanced nation in Europe Center of Enlightenment ideas French = language of diplomacy Prosperous foreign trade

The Old Regime n n n This term refers to the Social and Political order in France before the Revolution It dates back to feudal days People were divided into 3 Estates, or social classes

The First Estate n n n The Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church 1 % of total population The Church owned 10 % of all the land in France q q Provided education and relief services to the poor Paid about 2 % of income to the government

The Second Estate n n n Aristocrats (nobles) Most are very wealthy About 2 % of population; owned about 35 % of land in France Paid no taxes Held highest and most influential government jobs

The Third Estate n n Everyone else (97 % of population) Bourgeoisie: Middle Class q q Well Educated Believed in Liberty and Equality (before law) Many were rich and paid high taxes Lacked social and political rights

The Third Estate n Urban Workers: The poorest group q q Trades people, apprentices, laborers, servants Low wages Frequently out of work Formed mobs when there were food shortages

The Third Estate n Peasants: about 80 % of the population q Paid about 50 % of income in taxes

The Forces of Change 1. Growing Resentment of Lower Classes: The 3 rd estate wanted political power and fewer taxes!!! n 2. Enlightenment Ideas n q q New views on power and authority (Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu) Success of American Revolution

The Forces of Change n 3. Economic Problems q q q Failing economy Expanding population Rising taxes High Cost of Living Bad weather leads to crop failure and famine

Economic Problems continued n Extravagant spending of king and queen q q Louis inherited great debt left over from Louis XIV and XV Borrowed more money to help the Americans (to weaken the British, not to further Enlightenment ideas!)

The Count de. Money and Louis XVI Mel Brooks History of the World Part I

Forces of Change n 4. Weak Leadership q q q Louis XVI was indecisive, not a good governor Marie Antoinette was from Austria, the long-time enemy of France “Madame Deficit” Louis did not cut expenses; tried to impose taxes on 2 nd Estate Forced to call the Estates-General

The French Revolution Begins n The 3 rd Estate wants CHANGE q q All 3 Estates should meet together All representatives should have one vote The king insists that the old rules be followed

June 17, 1789 n n n This was the first act of Revolution! It is the end of Absolute Monarchy It is the beginning of Representative Government

June 20, 1789 n n The Delegates of the 3 rd estate are locked out of their meeting hall They meet at an indoor tennis court and vow to draw up a new constitution This is called the Tennis Court Oath (duh) The 1 st and 2 nd estates vote to join the National Assembly

July 14, 1789 n n A mob searching for gunpowder attacked the Bastille, a French Prison that was a symbol of the abuses of absolute monarchy The soldiers guarding the prison were killed and the prisoners were freed. All 7 of them: 4 forgers, 1 imprisoned by own family, 2 insane Bastille Day is equal to our July 4

The March on Versailles: n n Importance: Signified the transfer of power from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. This was the beginning of a series of radical reforms that spread throughout France.

Marie Antoinette

Louis XVI

Palace of Versailles

Guillotine