French Revolution 1789 1799 The 3 Estates in

French Revolution (1789 -1799) The 3 Estates in France • First Estate-clergy or church officials/very wealthy. The Church owned 10% of the land, & paid no taxes to the government. DID NOT HAVE TO PAY MUCH IN TAXES • Second Estate-nobility of French Society. Many nobles owned land, but received little financial income. DID NOT HAVE TO PAY MUCH IN TAXES

• Third Estate-poorest & most diverse. Bourgeoisie (middle class) were top of 3 rd estate. --Bankers, merchants, manufactures, lawyers, & doctors. • Majority of 3 rd estate were rural peasants. • Urban workers: poorest & at bottom of 3 rd estate. Many were beggars/lived lives of crime • Low wages, had worst jobs, & paid highest taxes. • 1 st & 2 nd estate paid almost no taxes. • 3 rd Estate: 80%-90% of Population & NO VOICE IN GOVERNMENT

Causes of the French Revolution Economic Crisis • National Debit (wars, borrowing) Deficit Spending • Government spends more than it takes in Reform Failed • Failed • First and Second Estates refused to pay taxes

Grievances • Complaints by Estates & provinces Fairer taxes Freedom of the press Regular meetings of the Estates General Class resentment

The National Assembly • • King Louis calls 1 st Estates General since 1614 reps from all 3 estates/make reforms (May 5, 1789) 3 rd Estate demands all members get a vote in EG June 17 -- w/support from 1 st & 2 nd Estates-- 3 rd Estate declares itself to be the National Assembly --power to govern France June 20—Nat. Assembly goes to meeting hall at Versailles—it was locked--Louis, under pressure from nobles had ordered it closed

Tennis Court Oath • Locked themselves in a Tennis Court inside the Palace • The Tennis court Oath • They took an oath not to disband until they wrote a constitution • It was an act of defiance directed at the king and was a revolutionary step because it assumed power for a body that had no legal authority • June 23 the king met with the three estates and directed them to meet and deliberate individually. The Third estate refused to recognize the King

Storming of the Bastille-July 14, 1789 • The Bastille was a medieval fortress with walls 10 feet thick and 8 towers each one 100 feet high, represented years of abuse by the Monarchy • It was used as a political prison and was guarded by 80 retired soldiers and 30 Swiss mercenaries • People demand weapons that were “believed” to be stored there • Guards fired on the crowd , prisoners were eventually released • Bastille Day is now recognized as France’s Independence Day—start of the French Revolution

National Assembly-keeps power for a few years -1791: Adopts “Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen”-gives right to all 3 estates -turns France into Constitutional Monarchy -abolishes feudalism -all French citizens equal under law; women left out of this Revolution goes to Violence: Convention replaces National Assembly; France goes to war w/Austria & Prussia Reign of Terror begins: extremists control France - 1793: King Louis & wife are beheaded & replace monarchy w/republic - thousands are executed in France during this time: people feared citizens weren’t loyal to France -Moderates slowly retake France…this marks end of revolution in some eyes

Napoleon’s Reign (1799): -takes control bringing end to representative gov’t—rules as dictator -still retains citizens rights from revolution—uses Napoleonic Code which protects these rights -Crowns himself emperor BUT people supported this idea -He goes on to defeat much of Europe & expand the power of France -He helps to spread revolutionary ideas throughout Europe from the French Revolution---especially popular sovereignty & nationalism -People challenged monarchies & wanted republics—Result of the French Revolution

Nationalism—Major outcome of the French Revolution -common bond of a community with a cultural unity: language, history, customs, territorial boundaries -developing a political loyalty to the NATION (this develops after cultural nationalism) -sought unification and independence for nationalities -supported revolution: broke out in several areas of Europe in 1848—like Germany & Italy