French Revolution an Intro French Revolution France still

French Revolution an Intro

French Revolution • France still followed ancient regime – old order (medieval) • Their social system divided into 3 classes

3 Classes / Estates • First Estate – Clergy • Enjoy Wealth & Privilege • Ran schools, hospitals, & orphanages • Paid NO Taxes! • Different laws

3 Classes / Estates • Second Estate – Nobles • Jobs in gov’t, army, and courts • Paid NO Taxes!

3 Classes / Estates • Third Estate – Everyone else! • Largest (98% pop) • Divided into three groups –Bourgeoisie –Rural Peasants –City Workers –Sans Culottes

Estate Population

Land Owned by Estate

French Revolution • Enlightenment ideas questioning ancient regime • Felt Upper Estates should pay Taxes • Financial Crisis hits France!

Financial Crisis • Cause = Deficit Spending gov’t spends more $ then it takes in

Financial Crisis • Debt from Seven Years War (French & Indian) • Debt from aiding Colonists financially during Am. Rev. • Bad Harvests • Food Price Rise = Famine!

Financial Crisis • Poor Leadership made things worse! • Louis XV – ran up the debt • Louis XVI – Tried to reform w/ help from Jacques Necker

Financial Crisis Necker’s Reforms • Reduce Court Spending • Reform Gov’t • Abolish Tariffs • Called for taxes by all Estates ØNobles & Clergy forced King to remove Necker

French Revolution • Bread Riots break out! (Starving) • King forced to call Estates General into session first time in 175 years.

French Revolution • 3 Estates wrote cahiers – grievances • Third Estate wanted radical reforms • Other 2 Estates wanted no change

French Revolution • Third Estate became National Assembly after being bullied. • Argued they rep. the people • King locked them out of Estates General

French Revolution • National Assembly met @ Tennis Court • Tennis Court Oath – vow to not disband until made a constitution for France

French Revolution • Louis XVI had to accept National Assembly because some Nobles and Clergy joined the cause. • Sent troops to Versailles • Rumors of a take over in Paris led to the Storming of the Bastille!

Storming the Bastille • Bastille- medieval fortress used as a prison • 800 Parisians attacked looking for weapons • July 14 – Bastille Day (French National Holiday)

Causes of American / French Revolutions “The Similarities are Uncanny” American Revolution French Revolution • Enlightenment Thinkers Locke/Hobbes • Debt on French & Indian War • Colonists Forced to Pay Taxes (Acts) • Lack of British Resources • Continental Congress • Enlightenment Thinkers Voltaire/Rousseau • Debt on Seven Year War • 1 st & 2 nd Estate NOT Forced to Pay Taxes • Bad Harvests lead to Famine • National Assembly

Causes of American / French Revolutions “The Similarities are Uncanny” American Revolution • Grievances in Declaration of Ind • Troops sent to Colonies (Quartering) • Declaration of Independence • Constitution • Riots and Revolts - Boston Massacre - Boston Tea Party French Revolution • Grievances at Estates General • Troops sent to Paris and other Towns • Declaration of the Rights of Men and the Citizen • Constitution • Riots and Revolts - Bread Riot - Storming the Bastille