French Revolution The French Revolution Begins The Three

French Revolution

The French Revolution Begins The Three Estates Who was a part of each estate/what jobs did they have? What percentage of the population was in each estate? How much land did they own? Did they pay taille (taxes)?

First Estate Clergy, aristocratic families, and priests 130, 000 people and. 5% of population Owned 10% of land Exempt from taille

Second Estate Nobility n Military, law courts and high church officials 350, 000 and 1. 5% of the population Owned 25 -30% of the land Exempt from the taille

Third Estate Commoners 98% of the population 75 -80% were peasants n Craftspeople, shopkeepers and wage earners Bourgeoisie(middle class) 8% n Merchants, bankers, industrialists, professionals 65% of land Had to pay taille

Financial problems Bad harvests in 1787 and 1788 led to Food shortage, high prices and unemployment n 1/3 of population was estimated to be poor Government still spent money on wars (helping Americans against British) and court luxuries Louis XVI called for a meeting of the Estates. General n Not met since 1614_

Solution to problems? Estates-General ( met in Versailles) Who was a part of the Estates-General? How man votes did each Estate have? What was the problem with this? What did the Third Estate want? What did the King say to this?

Solution continued Tennis Court Oath- swore they would meet until they made a French Constitution Stormed the Bastille n n n In response Louis XVI wanting to use force against the Third Estate Dismantled it brick by brick Saved the National Assembly

Solution continued Peasant rebellions took place in cities and countryside (summer 1789) Militias were formed in fear foreign troops would support the French Monarchy Aug 4, 1789 - National assembly voted to abolish the rights of landlords and financial privileges of nobles and clergy

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen n n n n Inspired by US Declaration of Independence, Constitution and English Bill of Rights “Liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression” Enlightenment ideas Freedom and equal rights for all men Right to take part of law making Access to public office based on talent End exemptions from taxation Freedom of speech and press

Declaration continued Olympe de Gouges- wrote Declaration of Rights of Women and the Female Citizen n Did not believe that rights would be spread to women Louis XVI would not accept the Declaration Women marched to Versailles and demanded that the king accept the declaration because their children were starving (Oct. 5)

Church Reforms n n Church would reform as well because part of old order Land was seized and sold by the national assembly Bishops and priests were to be elected and paid by the state Many Catholics opposed the revolution

New constitution 1791 n n Set up limited monarchy King with legislative assembly to make laws 745 representatives Men over 25 who paid a specific amount could vote n New order was opposed Catholic priests, nobles, lower class hurt by rise of cost of living, radicals that wanted a more drastic solution. King Louis XVI tried to flee France but was caught n Other countries feared that revolution would spread to their countries Austria and Prussia wanted to force power back to Louis XVI n Legislative assembly declared war on Austria

Paris Commune Shortages at home and defeats of war lead to new political demonstrations Paris Commune- radical political groups n n n Organized a mob attack on the royal palace and legislative assembly Took the king captive Forced assembly to hold a national convention to decide future form of government Power was now with the Paris Commune n Many called themselves sans-culottes