The French Revolution Begins Essential Question Make an

The French Revolution Begins

Essential Question? ►Make an argument on why the third estate wanted to start a revolution against the French crown.

Setting the Stage ► Main Idea: § Economics and social inequalities in the Old French Regime helped cause the French Revolution. ► Why It Matters Now: § Throughout history, economic and social inequalities lead people to revolution, and still do today.

► 1700 s § France is the most advanced country in Europe ►Center of the Enlightenment ► But: § Major internal issues § Bad harvests, high food prices, and high taxes § France influenced by Enlightenment thinkers’ (Rousseau, Voltaire, etc. )

The Old Regime ► French society divided into 3 classes, called ESTATES. § 1 st Estate: CLERGY (1%) § 2 nd Estate: NOBLES (2%) § 3 rd Estate: EVERYONE ELSE (97%) ►Including: § Bourgeoisie (Middle Class) ► bankers, lawyers, doctors § Peasants: ► farmers, laborers, servants, etc.

1 st Estate ► Roman Catholic Clergy § Owned 10% of land § Paid 2% in taxes § Provided education and relief services to the poor. § Did not believe in Enlightenment ideas ►Because the ideas threatened their positions of power

nd 2 ► Rich Estate Nobles § Owned 20% of land § No taxes paid § Didn’t believe in Enlightenment ideas for same reason

3 rd Estate 97% of Population 1. Bourgeoisie (middle class): § Educated ► Believed in Enlightenment ideas Workers (Urban) § Poorest of 3 3. Peasants (Rural) § All other French people ► ** Had no govt. 2. privileges, no power** ► Paid most of taxes

The Forces of Change Why Revolution? 1. Unfair power distribution *Monarchy, 1 st, 2 nd Estates had all the power **Bourgeoisie (middle class): Resented the lack of political power under the Old Regime 2. American Revolution 3. Enlightenment § Natural Rights

4. Economic Troubles ► High taxes = Govt. taking a lot of $ from Businesses ► Crop failures = starving poor ► Price of bread doubles = starving poor - what are three things people need to survive? French Bread Riots

5. A Weak Leader(Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette) King Louis XVI 1754 -1793 - Young 19 years old - Austrian Wife/ bossy (did not like Louis) * Spent $$$ helping Americans in Rev. Huge palaces, elaborate dress ► Indecisive ► France went broke ► Marie Antoinette 1755 -1793

nd 2 Estate OUTRAGED! ► Louis Wanted to Raise $$$ by taxing 2 nd Estate (Nobles: Remember they have not been Taxed) ► 2 nd Estate calls for meeting of three Estates, called ESTATES GENERAL. ► 1 st of its kind in 175 yrs.

Dawn of the Revolution ► May Mtg. 1789, Estates General § Each Estate gets 1 vote ► 1 st and 2 nd Estates always outvoted Third Estate § Unfair, 3% decides for everyone else… 1789 Estates General

3 rd Estate breaks off Form their own representative govt. called NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 1 st and 2 nd Estate lock out 3 rd Estate from Estates General.

Acts of Revolution ► 1 st Act of Revolution: § TENNIS COURT OATH § National Assembly meets across the street, on a tennis court to: (Draw up new constitution) ► 2 nd Act: § STORMING THE BASTILLE § National Assembly needs to defend itself against King § Took over a prison to get guns and gunpowder § Symbolic act of Revolution § Violence begun

3 rd Act: § GREAT FEAR: violence and change all over the country § King arrested with his family