The French Revolution Begins The Old Regime French
The French Revolution Begins
The Old Regime �French society divided into 3 “Estates” ◦ 1 st Estate: Clergy ◦ 2 nd Estate: Nobles ◦ 3 rd Estate: Everyone Else �Bourgeoisie �City Workers �Peasants
French Population- 1787 1 st Estate 2 nd Estate 1% 2% 3 rd Estate 97%
French Taxes � 1 st & 2 nd Estates paid little or no taxes � 3 rd Estate paid about 50% of income in taxes
Tensions Mount �Discontent grows in 3 rd Estate ◦ Economic Problems �Unequal, high taxes �High Bread Prices following bad grain harvest �High National Debt ◦ Enlightened Ideals �People question tradition, demand equality �Inspired by American Revolution
The Estates General �Represents the people of France ◦ Meets at request of king ◦ Each “Estate” gets 1 vote ◦ Clergy & Nobles always vote together �Called together by Louis XVI in May, 1789 ◦ First time in 179 years ◦ 3 rd estate given double number of delegates, but still just one vote
Cahiers de Doleances �“List of Demands, ” ◦ End government waste, indirect taxes ◦ Demands equal taxes, regular meetings of the Estates General, free press �Much agreement between Estates �Potential cooperation lost in competition
Creation of National Assembly � 3 rd Estate demands 1 vote/delegate, king sides with nobles �Members of 3 rd Estate and some clergy, nobles declare themselves the “National Assembly” or “National Constituent Assembly” (June 17, 1789) ◦ Desire administrative and economic reforms for France
Tennis Court Oath June 20, 1789 �National Assembly gets locked out, meet at nearby tennis court �Agree to meet until new constitution is written
Storming the Bastille 7/14/1789 �Louis sends troops to Paris, dismisses popular finance minister Jaques Necker during bread shortage �People attack prison for gunpowder, tear it apart and kill guards �Becomes the symbol of the revolution �Parisians create the National Guard and the tricolor flag
The Great Fear �Peasants begin rioting and looting nobles’ houses on rumors of royal troops headed for countryside ◦ Burn papers tying them to the land, other feudal documents ◦ Causes many nobles to leave (emigres)
August 4, 1789 �Some nobles and clerics renounce feudal privileges before the National Assembly �Creates equality among French citizens, abolishes sale of government offices
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen �Aug 27, 1789 �Document stating French citizen’s rights �Based on ideas of Enlightenment and American Revolution ◦ Free speech & religion ◦ Equal justice
King & Queen Brought to Paris � 10/5/1789 �Parisian riot over bread prices �March to Versailles, force Louis & Marie to Paris (to Tuileries Palace) �Relative peace until summer of 1792
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