The French Revolution Roots of Revolution Revolution Definition

The French Revolution Roots of Revolution

Revolution? • Definition: A radical change caused by irresistible forces that overturns an established order • Types: – Political – Economic – Social – Religious – Cultural

FOUR STAGES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION • THE MODERATE STAGE (1789 -1792) • THE RADICAL STAGE (1792 -1795) • THE REACTIONARY STAGE (1795 -1799) • THE NAPOLEONIC STAGE (1799 -1804)

Underlying Causes: v. POLITICAL ? ? v. ECONOMIC ? ? v. INTELLECTUAL ? ? v. SOCIAL ? ?

POLITICAL CAUSE ØMONARCHY – Louis XIV, Louis XVI ØAbsolutism – Divine Right ØLouis XVI – weak, indecisive, out of touch with people ØMarie Antoinette – spending, frivolous

ECONOMIC CAUSE • • • Seven Years’ Wars of Louis XIV Versailles American Revolution Unlimited Personal Expenses • DEBT

INTELLECTUAL CAUSE • • • Enlightenment ideas Montesquieu Voltaire Locke Diderot Printing Press

SOCIAL CAUSE

The First Estate • Clergy –Bishops, Archbishops • 100, 000 - 1% of population • Owned 10% of French land • Did not PAY taxes – “Voluntary gift” • TAXED residents on their lands – Tithe

The Second Estate • • • Nobility 400, 000 – 2% of population Owned 25% of French land Taxed VERY minimally Manorial rights – Taxed residents on their land

The Third Estate • • “Everybody else” 25 million – 97% of population Heavily taxed THREE SUB GROUPS – BOURGEOISIE -Wealthy merchants, doctors, lawyers, etc. – WORKERS – artisans, skilled laborers – PEASANTS - 21 Million

What is the Third Estate? • Abbe Sieyes – 1789: – “Therefore, what is the Third Estate? Everything; but an everything shackled and oppressed. What would it be without the privileged order? Everything; but an everything free and flourishing. ”