The French Revolution What is a revolution Causes

The French Revolution

What is a revolution?

Causes of the French Revolution • Abuses of the old regime (What’s a regime? ) – Political (leave space to explain) – Social – Economic

Political Reasons • The king was an absolute monarch • The king picked people based on favoritism • The king censored speech (controlled what the press could say) • The king wouldn’t let the people have a voice in the government or make complaints

Social Reasons • Social Classes: • 1 st & 2 nd Estates, 3% of population, were – First Estate- clergy (church people) privileged – Second Estate- nobility • Owned most of the land – Third Estate- the rest of the • Taxed peasants people • Didn’t pay taxes • Bourgeoisie (merchants, bankers, manufacturers, • Had best gov & military professionals) positions • City workers • Peasants • Got special treatment in terms of law • 3 rd estate- unprivileged class

Economic Reasons • Long story short… The 3 rd estate had to pay almost all of the taxes

Other Causes • The French Bourgeoisie wanted laissez-faire • French philosophers & Age of Enlightenmentencouraged people to seek natural rights, etc. • Influence of English & American Revolutions • Bad government

Exit Question • What would you have done if you had lived in France?

Revolution Begins • First of all, what is revolution? • What about laissez faire? • And bourgeoisie?