1. French Revolution

2. Old Regime A.First Estate – Clergy 1.Owned land 2.Collected tithes 3.Paid no taxes

3. Second Estate - Nobles A.Owned land but had no taxes

4. Third Estate - Peasants 1.97% of population – Paid most taxes A.Bourgeoisie- Wealthier members of 3 rd estate B.Peasants- rural, farmers C.Urban workers- craftsmen

5. Economic Troubles A.Louis XIV –  Deficit spending: spending more money that is taken in by taxes

6. Economic Troubles B.Poor harvests = high bread prices C.King’s tactics 1.Louis XVI- a.Tried to tax 1st & 2nd estates, but failed b.increased public spending to "buy" the country's way out of debt (didn’t work)

7. Estates General A.France on verge of uprising B.Each estate prepared cahiers (notebooks): lists of grievances drawn up by each of the three Estates 1.Deadlocked- 6 week political deadlock on how to vote

8. C.National Assembly- was transitional body between Estates General & National Constituent Assembly 1.Tennis Court Oath- write a constitution for France

9. Storming the Bastille A.Bastille- fortress/prison represented royal authority B.July 14, 1789 C.Marked the beginning of the French Revolution