1. 1789: THE FRENCH -------REVOLUTION Background Causes

2. 1st Background Cause: POLITICAL SYSTEM Absolute Monarchy: Reign of King Louis XVI

3. Reign of Louis XVI:  ABSOLUTE MONARCHY  NOBLES HOLD SPECIAL POSITIONS  ORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE NO POWER

4. KING LOUIS XVI  WEAK  FOOLISH  INDECI- SIVE

5. MARIE ANTOINETTE  FOREIGN  FOOLISH  EXTRAVA- GANT

6. 2nd Background Cause: SOCIAL SYSTEM-- the Estates of France

7. Social Divisions First Estate Second Estate Third Estate

8. THE FIRST ESTATE CLERGY:  Owned 20% of the land  Paid no tax  Tithes

9. SECOND ESTATE NOBLES:  25% of land  Paid no taxes  Feudal dues  Positions

10. THE THIRD ESTATE THE REST 97% 97% Middle Class Middle Class City Workers City Workers Peasants Peasants

11. GRIEVANCES OF THE THIRD ESTATE Paid most of the taxes Paid most of the taxes Peasants paid Feudal dues Peasants paid Feudal dues High price of food (bread) High price of food (bread) Few positions of influence Few positions of influence No power in the government No power in the government

12. 3rd Background Cause: THE ENLIGHTENMENT THE ENLIGHTENMENT

13. The Enlightenment A) Enlightenment thinkers were against absolute monarchy. B) They believed in progress and political change to improve society. C) They also emphasized equality.

14. The Enlightenment Encouraged...  Questioning the System  Expectations for Change  Demands for changes to the government  Revolutionary action

15. 4th Background Cause: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

16. American Revolution  Inspiration  Leaders - Lafayette  Debt

17. 5th Background Cause: THE FINANCIAL THE FINANCIAL CRISIS CRISIS

18. ROYAL SPENDING  Louis XIV  Versailles  Wars  Favors to the Nobles

19. National Budget of France Interest on the Debt COURTCOURTCOURTCOURT Military Everything Else

20. Solutions Refused Jacques Necker  Reduce Spending  Tax Nobles

21. FATEFUL DECISION:  King decides to call the Estates General  Purpose: to raise the taxes needed to pay off the debt  The Revolution will begin

22. 1789: the End of the Beginning...