ON THE EVE OF REVOLUTION Chapter 3.1

Focus Question What led to the storming of the Bastille and the start of the French Revolution?

French Society Divided In 1789, France had an outdated social system of three social classes, or estates. This ancien regime or old order, had been created in the Middle Ages. The First Estate was made up of the clergy The Second Estate consisted of the nobility Third Estate included the majority of the population

First Estate (Clergy) Enormous wealth and privilege. The church owned 10% of the land, collected tithes/gifts and paid no taxes. High Church leaders lived well and prospered.

Second Estate (Nobility) Knights, royalty and wealthy landowners. They also had rights and privileges and held the best jobs in the military, government and courts. Palace of Versailles Where the royal family lived with all of the French court. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X235vpOToVU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj6JCwiZlck

Third Estate (Everyone else) the largest of the estates and the most diverse social class. At the top sat the bourgeoisie or middle class (bankers, lawyers, professors.) It also consisted of rural peasants and poor urban workers who earned miserable wages. .

The 3rd Estate resented the privileges enjoyed by their social “betters,” such as paying almost no taxes. In contrast, the 3rd Estate was taxed heavily. Enlightenment ideas led people all over France to question the inequalities of the old regime

Financial Troubles Economic problems lead social unrest and heightened tensions. Due to bad harvests, over spending, and costly wars. The Seven Years’ War and American Revolution increased the national debt even further. This debt helped worsen the economic crisis. France had to borrow money and increase taxes to stay afloat.

King Louis XVI hired Jacques Necker, a financial expert, as an advisor. He urged the King to reduce their extravagant spending and proposed taxing the 1st and 2nd Estates. When the nobles and clergy heard of his ideas, they forced the King to fire him!

The wealthy and powerful classes demanded that the King summon the Estates-General (“E-G”) The E-G is the legislative body consisting of representatives of the three estates. They hadn’t met for 175 years! They hoped it would bring the monarch under control of the nobles and guarantee their privileges.

Louis XVI Calls the Estates General Louis XVI asked all three estates to prepare cahiers, or notebooks listing their grievances. Each group only gets one vote Locked out 3rd Estate in June 1789 declared themselves the National Assembly, they moved their meeting to an indoor tennis court.

Tennis Court Oath The National Assembly swore “never to separate and to meet wherever the circumstances might require until we established a sound and just constitution.” When reform-minded clergy and nobles joined the assembly, the king unhappily accepted it.

Storming of the Bastille July 14, 1789 Outraged citizens in Paris stormed the fortress/prison for weapons and gunpowder, but found little there. Took the spotlight away from the National Assembly. 5 soldiers died and several prisoners were released Symbol of Independence since 1880 for France.