ON THE EVE OF REVOLUTION 1789 FRANCE WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE ESTATES, AKA CLASSES

THREE ESTATES FIRST ESTATE WAS THE CLERGY SECOND ESTATE WAS THE NOBILITY THIRD ESTATE WAS THE VAST MAJORITY

FIRST ESTATE OWNED 10% OF THE LAND AND PAID NO TAXES (PLUS COLLECTED TITHES)

2 ND ESTATE SERVED IN THE TOP JOBS IN THE GOVERNMENT, THE ARMY, THE COURTS AND THE CHURCH. THEY PAID NO TAXES.

THIRD ESTATE WAS THE MOST SOCIALLY DIVERSE. AT THE TOP, WHERE THE BOURGEOISIE, OR MIDDLE CLASS WHICH CONSISTED OF BANKERS, MERCHANTS, LAWYERS, DOCTORS, JOURNALISTS, AND PROFESSORS. THE BULK OF THE THIRD ESTATE, HOWEVER CONSISTED OF RURAL PEASANTS. THE POOREST MEMBERS WERE URBAN WORKERS.

THIRD ESTATE (CONT.) AT 27 MILLION PEOPLE, 98% OF THE FRENCH POPULATION WERE BURDENED BY HEAVY TAXES. FROM RICH TO POOR, MEMBERS OF THE THIRD ESTATE RESENTED THE PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY THE FIRST AND SECOND ESTATES.

YOUR REACTION? ????????????????????????? To which estate would you have belonged? Would you have liked to have lived in France during the time of King Louis? Why or why not?

SHORT ANSWERS #1 DEFICIT SPENDING LOUIS XIV HAD LEFT FRANCE HEAVILY IN DEBT WARS LIKE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FURTHER AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION BAD HARVESTS FURTHER AGGRAVATED THINGS THE GOVT WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE TAXES, REDUCE EXPENSES, OR BOTH! HOW, NOBLES, CLERGY, WANTED TO REMAIN TAX-EXEMPT!!!!

Why did Louis XVI call the Estates General? Bread riots were spreading. Nobles were upset – crying royal tyranny Louis XVI was baffled!!!

Why did the Third Estate want to change the voting system for the Estates General? Because each estate had only one vote and the Third Estate was always outvoted 2 to 1. Third estate wanted votes to be counted by head!

What was the purpose of the Tennis Court Oath? To establish a sound and just constitution!

What was the storming of the Bastille? July 14, 1789

What was the Bastille? A medieval fortress used as a prison for political and other prisoners.

What did the stormers of the Bastille want? Weapons and gunpowder were believed to be stored there.

The Storming of the Bastille became the symbol of the FRENCH REVOLUTION Today it is still celebrated as a French national holiday!

Yes or No: Do all revolutions have to be violent? Why / why not?