The French Revolution – The Beginning  AIM: what were the causes of the French revolution?  Do Now: Does the United State have an economic class system?  In the United States is there a chance to move out of the economic class you were born into?

Vocabulary  Bourgeoisie – middle class of France  Estates – class system of France, 1789  Regime – rule over a nation  Louis XVI- King of France during the beginning of revolution.  Palace of Versailles – built by Louis XVI and almost put France in bankruptcy.  Marie Antoinette – wife of Louis XVI  Declaration of the Rights of Man – first representative government in France.  Constitutional Monarchy – the powers of a ruler are restricted by a written constitution.

Preconditions to Revolution  Prior to 1789, French society (The Old Regime) was divided into three classes or Estates. The first estate was made up of the clergy (priests); the second were the nobles. The third and largest estate were the commoners. The most influential group in the third estate were the bourgeoisie, or middle class – merchant, professionals, and shopkeepers.

The First EstateThe Second EstateThe Third Estate

Three Estates of France First Estate 1% Clergy Second Estate 10% Nobility Third Estate 89% merchants, professionals, shopkeepers

Privileges and Burdens during the Old Regime  1 st. Clergy – very privileged, paid no taxes, did no work, lived in luxury, collected taxes  2 nd. Nobles – had many privileges, paid little taxes, collected taxes, owed large estates, held high rank in the military.  3 rd. Working class – paid all the taxes, forced to join military, lived in modest homes, leased land from the nobles.

The Revolution Begins  During the 1700’s, French kings almost bankrupted the state. Louis XVI decided to tax the Nobles more heavily…  The nobles refused and created an Estates General- a national assembly in which each of the three social classes would be represented. (remember the John Locke)  This started the National Assembly.

Storming of the Bastille  The people of France took over by force a royal prison known as the Bastille when King Louis XVI tried to break up the National Assembly.  This lead to the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The National Assembly abolished the privileges of the nobles and the clergy.  The Assembly adopted a written constitution, created a National Legislature, and turned France into a constitutional monarchy.

Summary Slogan of the Revolution- “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity (brotherhood) ! Why was the third estate of France so unhappy with the Monarchy? Did Louis XVI take care of his responsibilities for all the people of France?