1789: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION Background Causes

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

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

KING LOUIS XVI  WEAK  FOOLISH  INDECI- SIVE

MARIE ANTOINETTE  FOREIGN  FOOLISH  EXTRAVA- GANT

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

Social Divisions First Estate Second Estate Third Estate

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

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

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

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

3rd Background Cause: THE ENLIGHTENMENT THE ENLIGHTENMENT

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.

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

4th Background Cause: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

American Revolution  Inspiration  Leaders - Lafayette  Debt

5th Background Cause: THE FINANCIAL THE FINANCIAL CRISIS CRISIS

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

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

Solutions Refused Jacques Necker  Reduce Spending  Tax Nobles

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

1789: the End of the Beginning...