1. The French Revolution Begins

2. Essential Question?
Make an argument on why the third estate wanted to start a revolution against the French crown.

3. Setting the Stage Main Idea: Why It Matters Now:
Economics and social inequalities in the Old French Regime helped cause the French Revolution.
Why It Matters Now:
Throughout history, economic and social inequalities lead people to revolution, and still do today.

4. 1700s But: France is the most advanced country in Europe
Center of the Enlightenment
But:
Major internal issues
Bad harvests, high food prices, and high taxes
France influenced by Enlightenment thinkers’ (Rousseau, Voltaire, etc.)

5. The Old Regime French society divided into 3 classes, called ESTATES.
1st Estate: CLERGY (1%)
2nd Estate: NOBLES (2%)
3rd Estate: EVERYONE ELSE (97%)
Including:
Bourgeoisie (Middle Class)
bankers, lawyers, doctors
Peasants:
farmers, laborers, servants, etc.

6. 1st Estate Roman Catholic Clergy Owned 10% of land Paid 2% in taxes
Provided education and relief services to the poor.
Did not believe in Enlightenment ideas
Because the ideas threatened their positions of power

7. 2nd Estate Rich Nobles Owned 20% of land No taxes paid
Didn’t believe in Enlightenment ideas for same reason

8. 3rd Estate 97% of Population
Bourgeoisie (middle class):
Educated
Believed in Enlightenment ideas
Workers (Urban)
Poorest of 3
Peasants (Rural)
All other French people
** Had no govt. privileges, no power**
Paid most of taxes

9. The Forces of Change Why Revolution? Unfair power distribution
*Monarchy, 1st, 2nd Estates had all the power
**Bourgeoisie (middle class): Resented the lack of political power under the Old Regime
American Revolution
Enlightenment
Natural Rights

10. High taxes = Govt. taking a lot of $ from Businesses
Economic Troubles
High taxes = Govt. taking a lot of $ from Businesses
Crop failures = starving poor
Price of bread doubles = starving poor
- what are the three things people need to survive?
French Bread Riots

11. A Weak Leader- (Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette)
- Young 19 years old
- Austrian Wife/ bossy
(did not like Louis)
* Spent $$$ helping Americans in Rev.
Huge palaces, elaborate dress
Indecisive
France went broke
King Louis XVI
Marie Antoinette

12. 2nd Estate OUTRAGED!
Louis Wanted to Raise $$$ by taxing 2nd Estate (Nobles: Remember they have not been Taxed)
2nd Estate calls for meeting of three Estates, called ESTATES GENERAL.
1st of its kind in 175 yrs.

13. Dawn of the Revolution May 1789, Estates General Mtg.
Each Estate gets 1 vote
1st and 2nd Estates always outvoted Third Estate
Unfair, 3% decides for everyone else…
1789 Estates General

14. 3rd Estate breaks off
Form their own representative govt. called NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
1st and 2nd Estate lock out 3rd Estate from Estates General.

15. Acts of Revolution 1st Act of Revolution: 2nd Act: TENNIS COURT OATH
National Assembly meets across the street, on a tennis court
to: (Draw up new constitution)
2nd Act:
STORMING THE BASTILLE
National Assembly needs to defend itself against King
Took over a prison to get guns and gunpowder
Symbolic act of Revolution
Violence begun

18. 3rd Act: GREAT FEAR: violence and change all over the country
King arrested with his family