1. Chapter 18 The French Revolution and Napoleon
Section 1
On the Eve of the Revolution

2. Key Concept… Scientific revolution New thinking encouraged
New thinking leads to revolutions in America and France

3. Trouble Looming France > severe economic crisis
Nobles sought financial reforms to solve the problem
Will not solve the problem
People > hungry, unemployed, & poorly paid

4. French society divided
Under ancien regime (old order)
Society is divided into social classes (estates)
1st estate > clergy
2nd estate > nobility
3rd estate > vast majority of population

5. clergy Enjoyed wealth and privilege Paid no direct taxes to the state
10% of Land
Paid no direct taxes to the state
Some parish priests were very poor
Did provide social services
Schools, hospitals, orphanages
Under attack by philosophes (Enlightenment thinkers)
Why?

6. Nobility
Richelieu & Louis XIV had crushed nobles power & gave them other rights
Hated absolutism & royal bureaucracy
Fear of losing traditional privileges
not paying taxes

7. 3rd Estate > Diverse Rise in bread > caused hunger
At the top > bourgeoisie > middle class
merchants, bankers, doctors, lawyers, etc.
Majority > rural peasants
Poorest members > urban workers
Urban poor > unemployed > crime/beg
Resented noble’s privileges
Best jobs reserved for nobles
Rise in bread > caused hunger
Why should first two estates enjoy privileges at the expense of the majority?

8. Financial Troubles Economic woes added to social unrest
Deficit spending?
Govt. spends more money than it takes in
National debt > Louis XIV main reason
Taxes went to pay the borrowed money
Bad harvests = high food prices = hunger
Had to raise taxes

9. Economic reform Louis XV ran up more debt
Louis XVI > weak and indecisive
Hires Jacques Necker > financial expert
Reduce court spending
Abolish tariffs
Tax First and Second Estate
Result > he is fired
Louis XVI summons Estates- General
Made up of all three estates
Chance of carrying out reform

10. Grievance Notebooks Louis XVI had all three estates prepare cahiers
List of grievances
Cahiers testified to boiling class resentments

11. Tennis Court Oath
Third Estate delegates > owned property > mostly middle class
Intelligent > insisted on reform
Estates argued over voting > each estate got one vote
Problem?
Third Estate forms the National Assembly
Locked out of room > held meeting in tennis court
Tennis Court Oath > vow to meet until there is a just constitution

13. Storming the bastille
Paris > fear of royal troops were going to occupy the capital
800 stormed the Bastille for ammunition & gun powder
Represented years of abuse