1. 2/23
“The Third Estate is the People and the People is the foundation of the State; it is in fact the State itself; the…People is everything. Everything should be subordinated to it…It is in the People that all national power resides and for the People that all states exist.”

2. Wealth Distribution Simulation
Imagine that the United States is 100 people lined up from poorest to wealthiest
Now imagine all of the money in the United States is $100
How much of this money does the wealthiest person in this line up have?
The next 19 wealthiest combined?
The bottom 80 combined?
Poorest
Wealthiest

3. The one wealthiest person owns $40
The one wealthiest person owns $40
The next 19 wealthiest people collectively own $53
The bottom 80 collectively own $7
This means that 20% of the population owns 93% of the wealth
This is called inequality
Ideal vs. Reality
How big does the difference need to be to force action?

4. Brainstorm What is an unjust government?
Generally and specific examples
What would make you join a revolution today?

5. French Revolution

6. The Estates
The “Old Regime” (pre-Revolution) in France was divided into 3 classes or “estates”
First and Second Estate are known as “Privileged”
Why?
Run for office, own certain land etc.
First
Clergy
1% of pop.; 2% of income in taxes
Second
Nobles
2% of pop.; Almost 0% in taxes
Third
Bourgeoisie (business owners), urban workers, peasants
97% of pop.; High taxes (some 50% of income in taxes)

7. Brainstorm What might push these people to Revolution? Enlightenment
Bad Economy
Heavy taxes impede business
Extravagant spending
Weak Leader
Louis XVI
Marie Antoinette
Raised taxes on nobility instead of cut his own spending

9. Video Demonstration

10. 1789 Estates General called to a meeting Each estate gets one vote
Representatives from all three estates
Each estate gets one vote
Easy for privileged estates to outvote third estate
Third Estate proposes revolting and forming the National Assembly
End monarchy begin rep. gov.
Citizens afraid King will send military to dismiss new gov.
Storm the Bastille July 14, 1789 to take up arms
Parade the streets

14. Great Fear Peasants afraid nobles may kill them
Panic spreads
Riots over rising bread costs
Break into Versailles; kill and loot
King Louis abandons Versailles
Symbolic exit