1. Before the Revolution
France was considered the most advanced countries in Europe:
Large population
Successful foreign trade system
Center of the Enlightenment
Culturally praised and imitated all over the world

2. Problems in France
Although everything seemed to be going great in France, it really wasn’t. Some problems include…
Bad harvests
High priced goods
High taxes for the lower class
Disturbing questions raised by Locke, Rousseau, and Voltaire during the Enlightenment
Ideas of success from the American Revolution

3. Social Classes in France
France’s social classes were divided into three different group called estates
First Estate  Priests and other members of the clergy
Second Estate  Rich nobles and landowners
Privileges of First and Second Estate
Power, prestige
Did NOT pay taxes
Could hold government jobs and be appointed to high offices
Under Louis XIV, they could live at Versailles

4. Social Classes in France (cont’d)
France’s social classes were divided into three different group called estates
Third Estate  everyone else, 97% of the French population
Bourgeoisie — Middle Class
Bankers, factory owners, merchants, professionals
Made GOOD money, but had to pay taxes and had no privileges
Workers
Trades people, apprentices, laborers, servants
Earned low wages and frequently unemployed
Peasants
80% of France’s population
Peasants paid HALF their income in dues to nobles, tithes to the Church, and taxes to the king

5. Causes of the French Revolution
Resentment from the lower classes or Third Estate
Enlightenment views on government and authority
Quoting Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire, the Third Estate began demanding equality, liberty, and democracy
Success of the American Revolution
The French helped the American colonies win
Economic decline
Heavy taxes made making a profit impossible
Weak leaders

6. France’s Weak Leader Louis XVI (16th) and Marie Antoinette
Reigned in France during the 1770s and 1780s
During this time:
France sank deeper into debt
Borrowed heavily to help with the American Revolution
Doubled France’s debt to where bankers refused to lend the government any more money

7. France’s Weak Leader (cont’d)
Louis XVI was not strong enough to battle such large problems
Paid little attention to his advisors and had little patience for the details of governing
Allowed Marie Antoinette to interfere and offer poor advice
She was unpopular as an Austrian (France’s enemy)
She spent so much money on gowns, jewels, gambling, and gifts she was known as “Madame Deficit”

8. France Runs Out of Money
Louis XVI didn’t do anything about the problems until France ran out
Louis XVI’s Actions:
Planned to tax the nobility (they did NOT like that)
Nobles forced him to call a meeting of the Estates General with representatives from all three estates
Met at Versailles on May 5, 1789
Each estate had one vote – not fair, especially to the Third Estate who made up the majority of the French population

9. The National Assembly
The Third Estate decided to separate themselves from the First and Second
Formed the National Assembly, as part of the Estates General, to pass laws and reforms to the government themselves
Louis XVI and the First and Second estates DID NOT like this
Became the first action of the French Revolution

10. The Tennis Court Oath
Three days after the Estates General began and the National Assembly was formed, the Third Estate was locked out of the meeting room at Versailles
As a result, they broke into an indoor tennis court on the grounds of Versailles
Members pledged to stay until a new constitution was established
Second action of the French Revolution
Louis reacts by placing his army around the grounds of Versailles