1. The French Revolution Begins

2. Background to the Revolution
Immediate causes:
Economic problems
there were long term problems that created an environment for revolution

3. The Estates French society was based on inequality
Was divided into 3 estates
First, Second, and Third Estates

4. The First Estate consisted of the clergy owned about 10% of land
were exempt from the taille (main tax in France)

5. The Second Estate was the nobility owned between 25-30% of land
held many leading governmental posts
also exempt from the taille

6. The Third Estate were the commoners and bourgeoisie (middle class)
they were further divided by occupations and wealth

7. The Third Estate
over half of them had little or no land on which to survive
many of these people were unhappy with the privileges of the nobility
both the bourgeoisie and nobility opposed the monarchy

8. Financial Crisis
a slowdown in manufacturing led to food shortages, rising food prices, and unemployment in the French cities

9. Financial Crisis
on the verge of complete financial collapse, King Louis XIV was forced to call a meeting of the Estates-General (French Parliament).

10. From Estates General to National Assembly
EG composed of representatives from all the estates
members of the Third Estate wanted to abolish tax exemptions of the 1st and 2nd Estates
However, the king declared that he was in favor of the current system

11. From Estates General to National Assembly
The 3rd Estate separated itself from the Estates General and called itself the National Assembly
Took an oath to continuously meet until a new constitution was developed
Called the Tennis Court Oath

12. The Great Scare 3rd Estate rebellions broke out throughout France
These rebellions became part of the Great Scare
A panic that spread through France in the summer of 1789

13. Destruction of the Old Regime
August 4, 1789, the National Assembly voted to abolish the tax exemptions on the upper Estates

14. Destruction of the Old Regime
August 26, they adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man
Inspired by the US Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and English Bill of Rights

15. The Constitution of 1791 Set up a limited monarchy
Still had a king but a Legislative Assembly made the laws

16. War with Austria
some European leaders feared that revolutions would spread to their countries
Austrian and Prussian rulers tried to use force to restore Louis XIV to the throne
in the spring of 1792, the Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria

17. The Paris Commune
eventually more radical groups emerged known as Communes
The Paris Commune eventually overtook the Legislative Assembly and forced them to suspend the monarchy

18. The Paris Commune Made them call for a National Convention
This way the people could vote on important issues.