1. The French Revolution Begins
Economic and social inequalities in the
Old Regime help cause the French Revolution.
Ch. 7.1

2. The Old Order The Old Regime
Old Regime—social and political system in France during the 1770s
Estates—three social classes of France’s Old Regime
A VERY unequal society (people were not treated equally)
The Privileged Estates
First Estate — Catholic clergy—1% of the population but own 10 percent land, pay few taxes
Second Estate — rich nobles—2 percent population, own 20 percent land
The Third Estate
97 percent of people
middle class (bourgeoisie) lacked the status of nobles
Peasants (urban workers & farm workers) very poorly paid 80% of the French people
Have few rights, pay heavy taxes, want change while the rich paid hardly any taxes

3. The Forces of Change Three factors led to Rev. in France.
1) Enlightenment Ideas
Enlightenment ideas inspire some in Third Estate (esp. the powerful members)
2) Economic Troubles
High taxes kept profits low
rising costs (esp. food prices) damage economy by 1780s. Crop failures resulted in severe grain shortages
The government owed money
3) Weak leadership of the monarchy
King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette known for extravagance
Marie Antoinette was unpopular – from Austria, France’s long time rival
Louis doubles nation’s debt; banks refuse to lend more money
Louis XVI is forced to call a meeting of the Estates-General

5. Dawn of the Revolution A Weak Leader
Louis’s poor decisions and lack of patience add to France’s problems
He calls Estates-General (May 1789)—meeting of representatives from all three estates
Each Estate got one vote
3rd Estate wanted each delegate to have a vote
King and other 2 Estates said NO - why?
The National Assembly (June 1789)
The Third Estate broke w/ the others and met separately
Delegates of the Third Estate sets up National Assembly—new legislature to make reforms (the beginning of representative govn’t in France)
got locked out of their meeting because they spoke out
Broke into a tennis court - Sieyès persuades them to make major changes in French government
Tennis Court Oath — delegates decide to write new constitution for France

6. Storming the Bastille Louis tried to make peace
Encouraged the Nobles and Clergy to join the National Assembly
Rumors fly in Paris that Louis wants to suppress National Assembly and attack French citizens
Mob attacks and seizes Bastille (a Paris prison), killing guards on July 14, 1789
The mob wanted gun powder to defend Paris & themselves

7. A Great Fear Sweeps France
Rebellion
Rumors and panic spread throughout France
Great Fear— attacks by peasants taking place across France
Peasants destroy legal papers binding them to feudal system (had to pay fees to the nobles)
In October 1789, Parisian women revolt over rising price of bread “The March to Versailles”
They demand action, forcing Louis to return from Versailles to Paris
King and Queen never return to Versailles