1. 7.1 The French Revolution Begins Inequality leads to upheaval

2. The Old Order The Old Regime – Social and political system in France during the 1770’s

3. The French social system Estates – Three social classes of France’s Old Regime

4. The Estates First Estate – Catholic Clergy – own 10 percent land, pay few taxes

5. Second Estate – rich nobles – 2 percent population, own 20% of the land

6. Third Estate 97% of the people are peasants, urban workers, middle class

7. Taxation without privilege Few privileges, pay heavy taxes, want change

8. Force of Change Enlightenment ideas inspire some in Third Estate

9. Economic Troubles High taxes and rising costs damage economy by 1780’s

10. King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette known for extravagance

11. Rising debt in France Louis doubles nation’s debt; banks refuse to lend more money

12. A Weak Leader Louis’s poor decisions and lack of patience add to France’s problems

13. He calls the Estates-General – meeting of Representatives from all three estates

14. Revolution The National Assembly – Third Estate has little power under old rules

15. Third Estate sets up National Assembly – new legislature to make reforms

16. Tennis Court Oath – delegates decide to write new constitution for France

17. Violence Begins Rumors fly in Paris that Louis wants to suppress the National Assembly

18. Storming of the Bastille Mob attacks and seizes the Bastille (prison) and kills guards July 14, 1789

19. Rebellion and Fear The Great Fear – peasant attacks throughout France begin after panic and rumors spread

20. Peasants destroy legal papers binding them to feudal system October 1789 women revolt over price of bread

21. Louis Returns Revolt forces Louis to return to Paris from Versailles