LA RÉVOLUTION FRANÇAISEChapter 7 Section 1

France in the 1700s

Considered the Most advanced country of Europe Large population, prosperous foreign trade,

was the center of the Enlightenment, highly praised and imitated culture

Truth Great unrest caused by bad harvests, high

prices, high taxes, and questions raised by the philosophes

The Old Order The Old Regime

People were divided into three Estates – Social classes

First Estate- Clergy Held 10% of the land in France Education and relief for poor 2% of income goes to the government

Second Estate- Nobles 2% of the population, 20% of the land

Third Estate- Everyone else Privileged Estates

1st and 2nd

Had access to high offices and had exemptions from paying taxes

Third Estate 97% of the people 3 groups of the 3rd estate

Bourgeoisie ( middle Class) Educated and believed in Enlightenment Ideals Some were as rich as nobles, but the paid high taxes

and lacked privileges guild privileges- exclusive rights to a trade in an area-

given by King Felt like their wealth entitled them to a greater degree

of social status and political power Urban Workers

Poorest, got low wages and many times went hungry Peasants

More than 80% of France's population Half their income went to dues for the nobles, tithes to

the church, and taxes to the king’s agents* Third estate very discontent with the heavy burden

and privileges given to others

The Forces of Change 3 big problems

1. New ideas about government The Enlightenment Inspired by the success of American Revolution Speeches at the Tuleries

2. Economic Problems Appeared sound because expansion of production and

trade Taxes made it almost impossible to make business

profitable Price of living up Crop failures make the price of bread go up- many

starving Heavy debt b/c of aid the American Revolution

3. Indecisive leadership Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Alliance between Austro-Hungarian Empire and France (Hapsburgs and Bourbons) Old Enemies

Married when she was 15 and he was 16 Queen and king when 18 and 19 Marital problems = no children= rumors

Libelles- “let them eat cake” Spending Habits Silliness of Versailles

Hamlet Petit Trianon Privacy and Formality Dress

Louis the Weak Leader More interest in his hobbies like lock making Took poor advice from ill informed people

Estates-General Louis only option is to impose a tax on the 2nd

Estate Don’t allow him to so he has to call the Estates-

General – an assembly made of representatives from all 3 estates. 1st time it had met in 175 years, met in Versailles in

May of 1789 Old Rules- Each estate meets in separate halls and

each estate had 1 vote= 3rd estate loses Louis make it 2 votes for the 3rd estate What they want-each delegate gets a vote- Louis

doesn’t allow it. 3rd Estate stonewalls Emmanuel Joseph- Sieyes suggest they make a new

legislative body

Sieyes

What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been until now in the political

order? Nothing. What does it ask? To become something.

National Assembly

June 17, 1789 3rd estate after long night of debate decides to establish the National Assembly Proclaims an end to absolute monarchy 1st act of Revolution

Tennis Court Oath Louis locks them out of their meeting room 3 days later meet on an indoor tennis court Take oath saying they won’t leave until they have

written a new constitution 1st and 2nd estaters who want reform join them. Louis stations Swiss mercenaries around Versailles

Storming The Bastille

Rumor has it Louis going to use mercenaries to dismiss the National

Assembly or to kill citizens Attack the mercenaries- July 12, 1789 Demolish tax wall Storm a monastery looking for grain Create a new gov. and National guard Decide to go to the Bastille Prison for weapons

Also seen as a symbol of Royal Power Only 7 people in the prison- most of them loony Hack of the guard’s head with a pocket knife than

parade around with it on a pike July 14 Bastille day- like 4th of July

The Great Fear

Rebellion spreads to the countryside. Rumors make people panic Peasants arm themselves w/ pitchforks and

break into noble’s houses, burn them down, etc. October 1789 Women riot over bread and march

to Versailles. Are followed by national guard- have cannons guns,

etc. First want answers from National Assembly Then turn to the king and queen- break into the

palace and demand that they move to Paris. King of France to King of the French