Problems!

• France was spending more money than it received in income– Took out loans to pay for

wars- debt!!• 1788 France spent have of its

annual budget on interest payments

• 25% on military• 6% on the extravagant

lifestyle of the king and queen

• Sharp rise in taxes• Largely paid by the peasants– Most nobles and clergy were

exempt• Poor harvest• Increased price of bread•

The Estates General

• King Louis XVI called for the Estates General to meet in order to solve the financial crisis

• France’s representative body- not met since 1614

• Divided France into 3 orders:– 1st Estate: The clergy– 2nd Estate: Nobility– 3rd Estate: Commoners

1st Estate: The Clergy

• Exempt from taxes• Divided– Higher clergy from

aristocratic families shared the interests of the nobility

– Parish Priests were often poor and and shared the interests of the commoners

2nd Estate: Nobility

• Leading positions in government, military, law courts, and higher church offices

• Exempt from taxes• Wanted to expand

their own power and limit the power of the monarchy

3rd Estate: Commoners

• Peasants• Skilled craftspeople and shopkeepers• The bourgeoisie (middle class)– Merchants– Bankers– Industrialists– Lawyers– Doctors– writers

Revolution?

• Aristocrats and Bourgeoisie were drawn to the ideas of the Enlightenment

• Both were upset with the monarchy• This opposition led them to take action!