The Road to The French Revolution

1789

France Under The Old Regime

Form of government/division of society in France for centuries

Society basically divided into rich or poor

Taxes? Absolute monarch

• Misused power --> angered poor• Louis XIV – created Versailles, France strongest

nation• Louis XV (1714-1775) – engaged in costly wars,

national debt soars• Louis XVI (1774-1789) - weak and indecisive, but

spent $

The Three Estates(French Society)

Old Regime

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate

The First Estate Religious leaders – Clergy

Less than 1% of 25 million

Owned 1/5 (20%) of land

NO TAXES

The Second Estate

Nobility – 2% of population

Many privileges & land ownership (30%)

Paid few taxes collected them from peasants

High government positions influence over Louis XVI

The Third Estate

97% of population (24 million+) Serfs & peasants Bourgeoisie – middle class

•Merchants, manufacturers, professionals

Provided most if not all taxes Little voice in government decisions

Faces of the Old Regime (1789)Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette

Crying Out For Change

France’s population on the rise Discontent among 3rd Estate

•Peasants forced to pay higher taxes

•Bourgeoisie resented the nobles

•Peasants blamed Louis XVI 1st & 2nd Estate – continue freedom

from taxation 3rd Estate – gain equality/freedom

Financial Crisis Deficit spending - government spends more

money than it takes in King Louis XIV - lavish lifestyle Lent $ to support American colonists - American

Revolution against English

Spent $ on 7 Years War

Tried to tax 1st & 2nd Estates • Jacques Necker - financial advisor - bad idea!

By 1787 – banks refused to loan $

Aug 1788 – Louis XVI calls for meeting of Estates General to approve new taxes

Estates General

1st Estate

2nd Estate

3rd Estate

View of the 3rd Estate

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

Nothing.What does it want to be? Something.”

~Abbe Emmanuel Sieyes - a revolutionary clergyman

According to the quote, why was the Third Estate ready to revolt?

The Revolution Begins

Meeting of Estates General – May 1789 Upset with old voting methods, 3rd

Estate became National Assembly National Assembly locked out of

meeting Refused to disband until a constitution

was signed Louis XVI refused

July 14, 1789Bastille Day

Welcome Work

Open YOUR book to page 573.

Complete “Analyzing Political Cartoons”•Answer #1 & 2

Review Which king’s policies helped lead to the

French Revolution?

What is the term for a social class in France?

How many were there?

What types of people made up the first two estates?

More Review

What types of people made up the third estate?

What is the French term for middle class?

What did the third estate do in response to Louis XVI calling a meeting of the Estates General?

Last But Not Least

What is seen as the symbol of the French Revolution?

What day is considered France’s Independence Day?

Explain this painting…who is represented? In what ways?

The Causes of the Revolution

Ideas of Enlightenment Easy distribution of written word Middle class with little political power Large gap between wealthy and poor Excessive reign of monarchs - Louis

XIV, X, XVI Depression of 1789 – shortage of food,

high prices, unemployment, over-population

The Revolution Unfolds

What political and social reforms did the National Assembly institute in the first stage of the French

Revolution?

The “Great Fear” Political Crisis + Famine = Revolt

Famine Fear Rumors

Attacks against nobles

Who is Marquis de Lafayette?

Fought with George Washington

Leader of National Guard Wrote first draft of

Declaration of the Rights of Man & the Citizen

Followed by many moderates

National Assembly Acts

Nobles vote to end privileges

•Key to goal of equality of all male citizens before the law

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Modeled after Declaration of Independence

•Natural rights

•Government protection

•All male citizens are equal

•Taxes based on ability to pay & freedom of religion

Women march on Versailles

October 5, 1789 Thousands of

women – starving! Marched 13 miles

from Paris Demand royals

return to Paris

How to solve the economic crisis???

Money from the CHURCH! National Assembly drafts a

constitution•Vote to sell Church lands to pay off debt

Church moved under state control!!•Priests & bishops elected officials

•Ends Pope’s authority over French church Refractory priests – refused constitution Caused huge divide between peasants &

revolutionaries in Paris

Constitution of 1791 (p. 581-582)

What are parts of this constitution?

How did Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette respond to the constitution?

Radicals Take Over

European rulers responded King of Prussia & Emperor of Austria

threaten to defend French monarchy•Revolutionaries prepare for war!

April 1792 – Legislative Assembly declare war on Prussia, Austria & Britain

1792 - 1815

What POLITICAL and SOCIAL reforms did the National Assembly institute in the first stage of the French Revolution?