BEGINNINGS of the French Revolution World Studies I What do these images have in common?

Get ready! The next slides will describe what happened that sparked the French Revolution… It all started in 1789… What would drive you to revolt or rebel in your neighborhood? Starvation? Injustice? Harassment? Unfair laws? Poor leadership?

Meeting of the Estates General France faces bankruptcy (In large part due to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s reckless spending) So, King Louis XVI tries to tax the 2nd Estate (Nobles). So, the 2nd Estate forces Louis to call a meeting of the Estates General (a group of representatives from all Estates) to approve the tax on May 5, 1789.

The National Assembly Vs. The “Estates General” breakdown of numbers Even though the Third Estate has more people, they did not have more votes in the Estates General. 3rd Estate (98%) 600 reps 1st Estate (~300 reps and .5% of French population) + 2nd Estate (~300 reps and 1.5% of population) 3rd Estate always get out-voted. Vs. Which side might be getting more of the votes? Which estate makes up the vast majority of the French population?

National Assembly Because the Estates-General was unfair… The 3rd Estate formed the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY!!  The purpose of the new National Assembly would be to pass new laws and reforms on behalf of the French people. Painting of the National Assembly forming on June 17, 1789

Tennis Court Oath Three days after forming the National Assembly, the Third Estate members got locked out of their meeting room. So, they met in an indoor tennis court. The National Assembly promised they wouldn’t leave the tennis court until they made a new Constitution. Obviously it wasn’t as nice as this one…

Storming of the Bastille King Louis XVI is now getting worried about the Third Estate gaining too much power. So, he got soldiers from Switzerland to guard him. Why would the King Louis XVI not want the 3rd Estate to gain power? What role do soldiers play in a revolution?

Storming of the Bastille Rumors spread that King Louis was bringing in foreign soldiers. Furious, a mob of French citizens stormed the Bastille (a semi-prison). They also needed weapons. Bastille only had 7 political prisoners. Picture of the “storming” of the Bastille

Storming of the Bastille The “Storming of the Bastille” has become a national rhetorical (word or phrase) icon of the French Revolution. It is a national symbol of the French Revolution and is still celebrated to this day (like Americans celebrate the 4th of July!) French fireworks celebrating the storming of the Bastille.

Great Fear (October 1789) In the Great Fear, peasants were afraid that the nobles were out to get them. So, they ran through the countryside and broke into nobles’ houses. They tore up the legal contracts that bound them to their masters and sometimes, even burned their houses down!