Causes of the French Revolution The “Ancien Regime” crumbles

3 Estates 1st Estate- Clergy 2nd Estate- Nobility 3rd Estate- Everyone else

Inequality amongst the estates 3rd Estate pays almost half of their income in taxes 1st and 2nd pay almost none Land ownership is also skewed towards 1st and 2nd estates Economic hardship does not affect 1st and 2nd estate as much

Estates General French Congress Each estate gets 1 vote Has not been called since 1614 (Absolute Monarchy) 3% of the population can outvote the other 97%

Which enlightenment thinker does this relate to? Rousseau- inequality causes strife

France’s Bankruptcy Louis XIV and XV spend a lot of money on wars 7 years war American Revolution Population explosion in the 3rd estate Bigger middle class France’s government is very poor and the burden increasingly falls on the 3rd estate to pay the bill through high taxes

Hardship Due to crop failure, inflation and government debt, the cost of living skyrockets Bread is no longer affordable for the 3rd estate King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette continue to live lavishly “Madame Deficit”

Louis XVI All these problems may have been solvable by a strong leader But Louis XVI is NOT Louis XIV; he is weak and uncertain Cannot stop the tide of change

1789 In 1789, King Louis XVI calls the Estates General to meeting to find a way to pay off France’s debts First two estates keep outvoting the 3rd 3rd Estate decides to create the “National Assembly”- a new governing body for France Considered the start of the Revolution

Tennis Court Oath