The Start of The French Revolution

On the Eve of Revolution Unrest at factory due to possible wage cuts Food prices up Enraged workers Nobles relied on reforms People had taken up arms

French Society Divided Clung to outdated social system Ancien regime (old order) 3 estates (social classes) Clergy Nobility Common man

The Clergy enjoy Wealth Great influence through Europe Enjoyed wealth and privilege Churched owned 10% of land Collected Tithes (tax to support clergy) Paid no taxes Bishops and Abbots basically noble

The Clergy enjoy Wealth Nuns and monks ran schools, hospitals, orphanages Condemned enlightenment

Nobles Hold Top Government Jobs Military power taken but given other rights Top jobs in Gov, the army, the courts and the church Royal appointments, endless entertainment Others further in the country side felt pinch Hated royal bureaucracy Feared losing traditional privilege Didn’t pay taxes

Third Estate is Vastly Diverse Bourgeoisie-middle class Bankers, merchants, doctors, lawyers Rural peasants Urban workers the poorest Cloth makers, servants, stable hands or unemployed Beginning or crime

Third Estate is Vastly Diverse Burdened with taxes Unpaid labor due to owed fees Enlightenment led to questioning

Financial Troubles Social unrest Heightened tension Deficit spending cause financial crisis

National Debt Soars Seven years war and American Revolution strained treasury Prices rise Borrowed more money Half of taxes pay interest Bad harvests- hunger

Economic Reform Fails Louis XIV’s heirs not right men to solve problem Jacques Necker-financial expert, said cut court spending, reform gov, get rid of tariffs Dismissed after saying tax first two estates Estates-general- body consisting of individuals of all estates (not used in 175 years)

Louis XVI Calls the Estates-General Verge of bankruptcy Bread riots Nobles afraid of taxes said royal tyranny Estates General met at Versailles

Estates Prepare Grievance Notebooks Cahiers- notebooks listing grievances Many called for reforms Fairer taxes, freedom of press, regular meetings of estates-general Boling class resentment Courts of nobles

Delegates take the Tennis Court Oath Third estate delegates elected Only land owners could vote Insist reform Deadlock over issue of voting Use to be that each estate had one vote Third estate wanted vote count “by head” 3rdestate declared themselves National Assembly Locked out moved to tennis court

Delegates take the Tennis Court Oath Took oath never to separate and to meet till their was a just constitution Reform clergy and nobles joined king grudgingly accepted Rumors he planned to dissolve it

Parisians Storm the Bastille Streets buzzed that royal troops were going to occupy capital 800 assembled outside the Bastille- medieval fortress used as prison Demanded weapons and gunpowder Commander open fire on crowd Mob broke defenses Killed commander and 5 guards

Parisians Storm the Bastille Released prisoners but no weapons Was a wake up call to Louis XVI Challenged regime Celebrate Bastille Day annually (independence day)

The French Revolution Unfolds Divided into 3 phases Moderate phase Radical phase Age of Napoleon

Political Crisis leads to Revolt Worst famine in memory Starving flocked to towns Swelled ranks of unemployed 80% of income on bread due to rising prices

Rumors create the “Great fear” Desperate time Rumors inflamed fear and panic Fire set to manor records Stole grain

Paris Commune Comes to Power Revolutionary center Factions- dissenting groups of people Marquis de Lafayette- aristocratic “hero of two worlds” Headed national guard Paris Commune- radical group Mobilize whole neighborhoods for protest Demanded end to monarchy

The National Assembly Acts Storming of Bastille sent assembly into action Nobles voted to end own privilege Gave up manorial dues, hunting rights, special legal status and exemption from taxes

Special Privilege ends “Feudalism is abolished” Nobles gave up nothing that they had not already loss Equality of all male citizens under the law

Declaration of the Rights of Man Modeled after American Declaration of Independence Born and remain fee and equal in rights Liberty property, security, and resistance to oppression Right to serve in public office Freedom of religion Taxes based on ability to pay

Women March on Versailles 6,000 women march from Paris “bread” Anger at Queen Marie Antoinette Led life of pleasure and extravagance Against reform Made king return to Paris King was virtual prisoner