September 26, 2016 Global II Agenda: DO NOW: Term Matching NOTES #5: What were the causes of the French Revolution? CLASS ASSIGNMENT: “Causes of the (French) Revolution” NOTES-CHECK #s 1 – 5 TODAY

What were the causes of the French Revolution? Notes #5

The French Revolution was a period of political changes that occurred in France from 1789 to 1815.

Before the French Revolution, the people of France were divided into three estates based on their social class.

The clergy made up the First Estate and the nobles made up the Second Estate. Clergy (First Estate) Nobles (Second Estate)

The First and Second Estates did not have to pay taxes and enjoyed special rights.

The bourgeoisie (middle class), city workers, and peasants made up the Third Estate.

About 98% of France’s population belonged to the Third Estate; they paid all of the taxes and lacked rights.

Poor economic conditions and a weak king resulted in an increasing dissatisfaction of the Third Estate . . . 1788 famine in France King Louis XVI Marie Antoinette

Signing the Declaration of Independence . . . and ideas from the Enlightenment and the American Revolution inspired the Third Estate to revolt, which caused the French Revolution to begin. John Locke Signing the Declaration of Independence