Causes of the French Revolution

HISTORICAL CAUSES Organizing historical causes will help us explain history more clearly (…especially on essays!). Organizing things also helps us to remember them. The most common categories of historical causes are political, social, and economic. Today, you will organize 11 causes of the French Revolution into those categories.

HISTORICAL CAUSES -- Examples Political Social Economic

HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government)

HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws Voting Types of Government War Military Courts

HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws Voting Types of Government War Military Courts (People)

HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws Voting Types of Government War Military Courts (People) Religion Education Culture Food Media Language Social Class

HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws Voting Types of Government War Military Courts (People) Religion Education Culture Food Media Language Social Class (Money)

HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws Voting Types of Government War Military Courts (People) Religion Education Culture Food Media Language Social Class (Money) Jobs Trade Resources/Raw Materials Wealth Economic Systems Taxes

Think back to your Do Now… Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws Voting Types of Government War Military Courts (People) Religion Education Culture Food Media Language Social Class (Money) Jobs Trade Resources/Raw Materials Wealth Economic Systems Taxes

Instructions Your group/ pair will receive 11 slips listing different causes of the French Revolution. Then, as a group/ pair, organize the causes into categories: political, social, or economic. *You may have some that are in two categories.

What did you come up with? As we organize the causes of the French Revolution, write down each cause in the “best” column on your chart. *You may have some that are in two categories. You may draw an arrow to the other column…

1- French Revolution Causes Countries in Europe were very competitive in the 1600s and 1700s. France was involved in expensive wars against its main rival, England. Examples: the Seven Years’ War (1753-1763) and when the French supported the Americans in the American Revolution (1775-1783). Conflicts like these cost the French government LOTS of money.

1- French Revolution Causes Countries in Europe were very competitive in the 1600s and 1700s. France was involved in expensive wars against its main rival, England. Examples: the Seven Years’ War (1753-1763) and when the French supported the Americans in the American Revolution (1775-1783). Conflicts like these cost the French government LOTS of money. Economic Political

2 - French Revolution Causes To raise more money, the French government started taxing the middle and lower classes of France (the “Third Estate”), two groups that were already paying high taxes.

2 - French Revolution Causes To raise more money, the French government started taxing the middle and lower classes of France (the “Third Estate”), two groups that were already paying high taxes. Economic Political

3 - French Revolution Causes The society of France was divided into three groups called Estates. The First Estate, the clergy, were about 1% of the population, but they controlled 10% of the land. The Second Estate, the nobility, were 2% of the population, but they controlled 25% of the land. The Third Estate were the other 97% of the population, but they owned only 65% of the land.

3 - French Revolution Causes The society of France was divided into three groups called Estates. The First Estate, the clergy, were about 1% of the population, but they controlled 10% of the land. The Second Estate, the nobility, were 2% of the population, but they controlled 25% of the land. The Third Estate were the other 97% of the population, but they owned only 65% of the land. Social Economic

4 - French Revolution Causes The king of France, Louis XVI (the Sixteenth) and his wife, Marie Antoinette, spent a lot of the government’s money on nice clothes, the best food and wine, and many other expensive goods to make their lives as comfortable as possible.

4 - French Revolution Causes The king of France, Louis XVI (the Sixteenth) and his wife, Marie Antoinette, spent a lot of the government’s money on nice clothes, the best food and wine, and many other expensive goods to make their lives as comfortable as possible. Economic Social

5 - French Revolution Causes France was an absolute monarchy, but in the 1700s, lots of new ideas were coming from Enlightenment thinkers. For example, John Locke said that if the government was not serving the people, the people could take control.

5 - French Revolution Causes France was an absolute monarchy, but in the 1700s, lots of new ideas were coming from Enlightenment thinkers. For example, John Locke said that if the government was not serving the people, the people could take control. Social Political

6 - French Revolution Causes Due to harsh (difficult) winters and less government controls, there was a shortage (not enough) of wheat, making the bread very expensive. Bread was the most important food for the poor people in France.

6 - French Revolution Causes Due to harsh (difficult) winters and less government controls, there was a shortage (not enough) of wheat, making the bread very expensive. Bread was the most important food for the poor people in France. Economic Political Social

7 - French Revolution Causes The king could hold a special meeting called the Estates-General between the different groups of France: the First, Second, and Third Estates. Each group had the same number of votes at the meeting, 1, even though the Third Estate was much bigger than the other groups (97% of the population).

7 - French Revolution Causes The king could hold a special meeting called the Estates-General between the different groups of France: the First, Second, and Third Estates. Each group had the same number of votes at the meeting, 1, even though the Third Estate was much bigger than the other groups (97% of the population). Political

8 - French Revolution Causes The middle class in France (the bourgeoisie) was getting richer, but they were a part of the less powerful Third Estate. The middle class wanted more power.

8 - French Revolution Causes The middle class in France (the bourgeoisie) was getting richer, but they were a part of the less powerful Third Estate. The middle class wanted more power. Political Social

9 - French Revolution Causes Farmers had very difficult lives. Their work was hard, and they had to pay high taxes.

9 - French Revolution Causes Farmers had very difficult lives. Their work was hard, and they had to pay high taxes. Economic Political

10. French Revolution Causes Baron de Montesquieu, an Enlightenment thinker, said that the power of the government should be separated.

10. French Revolution Causes Baron de Montesquieu, an Enlightenment thinker, said that the power of the government should be separated. Social Political

11 - French Revolution Causes People were starting to use reason (their ability to think), so they did not listen to the Catholic Church as much.

11 - French Revolution Causes People were starting to use reason (their ability to think), so they did not listen to the Catholic Church as much. Social

If you had to choose… In your opinion, were the causes of the French Revolution mostly political, social, or economic? Why?