Eve of (French) Revolution Ch 3 Sec 1 Eve of (French) Revolution

National Debt Soars Lavish royal spending and several wars led to financial crisis Government had to reduce expenses, increase taxes, or both.

Economic Reform Fails Louis XVI chooses financial expert Jacques Necker as an advisor Urges: reduced court spending and abolition of tariffs on internal trade When he proposed taxing 1st and 2nd estates, they force king to dismiss him

Crisis Deepens Wealthy and Powerful call for the king to summon an Estates- General before making any changes Estates-General=legislative body consisting of representatives of the 3 estates Had not met in 175 years Nobles wanted to use it to limit power of king and guarantee their own privileges like England’s Glorious Revolution.

Louis XVI Calls Estates-General 1788--France on verge of bankruptcy. Bread Riots. Louis XVI calls summons the Estates-General King has all 3 estates prepare caheirs (notebooks) listing their grievances. Caheirs of the 3rd estate testify of growing class resentment.

Delegates of 3rd estate elected, but only those with property could vote, so representatives were mostly lawyers, officials, and writers. Educated in Enlightenment ideas. Sought reforms

Voting Traditionally all 3 estates had one vote each. 1st and 2nd estates always outvoted the 3rd estate. 3rd estate insisted they meet as single body and vote “by head”

Tennis Court Oath After weeks of stalemate, the 3rd estate declared themselves the National Assembly and claimed to represent the people of France A few days later they were locked out of the assembly and moved to a nearby indoor tennis court. There they took the Tennis Court Oath Never separate until they established a just constitution Reform minded nobles and clergy join the National Assembly

Storming the Bastille July 14 1789 rumors spread that royal troops were being sent against the National Assembly to occupy Paris. 800 Parisians stormed the Bastille (medieval fortress used to house political prisoners) demanding the release of prisoners and any weapons and ammunition stored there

Bastille Day Symbolic overthrow of royal power challenged the existence of the old regime. Celebrated as French independence day since 1880