What caused the French Revolution?

Louis XIV review Called the “Sun King” An example of absolute monarchy Ruled until he died at 77 Lived at the Palace of Versailles Spent France’s money on wars Has amazing hair

Louis XVI Married to Marie Antoinette Supported lowering the taxes on the third estate (taille), which encouraged the third estate to try and get more rights Ultimately, he was beheaded during the French Revolution

Bourgeoisie complaints Like the peasants, the bourgeoisie were unhappy with: the rigid social order (no social mobility, they could never get more perks) the French budget/economy (it nearly collapsed in 1788, one year before Revolution) food shortages, rising prices (inflation!!), and unemployment

Primary Source “All the country girls and women are without shoes or stockings; and the plowmen at their work have neither shoes nor stockings to their feet. This is a poverty that strikes at the root of national prosperity.” -an unknown English traveler in France

The Estates-General The legislative body in France To discuss problems, Louis XVI called a meeting- 300 people each of the First and Second Estate representatives, about 600 Third Estate representatives. The Third Estate wanted a constitutional government that would make everyone pay the taille (taxes). Voting problems- each estate gets one vote (how would this usually play out?)

National Assembly forms June 17, 1789 – Third Estate declares themselves the “National Assembly” and decided to draft a constitution. June 20, 1789 – National Assembly goes to meet at Versailles and finds they are locked out by King Louis XVI! They moved their meeting to a nearby tennis court and made an oath (the Tennis Court Oath) that they would continue to meet until they drafted a constitution.

How do you expect the King to respond? King’s Response? Hmph! How do you expect the King to respond?

Fall of the Bastille As Louis XVI prepared soldiers to use as force against the Third Estate, the bourgeoisie were busy… On July 14, 1789, 900 hungry and agitated Parisians gathered at the Bastille prison They attacked the prison in order to steal ammunition, but they found nothing. The crowd tore apart the prison brick by brick. This symbolizes the beginning of Revolution

Louis XVI’s response to the fall of the Bastille When King Louis XVI returned to his palace of Versailles after a day of hunting, the duc de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt told him about the fall of the Bastille. Louis is said to have exclaimed ‘why, this is a revolt.’ ‘No, sire,’ replied the duke, ‘it is a revolution.’ Louis XVI’s response to the fall of the Bastille

Vocab review 1. Who is this? 2. What is the name for the French main tax? 3. The Third Estate called themselves the _____________ when drafting the constitution in the summer of 1789

Vocab review 4. The French middle class is known as the ______________________ 5. What was signed here?: HINT:

Review What are the causes of the French Revolution? Short Term Long Term Unequal tax policy Food shortages Inflation Big differences between the social classes Formation of National Assembly Third estate taking down the Bastille prison