The Old Regime French Rev. Begins Topic Explanation Old Regime—social and political system in France during the 1770s Estates—three social classes of France’s Old Regime
UNJUST government????
The 3rd Estate French Rev. Begins Explanation Topic The privileged Estates The 3rd Estate 1st Estate—Catholic clergy—1% population, own 10 % land, few taxes 2nd Estate—rich nobles—2 % population, own 20 % land, no taxes 3rd Estate = 97 percent of people are peasants, urban workers, middle class Have few privileges, pay heavy taxes, want change
SECTION 1 continued The Old Order French satire on inequality of taxation: caricature of over-taxed peasant carrying a nobleman and a cleric on his back. Engraving, 1789. NEXT
Economic Troubles French Rev. Begins Topic Explanation Enlightenment ideas Economic Troubles 3rd Estate is inspired by these ideas High taxes and rising costs damage economy by 1780s King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette known for extravagance Louis doubles nation’s debt; banks refuse to lend more money
A weak leader French Rev. Begins Topic Explanation Louis’s poor decisions and lack of patience add to France’s problems He calls Estates-General—meeting of representatives from all three estates (1st time in 175 years) A weak leader
1st meeting of Estates-General in
Right Wing vs. Left Wing
Left Wing vs. Right Wing
French Rev. Begins Topic Explanation National Assembly Third Estate has little power under old rules Third Estate sets up National Assembly—new legislature to make reforms Tennis Court Oath—delegates decide to write new constitution for France National Assembly
Tennis Court Oath
French Rev. Begins Topic Explanation Storming the Bastille Rumors fly in Paris that Louis wants to suppress National Assembly Mob attacks and seizes Bastille, killing guards on July 14, 1789 Storming the Bastille
Rebellion French Rev. Begins Topic Explanation Rumors and panic spread throughout France Great Fear—attacks by peasants taking place across France Peasants destroy legal papers binding them to feudal system Rebellion