French Revolution

Background France (the good side) Considered most sophisticated country in Europe Large population Tremendous foreign trade Center of Enlightenment ideas and philosophes French culture was thought of highly

Background France (the bad side) Bad harvests led to widespread hunger High prices for goods High taxes French kings enforce idea of divine right Peasants have no rights or political power Questions about king’s authority and role of government arise from Enlightenment ideas Great unrest inside the country

The Old Regime People of France are organized into three social and political classes called estates

1st Estate Clergy (church officials) of the Roman Catholic Church 1% of population Lots of privileges Excused from paying taxes Access to political office in government Owned 10% of land in France Provided relief services (help) and education Contributed 2% of taxes

2nd Estate Nobles (aristocracy) Held most of the political power along with the 1st Estate Owned 20% of land 2% of population Paid almost no taxes

3rd Estate 3 main groups of people that made up 97% of the population, paid 97% of taxes, and had no political power in government Bourgeoisie—middle class bankers, merchants, factory owners, professionals and skilled artisans City workers—poorest group that included factory workers, trades people, apprentices, and labors Peasants—80% of French population who paid ½ their income to government or church

Questions Which of the three estates would support the ideas of the Enlightenment? Why or why not would each do so?

Force of Change at work in France Resentment among 3rd Estate—no political power Enlightenment Ideas—especially Rousseau and Voltaire Success of the American Revolution Economic Troubles—weak economy, taxes, little profit, rising cost of living, government in debt while king and queen spend lavishly Weak king and unpopular queen King forced to call the “Estates General” to approve taxing the nobles

Dawn of the Revolution Estates General called to meet for 1st time in 175 years Third Estate creates National Assembly with intent to have it pass laws in the name of the French people—1st representative government in France National Assembly gets locked out of Estates General and makes the “Tennis Court Oath” Vote to declare National Assembly as Frances representative body is first act of revolution—it procliamed the end of the monarchy King Louis XVI orders guards to surround his palace

Dawn of the Revolution Rumors Mob looks for gun powder and weapons King would use soldiers to stop National Assembly Foreign soldiers were coming to execute French Mob looks for gun powder and weapons Mob storms the local prison, the Bastille (Bas-tee), kill the guards, and get weapons

The Great Fear Rebellion spreads to the countryside Senseless panic ensues as peasants become outlaws and destroyed manor houses and legal papers Women riot over lack of bread (remember the poor harvests) and march to Versailles Mob captures King and Queen, take them to Paris, and jail them

Put these events in Chronological Order and Know the facts about them Bread Riots Economic Problems Enlightenment Ideas Estates General Great Fear King and Queen Leave Versailles National Assembly Storming the Bastille Tennis Court Oath The Old Regime Weak Leadership