Obj: To understand the desire for reform in 18 th century France Focus: Read Setting the Scene pg 468 and look at chart on pg 469. Make at least 5 generalizations about the social structure of France at the Start of the Revolution.

On the Eve of Revolution Chapter 19 Section 1

The Old Regime France still used the old social classes  First Estate  Second Estate  Third Estate

The First Estate The Clergy Very wealthy(no taxes) Owned 10% of the land Provided social services

The Second Estate The Nobles Lavish lifestyle Didn’t have to pay taxes

The Third Estate 98% of the French population  10% - Bourgeoisie (bankers, merchants & manufacturers)  90% - peasants (farmers, urban workers)

Discontent  Members of the Third Estate were jealous of the 1 st and 2 nd Estates  Urban workers were the poorest

Discontent Peasants had to pay taxes on EVERYTHING Price of food went up & many were faced with starvation

Discontent Peasants began to question the unfairness of the system

Economic Troubles Problem: Deficit Spending – the government spends more money than they make

The Burden of Debt Solution: Create new taxes for the peasants OR Have the nobles pay taxes

Poor Harvests Bad harvests sent food prices higher No money + No food = Angry Peasants

Poor Harvests Peasants attacked the nobles & rioted for more food and better prices

Failure of Reform The rulers after Louis XIV could not solve the economic problems

Failure of Reform Louis XVI hired Jacques Necker to solve the financial problems

Failure of Reform Necker’s Suggestions: Stop spending so much money Have the nobles pay taxes Nobles’ Reactions: Fire him! We’re not paying!

Failure of Reform When: May 1789 What: The Estates General

Failure of Reform Who:The Leaders of each of the Estates Why:To help solve the financial problems of France, and to bring the absolute monarch under the control of the nobles

The Cahiers Before the meeting, Louis had all the estates prepare notebooks called cahiers to list all of the problems and concerns of each estate

The Tennis Court Oath Problem: The delegates could not decide how to vote Solution: A new group was formed called the National Assembly

The Tennis Court Oath  The National Assembly was made up of members of the Third Estate.  Finally some nobles and clergy joined as well.  King Louis XVI realized he had to accept this group

The Tennis Court Oath When the National Assembly found their meeting hall locked, they had their meeting in an indoor tennis court

The Tennis Court Oath At the tennis court, they promised to work together until they could agree to a new constitution that would benefit the people of France

The Tennis Court Oath Although the king agreed to the National Assembly, there were rumors spreading that he was going to break it apart

Storming the Bastille The Bastille Prison for political prisoners

Storming the Bastille When:July 14, 1789 Why:People thought there were weapons and gunpowder there

Storming the Bastille What Happened 1.They crashed through the gates 2.Killed five guards 3.Killed the commander 4.Released some prisoners 5.Never found any weapons

This is the beginning of the French Revolution

And Finally… Create a chart that identifies the causes of the French Revolution…