Causes of the French Revolution

Objectives Outline the social structure of France’s Old Regime. Explain the economic troubles France faced in Identify the reasons Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General. Explain why a Paris crowd stormed the Bastille.

Current Day Map of France

The Old Regime Under the ancien regime, or old order, everyone in France belonged to one of three classes… First EstateSecond EstateThird Estate The CLERGY Enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege Owned about 10 percent of land, collected tithes, and paid no taxes Provided some social services The NOBILITY Owned land but had little money income Hated absolutism Feared losing traditional privilege, especially exemption from taxes BOURGEOISIE and PEASANTS Peasants were 97 % of French population Resented privilege of first and second estates Burdened by taxes, miserable wages faced hunger, starvation

The Old Regime Turn to page 167 in your textbook. 1.What is the topic of the two charts? 2.Of the three estates, which estate had the most people and which had the least? 3.Of the three estates, which estate owned the most land? Which held the next high amount of land? Which held the least amount of land? Looking at the cartoon: What does the stone represent that the first and second estate are standing on?

Discontent among the Third Estate Best jobs were always reserved for nobles Urban workers earned miserable wages Peasants taxed on land, necessary goods and spices Nobles imposed “manor dues” – tax paid directly to noble instead of state Only nobles had the right to hunt wild game Enlightenment thinkers led people to question the logic of the the Old Regime…..where is the reason for it???

Economic Troubles For years, the French government had engaged in deficit spending Louis XIV had left France deeply in debt. Recent wars, a general rise in costs in the 1700s, and the lavish court were incredibly costly. To bridge the gap between income and expenses, the government borrowed more and more money. Bad harvests in the late 1780s sent food prices soaring and brought hunger to poorer peasants and city dwellers.

Economic Troubles…Summarized 1.Deficit spending 2.Debt 3.Wars 4.Inflation 5.Lavish court 6.Borrowed money 7.Bad harvests

Absolute Monarchy Weakens The heirs of Louis XIV were not the right men to solve the economic crisis that afflicted France. Louis XV pursued pleasure before business and ran up France’s debts Louis XVI was well-meaning but weak and indecisive Louis XVI’s economic advisor suggested he tax the First and Second Estates (those Estates forced the King to fire his advisor) First/Second Estates force Louis XVI to call the Estates General to try to regain some of the power they lost under absolute monarchs

Meeting of the Estates General The Estates General was a meeting of all three Estates Each Estate had one vote Under this system the First and Second Estates always outvoted the Third Estate The Estates General met in May of 1789 The Third Estate consisted mostly of bourgeoisie who were familiar with the Enlightenment The Third Estate wanted all three Estates to meet together and vote as a single body….they were denied

Meeting of the Estates General Delegates of the Third Estate left the Estates General and declared themselves to be the National Assembly who represented France They invited members of the other Estates to help them write a Constitution for France When the hall they were supposed to meet in was locked against them, the National Assembly met on a tennis court Tennis Court Oath Delegates swore “never to separate and to meet whenever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution”

Meeting of the Estates General France’s economic crisis worsened, bread riots spread, and nobles denounced royal tyranny. Louis XVI summoned the Estates General in 1788 The Third Estate declared themselves to be the National Assembly and invited delegates from the other two estates to help them write a constitution. When reform-minded clergy and nobles joined the Assembly, Louis grudgingly accepted it.

Storming of the Bastille On July 14, 1789, more than 800 Parisians gathered outside the Bastille, a medieval fortress used as a prison. They demanded weapons believed to be stored there in order to protect themselves from the royal troops surrounding Paris. The commander of the Bastille opened fire on the crowd, and a battle ensued, in which many people were killed. The storming of the Bastille quickly became a symbol of the French Revolution, a blow to tyranny. Today, the French still celebrate July 14 as Bastille Day or Independence Day.

Storming of the Bastille

Review Questions Which class made up 97 percent of the population of France in 1789? a) the First Estate b) the Second Estate c) the Third Estate d) the First and Second estates combined Which of the following was not a cause of France’s economic troubles? a) deficit spending b) bad harvests c) overspending by Louis XIV d) increased wages for peasant workers

Review Questions Which class made up 97 percent of the population of France in 1789? a) the First Estate b) the Second Estate c) the Third Estate d) the First and Second estates combined Which of the following was not a cause of France’s economic troubles? a) deficit spending b) bad harvests c) overspending by Louis XIV d) increased wages for peasant workers