Overview of the French Revolution

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity… -- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities

The French Monarchy: Louis XVI “Dull and Slow Witted” “Well intentioned” “Dull and Slow Witted” “Well intentioned” “Let them Eat Cake” Austrian Married at 15 Guillotined “Let them Eat Cake” Austrian Married at 15 Guillotined Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette and the Royal Children

“Palace of Versailles”

Since medieval times, each person belonged by law to one of the three estates

3 Estates (Social Classes) 1 st Estate- Clergy 1% 2 nd Estate- Nobility 2% 2 nd Estate- Nobility 2% 3 rd Estate- “Everyone Else” 97% 3 rd Estate- “Everyone Else” 97%

1 st Estate- The Clergy The Privileged Estate Owned 10% of the land Provided education and relief services to the poor Contributed 2% of its income to the government Less than 2% of the population Received tithes and excluded from taxes

2 nd Estate- Nobility Rich Nobles– Govt, military, law courts, and church Owned 25 to 30% of the land Paid almost no taxes Received land and taxes Enlightenment ideas threatened their status

3 rd Estate-97% of population: “Everyone Else” Bourgeoisie Petite Bourgeoisie Peasants

Bourgeoisie: The middle class Merchants, artisans, well educated, doctors, lawyers and believed in ideas of the Enlightenment Some were as rich as nobles, but lacked privileges & power Opposed the absolute monarchy of Louis XVI

The Petite Bourgeoisie Sans Culottes Cooks, tanners, butchers, servants, and other workers/merchants Paid low wages and considered poor Directly influenced by economy Maybe 5 years of education

Peasants “Life on the knife’s edge” Formed 80% of the 26 million population Peasants paid half of their income to nobles, tithes to the church, and taxes Even had to pay taxes on staple items such as salt. Little to no possessions Most children did not survive infancy

Financial Problems Huge sums of money spent to help the American Revolution triumph over Britain Bad harvests cause rising food prices to soar Bread prices doubled and people were starving and began to grow restless Peasants spent 30-50% of their income on bread Population was increasing- in 1780’s 40,000 babies were abandoned Louis XVI as a weak leader Marie Antoinette: Madame Deficit spent money on jewelry, hair, clothing, etc.

The French Urban Poor

a Urban Commoner’s Budget: –Food 80% –Rent 25% –Tithe 10% –Taxes 35% –Clothing 20% –TOTAL 170% a King’s Budget: –Interest 50% –Army 25% –Versailles 25% –Coronation 10% –Loans 25% –Admin. 25% –TOTAL 160% Financial Problems in France, 1789

French Budget, 1774

Causes of the French Revolution