By: Robin Houlahan

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

“..power transferred by a series of successive shocks to ever more radical groups.” “ The single most important event in the history of government.”

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”

Financial Problems Lots of money spent on American Revolution Storm causes price of flour to up which causes the price of bread to go up—people rioted Peasants spent 30-50% of their income on bread Population was increasing- in 1780’s 40,000 babies were abandoned Queen spent a lot of money on herself- 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

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

1 st Estate- Clergy 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 Owned 20% of the land Paid almost no taxes Received land and taxes Exempt from Corvee

3 rd Estate- “Everyone Else” Bourgeoisie Petite Bourgeoisie Peasants

Bourgeoisie Merchants and artisans, well educated, believed in ideas of Enlightenment Some were as rich as nobles, but lacked privileges Forced to work on corvee (applies to all of the 3rd estate)

Petite Bourgeoisie Cooks, servants, and other workers/merchants Paid low wages Directly influenced by economy

Peasants 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.