French Revolution: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Questions to Consider: What do you think that liberty, equality, and fraternity mean? Where do you think these ideas originated?

Old Regime —French social structure left in place from Middle Ages 1 st Estate—Roman Catholic clergy 1 st Estate—Roman Catholic clergy 2 nd Estate—Nobles & Aristocrats 2 nd Estate—Nobles & Aristocrats 3 rd Estate— Bourgeoisie, workers, peasants 3 rd Estate— Bourgeoisie, workers, peasants

Question to Consider: What do you think the bourgeoisie, workers, and peasants had in common to link them all in the 3 rd Estate? What do you think the bourgeoisie, workers, and peasants had in common to link them all in the 3 rd Estate?

First Estate Consists of Roman Catholic clergy; priest, bishops, and cardinals Consists of Roman Catholic clergy; priest, bishops, and cardinals Made up.5% of French population Made up.5% of French population Had privileges & access to high offices Had privileges & access to high offices Owned 10% of land in France Owned 10% of land in France Contributed 2% of income to taxes Contributed 2% of income to taxes Opposed Enlightenment ideas Opposed Enlightenment ideas

Second Estate Consisted of rich, landowning nobles Consisted of rich, landowning nobles Made up 2% of French population Made up 2% of French population Owned 20% of land Owned 20% of land Paid no taxes Paid no taxes Opposed Enlightenment ideas Opposed Enlightenment ideas

Question to Consider: If clergy owned 10% of land and nobles owned 20%, who do you think owned the other 70%? If clergy owned 10% of land and nobles owned 20%, who do you think owned the other 70%?

Third Estate 98% of the population 98% of the population Consisted of: Consisted of: Bourgeoisie Bourgeoisie Workers Workers Peasants Peasants

Third Estate--bourgeoisie Well educated Believed in Enlightenment ideals Paid high taxes and lacked privileges Wanted greater privileges

Third Estate--workers Cooks, servants, and others Paid low wages and frequently out of work Because of hunger, they would mob food vendors during trying times

Third Estate--peasants 80% of French population 80% of French population Paid ½ of the income to nobles, clergy, and taxes Paid ½ of the income to nobles, clergy, and taxes Very poor Very poor

Forces of Change: Enlightenment Ideas Push toward liberty, equality, & democracy Push toward liberty, equality, & democracy Successes of American Revolution Successes of American Revolution

Question to Consider: What Enlightenment ideas do you think would have been attractive to bourgeoisie and other parts of the 3 rd Estate? What Enlightenment ideas do you think would have been attractive to bourgeoisie and other parts of the 3 rd Estate?

Forces of Change: Economic Problems Population was growing along w/ trade, but high taxes made profits elusive Population was growing along w/ trade, but high taxes made profits elusive Bad weather throughout 1780s led to decrease in crop yields Bad weather throughout 1780s led to decrease in crop yields Faced high debts Faced high debts Extravagant spending by Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette Extravagant spending by Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette Louis XVI inherited huge debts and borrowed heavily to finance American Revolution Louis XVI inherited huge debts and borrowed heavily to finance American Revolution

Forces of Change: Weak Leader Louis XVI was indecisive Louis XVI was indecisive Paid little attention to government, spent time hunting and playing w/ clocks Paid little attention to government, spent time hunting and playing w/ clocks Marie Antoinette was unpopular, being from Austria and a heavy spender Marie Antoinette was unpopular, being from Austria and a heavy spender Wanted to raise taxes on nobles, who then called a meeting of the Estates-General Wanted to raise taxes on nobles, who then called a meeting of the Estates-General

Revolution: Estates-General Each Estate meets in a separate hall to vote, and each estate gets 1 vote…according to Middle Ages Each Estate meets in a separate hall to vote, and each estate gets 1 vote…according to Middle Ages 2 privileged estates usually form a voting block, defeating 3 rd Estate 2 privileged estates usually form a voting block, defeating 3 rd Estate

Revolution: National Assembly 3rd Estate believed in Enlightenment ideas Wanted to change Medieval system of 1 vote per Estate to 1 vote per delegate Proposed by Abbe Sieyes, a member of the clergy that believed in Enlightenment ideas King would not agree, so 3rd Estate formed National Assembly June 17, 1789

Revolution: Tennis Court Oath 3 days after National Assembly formed, they were locked out of the Estates- General meeting room 3 days after National Assembly formed, they were locked out of the Estates- General meeting room They broke down a door to an indoor tennis court and refused to leave until they drafted a new constitution They broke down a door to an indoor tennis court and refused to leave until they drafted a new constitution

Revolution: Storming the Bastille Louis XVI, wanting to make peace, order nobles and clergy to join the National Assembly Louis XVI, wanting to make peace, order nobles and clergy to join the National Assembly Put Swiss mercenaries in streets of Paris Put Swiss mercenaries in streets of Paris Word spread the King hired an army to kill peasants, so they began gathering guns & ammo Word spread the King hired an army to kill peasants, so they began gathering guns & ammo On July 14, a mob stormed the Bastille, a Paris prison, to get gunpowder and overtook the prison On July 14, a mob stormed the Bastille, a Paris prison, to get gunpowder and overtook the prison Was a symbolic event that is still celebrated today Was a symbolic event that is still celebrated today

Great Fear Rebellion began to spread to country-side, w/ rumors that nobles were hiring people to terrorize peasants Rebellion began to spread to country-side, w/ rumors that nobles were hiring people to terrorize peasants Created wave of senseless panic known as the Great Fear Created wave of senseless panic known as the Great Fear When not outlaws arrived, they became outlaws themselves When not outlaws arrived, they became outlaws themselves In October 1789, price of bread doubled…leading to a mob of 6000 women marching 12 miles to get king & Versailles In October 1789, price of bread doubled…leading to a mob of 6000 women marching 12 miles to get king & Versailles Broke into palace, killing guards, and brought royal family back to Paris Broke into palace, killing guards, and brought royal family back to Paris