The French Revolution

Objectives: Describe the social division of France’s old order (The Ancien Regime) List Reasons for France’s economic troubles in 1789 Explain why Louis XVI called the Estates General and summarize what resulted. Understand why Parisians stormed the Bastille.

France in 1789 In 1789 France was using an outdated social system and divided into 3 social classes called “estates” The 1st Estate = The Clergy (church officials) The 2nd Estate = The Nobility The 3rd Estate = Everyone else

The 1st Estate The 1st estate owned over 10 percent of the land in France and paid no taxes. While some of the clergy offered meaningful social services like running schools, hospitals and orphanages many just lived in the lap of luxury. Enlightenment philosophers questioned the clergy and demanded reform.

The 2nd Estate The 2nd Estate was made up of nobles who held top jobs in government, military, and church. Many of these nobles hated absolutism and were worried that due to France’s financial situation that the king was going to make them pay taxes.

the 3rd estate The third estate was a very diverse social class. At the top was the Bourgeoise or the middle class and they were made up of bankers, merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, doctors, journalists and professors. However a majority of the 3rd Estate was poor peasants and urban workers.

Tax who?? France’s tax system was broken and due to tradition the 1st and 2nd Estates were exempt from paying taxes. The Bourgeoise and the peasants were forced to pay the taxes for an entire country. Enlightenment ideas began to spread (especially to the 3rd Estate) and people began to question both the king and the old social system The 3rd Estate wanted the 1st and 2nd to share in the taxes.

A little more about the estates. Number off 1-3 around the room Your number lets you know which class you belong too. Use the following URL’s to learn a little more about your “estate” and create your own French identity http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0372-first-estate.php http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture11a.html http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/ http://www.costumes.org/classes/fashiondress/FrenchRevolution.htm http://www.blastmilk.com/decollete/revolutionary-fashion/timeline.php http://blakeneymanor.com/fashion2.html

France’s Economic problems The government was deficit spending (spending more than you are bringing in King Louis the XIV left the country with a huge debt. King Louis the XV spent lots of money on himself King Louis the XVI wanted to help the situation but was naive and did not make good decisions.

France’s economic problems Louis XVI was forced to call together the Estates-General. This was an assembly of members from all three estates. Louis asked to make a list of demands. They met in May of 1789 Normally each state got one vote but the 3rd estate demanded that the votes be counted by head.

The Tennis court oath After weeks of getting nowhere in meetings the 3rd estate in June left and created the National Assembly. The 3rd estate welcomed members from the other two estates to join them. After trying to meet and finding that their meeting hall was locked up they met in an indoor tennis court an they all swore “never to separate until we have established a sound and just constitution.”

The storming of the bastille On July 14, 1789 rumors spread throughout the city of Paris that royal troops were going to occupy the capital. More than 800 Parisians assembled outside the Bastille, a prison used to detain political prisoners. The crowd demanded weapons and gunpowder from the prison. The crowd then rioted broke into the prison. Killed the guards and stone by stone tore down the prison. This was the start of the French Revolution.

The Storming of the Bastille