Chapter 7 Sec.1 “The French Revolution”

First Estate Clergy-high ranking bishops and abbots About 1% of population Owned about 10% of land No direct taxes

Second Estate Titled nobility About 1% of the population Owned about 20% of land No direct taxes

3 rd Estate Bourgeoisie (middle class)- bankers, merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, doctors. Peasants made up about 90% of this class (poorest members) Made up about 97%-98% of the population in France Owned about 70% of the land Paid taxes

I. Financial Crisis a.Deficit Spending-government was spending more money than it was taking in b.Crumbling Economy- BAD HARVEST-food prices were soaring- shortage of bread c.Failure to Reform 1)King Louis XVI dismissed Jacques Necker when he proposed taxing the 1 st /2 nd Estates 2)Wealthy, powerful classes demanded King call Estates General before making changes. They wanted to be guaranteed their privileges. 3)1788- Bread riots by the peasants and royals started denouncing royal tyranny 4)May Louis XVI summoned Estates General to meet at Versailles because France was on the verge of bankruptcy and riots were spreading

II. National Assembly Delegates a)Delegates were elected by the 3 rd estate. Only white propertied men could vote b)Went to Versailles to meet with 1 st /2 nd estates and King Louis XVI to solve financial crisis and insist on reform c)The 3 estates were deadlocked over voting: 1 st /2 nd estates wanted each estate to meet separately and then vote as a group; 3 rd estate wanted to meet as a group and vote as a group d)3 rd estate was then locked out of the meeting by Louis XVI e)Delegates from the 3 rd estate moved meeting to indoor Tennis Court. Signed the Tennis Court Oath- saying they would remain assembled until France had a new constitution f)3 rd estate transferred themselves into the National Assembly, They:  Nationalized church lands  Issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man  Supported the Reign of Terror

g)Jacques Necker was brought back in to solve financial crisis h)Necker let go again by Louis XVI i)Food shortages grew worse j)July 14, STORMING THE BASTILLE. Now a national French Holiday known as “Bastille Day”