The French Revolution – Part 1 (Ch. 7, Sec. 1) 1. France’s Political System (Old Regime) 2. Estates System Led to Revolution 3. Main Causes of French Revolution

How was France’s political system set up to favor the rich? Estates General was divided into 3 Estates: (each had 1 vote): 1 st Estate- Clergy (1% of pop.) 2 nd Estate- Nobility (2% of pop.) 3 rd Estate- all others ( including the bourgeoisie, 97% of pop.) First 2 Estates had special privileges (filled high public offices, exempt from most taxes, rights) 3rd Estate had no privileges & paid heavy taxes The 3rd Estate was always outvoted 2 to 1 by the first two estates

The Estates General

How did the Estates system lead to a revolution by the lower classes? When new taxes were proposed by the first two Estates, the 3 rd Estate protested The 3 rd Estate created the National Assembly, and left the Estates General All members of Assembly agreed to the Tennis Court Oath (would not leave building) They established a new Constitution, but it led to fighting between the different factions

Storming of the Bastille

What were the main causes of the French Revolution? France’s economy went into deep decline Crop failures (food shortage, grain), taxes, & high prices devastated the poor Fearing attack by the army, peasants stormed Bastille (arms/gunpowder) Rumor (nobles hired outlaws to attack peasants) led to Great Fear National Assembly adopted “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen”