Ms. Garratt – Honors World

Before the revolution French society and government was known as the Ancien Regime All the French belonged to 1 of 3 estates

First Estate - Clergy Only .05% of the population but owned 10% of land Paid no direct taxes or taille but collected tithes Clergy were usually nobles Provided some social services such as running schools, hospitals, orphanages. Intolerant of dissent, interfered in politics Criticized enlightenment for undermining religion

Second Estate - Nobles Nobility Occupied best jobs in government, army, courts & Church 1.5% of the population yet owned between 25-30% of the land Paid no taxes

Third Estate 98% of the population Divided into three groups. Peasants made up 75% of this estate Urban workers Bourgeoisie - middle class which consisted of bankers, lawyers, doctors, industrialists, They paid all the taxes

Third Estate Grievances They paid all the taxes Forced corvee Only nobles allowed to hunt Ancien regime did not make “enlightenment” sense

Deficit Spending =Financial Crisis French Indian War Seven Years War American Revolution Lavish court life Marie Antoinette To solve the financial crisis Louis XIV borrowed more money & raised taxes on third estate

Estates General Nobles forced the King to summon the Estates because Wanted to solve the economic problems and Did not want higher taxes Some nobles hoped this would be another Glorious Revolution of 1688 Disagreement over voting Each estate had one vote which always favored 1st and 2nd estates

Formation of National Assembly It was suggested by clergyman, Sieyes, that 3rd estate form a National Assembly (NA) & pass & reform laws in the name of the French people. 3rd Estate did precisely that Ended the absolute monarchy Began representative democracy (1st deliberate act of the revolution)

Tennis Court Oath Creation of the National Assembly was bold step 3 days later they were locked out of their meeting place. Broke down door to a tennis court Took oath not to leave until they finished writing a constitution

Storming the Bastille Parisians suspected the King might send troops to Paris. (July) Parisians stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress, to obtain weapons. King lost support of the troops. This event became symbol of the Fr Rev

Revolts Throughout France Great Fear Rumors led to violence throughout France Destroying feudal records Burning manors Stealing food National Guard Formed by LaFayette Hero of 2 worlds Paris Commune Became the political force of Paris Sans-cullottes

Great Fear

Declaration of Rights & Man Embodied principles from DOI, EBOR & US Constitution Equality under the law Purpose of gov Natural rights Freedom of religion & speech Ended feudal privileges

March on Versailles Due to bread shortage thousands of armed women marched to Versailles . Met with king King travelled back to Paris with them. Why?

Civil Constitution of the Clergy Why did the Nat’l Assembly confiscate Church property? How was the Church hierarchy impacted by the CCC? Implications for papal authority? Who supported this shift in policy? Who opposed it? Will this irreparably harm the French Revolution?

New Constitution Constitutional Monarchy Legislative Assembly Suffrage limited to tax paying male citizens Reformed laws Forbade labor unions Compensated nobles for confiscated property

Factionalism Radicals Once new gov was created it was divided by factionalism Conservatives Royalists Emigres Peasants Moderates LaFayette & his National Guard Limited Monarchists Radicals Jacobins Sans-cullottes Paris Commune

Royal Family & Supporters Foreign powers Feared the French plague Emigres (nobility) fled Convinced Louis XVI he was in danger Escape thwarted at Austrian Netherlands Increased suspicion of King Some believe that “sealed his fate” Fear by foreign monarchs that “plague” would spread. Austria & Prussia demand that Louis be restored Austria issues Declaration of Pilnitz France declares war

Radical Second Phase War heightened suspicions Rumors flew September massacre Radicals pressured the Legis Assy which dissolved the Constitutin and called for new gov ---National Convention Established republic Jacobins take control Try and execute King

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