FOCUS QUESTION Who said “Let them eat cake!” What did she/he mean? Why is it important?

The French Revolution

The 3 Estates of Man 1. Clergy – Priests 2. Nobility – Aristocrats 3. Everyone else Page 213

Sources of Discontent (long term causes) Unequal land ownership 2% of the people owned 35% of the land Unequal Taxation Only the third estate paid taxes Unequal political power Absolute Monarchy Page 213

Immediate Cause Debt from war with England Only the poor were taxed Depression and famine Deficit spending (Expenditure more than revenue) Louis XVI’s life of luxury Louis XVI’s Solution: More taxes on the Poor!

Quick Write Imagine you were a member of the Third Estate (because mostly likely, you would be). How would you feel about paying all the taxes? How would the Enlightenment have influenced your feelings and possibly your actions?

Estates General Meeting of all three estates to solve financial crisis Problem: one vote per estate, 3 rd Estate always outvoted

Tennis Court Oath Locked out of the Estates General, the Third Estate met in a tennis court Swore to meet until a new constitution was drafted Formed the National Assembly

Storming the Bastille Parisians tear down the Bastille, a prison. Scares the King out of Paris Saves the Revolution

A New France! Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Based on the U.S. Constitution Constitution of 1791 Set up a limited Monarchy