1. Chapter 23

2. The French Revolution Begins
Section 1
The French Revolution Begins

3. The Old Order
The Old Regime-social and political system in France during the 1770s
Estates-three social classes of France’s Old Regime

4. The Privileged Estates
First Estate
Catholic clergy
Own 10% of lands
Pay few taxes
Scorned Enlightenment ideas

5. Second Estate Made up of rich nobles Made up 2% of population
Owned 20% of lands
Held highest offices in government
Disagreed about Enlightenment ideas

6. Third Estate 97% of people are peasants, urban workers, middle class
Have few privileges
Pay heavy taxes
Embraced Enlightenment ideas
Resented other two social classes

7. Doctors, lawyers, merchants, and business managers made up the middle class.
Clergy: bishops, abbots, and parish priests are at the top of the social pyramid.
This group represented .5% of the total population.

9. The French Urban Poor

10. Financial Problems in France, 1789
Urban Commoner’s Budget:
Food %
Rent %
Tithe %
Taxes %
Clothing 20%
TOTAL 170%
King’s Budget:
Interest %
Army %
Versailles 25%
Coronation 10%
Loans %
Admin %
TOTAL %

11. The Forces of Change Enlightenment Ideas
Third Estate members inspired by the success of the American Revolution
Questioned their own society’s structure

12. Economic Troubles High taxes and rising costs damage economy by 1780s
King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette known for extravagance
Louis doubles nation’s debt; banks refuse to lend more money

13. A Weak Leader
Louis’s poor decisions and lack of patience add to France’s problems
His wife makes things worse
Gives Louis bad advice
Not well-liked by the people
He calls Estates-General in Versailles, 1789
Meeting of representatives from all three estates

14. The Suggested Voting Pattern: Voting by Estates
Clergy
1st Estate 1
Aristocracy
2nd Estate 1 1
Commoners
3rd Estate
Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.

15. The Number of Representatives in the Estates General: Vote by Head!
Clergy
1st Estate
300
Aristocracy
2nd Estate
300
648
Commoners
3rd Estate

16. Convening the Estates General May, 1789
Last time it was called into session was 1614!

17. Dawn of the Revolution The National Assembly
Third Estate has little power under old rules
Sieyes persuades them to make major changes in the French government
Third Estate sets up National Assembly-
new legislature to make reforms
Tennis-Court Oath-
Delegates decide to write new constitution for France

18. “The Tennis Court Oath” by Jacques Louis David
June 20, 1789

19. Storming the Bastille
Rumors fly in Paris that Louis wants to suppress the National Assembly
Mob attacks and seizes Bastille, killing guards on July 14, 1789

22. A Great Fear Sweeps France
Rebellion-
Rumors and panic spread throughout France
Great Fear-attacks by peasants taking place across France
Peasants destroy legal papers binding them to feudal system
In October 1789, Parisian women revolt over rising bread costs
They demand action, forcing Louis to return from Versailles to Paris

24. Estates
First Estate
Second Estate
Third Estate