1. Causes of the French Revolution (1789 – 1815)

2. The Old Regime
Def. = system of feudalism that ruled France through a coalition of monarch, nobles, & Church.

3. Causes of the French Revolution (4:55)

4. II. 4 Causes of the French Revolution
1. Unequal social system
A. 3 Estates
1. 1st = Church
2. 2nd = Nobles
3. 3rd = everyone else
bourgeoisie – merchants/skilled laborers
city workers – unskilled
peasants – 80% of pop.
B. 1st & 2nd Estates were 2% of pop. BUT owned 30% of property
C. 3rd Estate was 98% of pop. But owned almost no property; paid almost all the taxes!

5. 3. Failing French Economy
2. The Enlightenment
a. spread idea of equality & liberty
b. appeals to 3rd estate
c. American Revolution
3. Failing French Economy
a. high taxes  low profits
b. food shortages
c. govt. debt

6. 4. Weak Leadership a. Louis XVI incompetent & ineffectual
4. Weak Leadership
a. Louis XVI incompetent & ineffectual
b. Marie Antoinette hated by French
1. foreigner – Austrian
2. extravagant spender

7. Start of French Revolution: Spring, 1789 (2:35)

8. Revolution Dawns Louis calls meeting of Estates General (May,1789)
E. G. = assembly of reps. from all 3 estates
Louis needs them to raise taxes

9. E.G. argues & splits into 2 bodies
past = each estate got one vote (unfair to 3rd)
3rd estate wants each delegate to get a vote
3rd estate breaks away & forms the National Assembly *(beg. of rep. govt.)

10. Tennis Court Oath other 2 estates exclude 3rd from meeting
3rd meets at tennis court & vows not to leave until France has a constitution.
Louis orders 1st & 2nd estates to join them

11. Storming of the Bastille (1:59)

12. Storming of the Bastille – July 14, 1789
rumors that King is going to attack citizens of Paris
Angry mob captures royal prison
weapons for defense
symbol of royal power & cruelty

13. A Great Fear Sweeps France
Wave of violence after the Bastille
peasants rise up against nobles in countryside
burn manors
destroy rental records
The Women’s March (late 1789)
angry women join mob & march from Paris to Versailles
demand bread & for King to come to Paris
Louis & Marie forced to go to Paris & try to make peace