1. The French Revolution
Roots of Revolution

2. Revolution?
Definition: A radical change caused by irresistible forces that overturns an established order
Types:
Political
Economic
Social
Religious
Cultural

3. FOUR STAGES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
THE MODERATE STAGE ( )
THE RADICAL STAGE ( )
THE REACTIONARY STAGE ( )
THE NAPOLEONIC STAGE ( )

4. Underlying Causes:
POLITICAL ??
ECONOMIC ??
INTELLECTUAL ??
SOCIAL ??

5. POLITICAL CAUSE MONARCHY – Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI
Absolutism – Divine Right
Louis XVI – weak, indecisive, out of touch with people
Marie Antoinette – spending, frivolous

6. ECONOMIC CAUSE Seven Years’ War Wars of Louis XIV Versailles
American Revolution
Unlimited Personal Expenses
DEBT.DEBT.DEBT

7. INTELLECTUAL CAUSE Enlightenment ideas Montesquieu Voltaire Locke
Diderot
Printing Press

8. SOCIAL CAUSE
                                        

9. The First Estate Clergy –Bishops, Archbishops
100, % of population
Owned 10% of French
land
Did not PAY taxes
“Voluntary gift”
TAXED residents on their lands
Tithe

10. The Second Estate Nobility 400,000 – 2% of population
Owned 25% of French land
Taxed VERY minimally
Manorial rights
Taxed residents on their land

11. The Third Estate “Everybody else” 25 million – 97% of population
Heavily taxed
THREE SUB GROUPS
BOURGEOISIE -Wealthy merchants, doctors, lawyers, etc.
WORKERS – artisans, skilled laborers
PEASANTS - 21 Million

12. What is the Third Estate?
Abbe Sieyes – 1789:
“Therefore, what is the Third Estate? Everything; but an everything shackled and oppressed. What would it be without the privileged order? Everything; but an everything free and flourishing.”