1. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION: Revolution Begins!!

2. Spark: Meeting of Estates-General
Called by Louis XVI to resolve the financial crisis
Meets May-June 1789
First Estates-General since 1614! (175 years)
Voting system
Each estate still only gets ONE VOTE

3. THE SECOND ESTATE = 1 Vote
THE VOTE
THE FIRST ESTATE = 1 Vote
300 reps
THE SECOND ESTATE = 1 Vote
300 reps
THE THIRD ESTATE = 1 Vote
648 reps
Impact: 3rd Estate MAD and willing to defy King’s authority

4. Revolution: THE TENNIS COURT OATH!!
June 20, 1789
3rd Estate declares itself REAL gov’t of France
Calls itself National Assembly
King Louis XVI orders National Assembly to disband
Vows not to disband until a constitution is formed!!!
Impact: 3rd estate has defied King’s authority and created an alternative gov’t!

5. Revolution: Storming Of The Bastille
July 14, 1789
Rumor = King was planning a military coup against the National Assembly
Parisians storm Bastille
People want … GUNPOWDER
Is looted and destroyed by French people
18 died, 73 wounded, 7 guards killed
Impact: Paris in hands of
revolutionaries
King’s power further weakened

6. Revolution: The Great Fear
Summer 1789: revolution spreads to countryside
Why? Rumors spread that…
King mounting a counterattack
Nobles attempting to put down revolution
Rich hording food
So: Peasants revolt!!!
Impact: by end of summer 1789 France is under rebel domination!!

7. Moderate Revolution! (1789 – 1792)
National Assembly begins reforming French society
Will change absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy
Revolutionary change supposedly be guided by :