2. I. A. (Crane Brinton) What political, social and economic factors led the French to Revolution in 1789? As we have seen, the OLD REGIME faced numerous problems…
SOCIAL
POLITICAL
ECONOMIC
SYSTEM OF UPPER CLASS PRIVILEGE
1ST / 2ND ESTATES HAD ALL THE PRIVILEGES AND NONE OF THE BURDEN
THE RISE OF A MIDDLE CLASS – BOURGEOISIE HAD ECONOMIC POWER AND WANTED POLITICAL POWER TO MATCH IT (I, B – Crane Brinton)
CROP FAILURES >> HUNGER / FAMINE FOR PEASANTS
ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS
LOUIS XVI WAS A WEAK MONARCH (NOT INTERESTED IN RULE)
HIS POLITICAL MARRIAGE TO MARIE ANTOINETTE ALIENATED HIM FURTHER FROM THE FRENCH
THE BOURGEOISIE RESENTED HAVING NO POLITICAL POWER
THE ESTATES GENERAL SYSTEM ALLOWED THE NOBLES AND CLERGY (3% POP.) TO OVERRIDE THE VOTE OF THE 3RD ESTATE (97% POP.)
FRANCE WAS IN GREAT DEBT
UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF THE WEALTH
UNFAIR TAX SYSTEM PLACED TAX BURDEN ON THE LEAST ABLE TO PAY
CROP FAILURES >> RISING FOOD PRICES
FINANCE MINISTER’S (TURGOT) ATTEMPTED REFORMS FAILED
DEFICIT SPENDING (TO AID AMERICAN REV.) / LOANS LED TO HIGHER INTEREST >> MORE DEBT >> CYCLE
HIGH TAX ON LAND AND COMMERCE; CORVEE BORN BY 3RD ESTATE

3. III. A. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’s reforms (1789 – 91)
What they wanted (different groups had different needs)
Reforms
Who benefitted?
An end to unfair privileges for nobles / clergy
A fairer tax code / to end unfair taxes: taille, capitation, vingtieme, corvee
A fairer court system: right to a fair trial; habeas corpus
A gov’t. by Constitution
A constitutional monarchy
A republic
Voting rights for men with property
Voting rights for all men
Voting rights for all
An end to Church privilege
Women, Free Blacks and Jews wanted citizenship & suffrage
Slaves wanted freedom, citizenship & suffrage
An end to the buying of offices
Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen
Constitution of 1791
Voting rights for men with property (who paid a min. of tax) (including Jews, but not women or blacks)
Est. a limited monarchy w/ separation of powers – representative democracy (LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY)
New Court system – Justice of the Peace; Civil Court and Criminal Court; judges elected; felony trials by jury; defendants had right to counsel; arbitration & mediation
Laissez-faire policies (less gov’t. regulation of business)
Nationalization of Church lands>> sold at auction
Civil Constitution of the Clergy (bishops & priests chosen by electorate; paid salary by state)
FAIRER TAX CODE
>> BOURGEOISIE / FORMER NOBLES
>> BOURGEOISIE /FORMER NOBLES
>> ALL
>> BOURGEOISIE/FORMER NOBLES
>> BOURGEOISIE/FORMER NOBLES /LANDED PEASANTS
>> CAUSED LOSS OF PEASANT SUPPORT