1. French Revolution It was the best of times It was the worst of times,
It was the age of wisdom,
It was the age of foolishness,
It was the epoch of belief,
It was the epoch of incredulity
Charles Dickens
“A Tale of Two Cities”

2. Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI
French Revolution
Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI

3. Marie Antoinette and the Royal Children
French Revolution
Marie Antoinette and the Royal Children

4. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant Cottage”
French Revolution
Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant Cottage”

5. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant Cottage”
French Revolution
Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant Cottage”

6. French Revolution Old Regime
3 groups
97% of population
80% are peasants
50% of income to feudal dues
Tithes to church
Paid taxes to King 1%
of pop
2% to Gov
10% of land
Collect tithes 1
1st Estate
Clergy
Number of Votes as part of Estates-General
2nd Estate
Aristocracy-Nobles 1
2% of pop
No taxes – 20% of land
Collect feudal dues
3rd Estate
Bourgeoisie
City Workers
Peasants 1
Voting Pattern by Estates

7. French Revolution 3rd Estate resents first two estates
They have no political power & hurting economically
Enlightenment ideas & American Revolution inspire them to seek changes
Demand equality, liberty, and democracy

8. French Revolution By 1780 economy is much worse Taxes hindering growth
Inflation – cost of living going up
Crop failures cause grain shortages

9. French Revolution Old Regime
Heavy taxes on staples – things people need daily
The French Urban Poor

10. French Revolution Old Regime
Where is the tax money?

11. French Revolution Meanwhile, gov’t going deeper into debt
Funded American Revolution (they hated Britain!)
King and Queen spend on luxuries
Bankers refuse to lend any more money
Louis is in trouble!
“I know, let’s tax the Nobles!!”
Estates-General must approve

12. French Revolution Louis calls a meeting at Versailles
first time in 175 years
Under old rules
Delegates from each estate meet in separate halls
Each estate gets 1 vote
Clearly unfair to the 3rd Estate – constantly outvoted!
Most 3rd Estate delegates are bourgeoisie
They love Enlightenment ideas!

13. French Revolution 3rd Estate says All three estates meet together
Vote by delegates – they have 2x as many as other estates
When rejected – they proclaim themselves “National Assembly” (legislative body)
End of absolute monarchy
Beginning of representative government
1st Act of REVOLUTION!!!

14. French Revolution
When King locks them out of their meeting hall, they meet in indoor tennis court
Pledge to write a new constitution
“Tennis Court Oath”
Clergy & nobles join them (1st & 2nd Estates)
Louis is getting nervous (as he should!)
Sends Swiss troops to guard Versailles
Rumors fly-foreign troops will massacre French citizens

15. French Revolution Bastille Day – July 14
People prepare by gathering weapons
Storm the Bastille (prison) for more weapons & gunpowder
Hack the prison commander & some guards to death – parade around their severed heads on sticks
(Things are turning ugly! Not a good sign.)
Bastille Day – July 14

16. French Revolution All hell breaks loose – so to speak!
Rebellion spreads beyond Paris
Rumors that nobles are hiring people to kill peasants sparks them to attack nobles & their property
“Great Fear spreads across France!

17. French Revolution Meanwhile prices are rising
Bread prices shoot up & women riot for bread
Thousands arm themselves with pitchforks, knives, axes (whatever it takes!)
March to Versailles and force King and his family to go to Paris to try to help with the situation
Last time the royal family saw Versailles
This events signals a political movement from a somewhat moderate rebellion to a radical one