1. The French Revolution

2. What is a revolution?

3. Causes of the French Revolution
Abuses of the old regime
(What’s a regime?)
Political (leave space to explain)
Social
Economic

4. Political Reasons The king was an absolute monarch
The king picked people based on favoritism
The king censored speech (controlled what the press could say)
The king wouldn’t let the people have a voice in the government or make complaints

5. Social Reasons Social Classes:
First Estate- clergy (church people)
Second Estate- nobility
Third Estate- the rest of the people
Bourgeoisie (merchants, bankers, manufacturers, professionals)
City workers
Peasants
1st & 2nd Estates, 3% of population, were privileged
Owned most of the land
Taxed peasants
Didn’t pay taxes
Had best gov & military positions
Got special treatment in terms of law
3rd estate- unprivileged class

6. Economic Reasons Long story short…
The 3rd estate had to pay almost all of the taxes

7. Other Causes The French Bourgeoisie wanted laissez-faire
French philosophers & Age of Enlightenment- encouraged people to seek natural rights, etc.
Influence of English & American Revolutions
Bad government

8. Exit Question
What would you have done if you had lived in France?

9. Revolution Begins First of all, what is revolution?
What about laissez faire?
And bourgeoisie?