1. The Beginning of the French Revolution
PHASE ONE:
From Estates-General to National Assembly

2. Causes of Revolution Enlightenment ideas American Revolution
Old Regime
Privileges of 1st & 2nd estate
Burdens of the 3rd estate
Financial crisis – impending bankruptcy…

3. Any thoughts on how France found itself on the brink of bankruptcy?

4. French Financial Crisis
Extravagance (Versailles)
Debt from wars
Aid for American Revolution
Banks refuse to lend money
Crop Failure

5. Horrible Histories: Wife Swap

6. French Financial Crisis
France Needed Money!!!!
Louis XVI called a meeting of The Estates General in hoping to agree on new taxes to be applied to the First & Second Estates

7. National Assembly & Tennis Court Oath
The Estates-General had not met since 1614
Made up of delegates representing each Estate
They met separately, but the 3rd Estate wanted all 3 Estates to meet together
King refused – locked out 3rd Estate!

8. National Assembly & Tennis Court Oath
Instead of leaving, the Third Estate formed the National Assembly
They met on the palace tennis courts & promised not to disband until they had written a constitution for France

9. National Assembly & Tennis Court Oath
First deliberate act of the revolution!!
Why was the creation of the National Assembly an act of revolution?

10. Call to Revolt
King ordered other estates to join the National Assembly, BUT called in troops in Paris
Debates and sometimes violence took place in the streets

11. Call to Revolt Rebellion grew King gathered more troops
Paris citizens became fearful that the King would dissolve the National Assembly & halt reforms so they took action…

12. Storming the Bastille The Bastille is a prison in Paris
Symbol of the injustices of the monarchy
Huge mob surrounded Bastille & attempted to steal weapons (to defend the National Assembly)
Forced way into prison; freed prisoners
Mob took over prison (July 14, 1789)

13. Liberated prisoners parading later in the day

14. The Great Fear After Bastille, waves of violence spread through France
Rumors spread about nobles hiring robbers to kill & steal from peasants

15. The Great Fear Peasants react; get weapons Drive nobles off their land
The First Wave of the French Revolution had struck!