1. On the Eve of the Revolution
The French Revolution
On the Eve of the Revolution

2. Focus In 1789, French society consisted of three social classes:
First Estates: The Clergy
Second Estate: The Nobility
Third Estate: The Rest of the Population
The nation faced:
Social unrest
Enormous debt
Food Shortages

3. First Estate: The Clergy
The Church:
Owned 10% of the land
Collected tithes
Paid no direct taxes to the state
Enjoyed life with wealth and privileges
Interfered in politics
Condemned the Enlightenment

4. Second Estate: The Nobles
Rich nobles that owned land
Struggled with inflation
Disagreed about Enlightenment ideas
Received top jobs in the:
Government
Army
Courts
Church

5. Third Estate: The “Commoners”
Had no power to influence government
Embraced Enlightenment ideas
Resented the wealthy First and Second Estates
Included three groups: the Bourgeoisie (lawyers, doctors, teachers, bankers, merchants), urban working class (factory workers, servants), and rural peasant farmers
Made up 98% of the population (27 million)

6. Population by Estate

7. Why did the Third Estate consider the distribution of land unfair?
Discontent
The Third Estate resented the privileges enjoyed by the First and Second Estate
Enlightened ideas led people to question the inequalities of the Old Regime
Why did the Third Estate consider the distribution of land unfair?

8. What do you think?
Which estate would you have liked to belong to? Why?

9. Enlightenment Ideas Third Estate  inspired by the American Revolution
Began to:
Question long-standing notions of society
Quoting Rousseau and Voltaire
Demanded equality, liberty, & democracy

10. Economic Troubles French economy in decline Why? War Taxes
Deficit Spending
Palace of Versailles
Cost of living increased
Bad weather = crop failures
Shortage of grain = bread shortage

11. Economic Troubles FRANCE IS IN DEBT!!!
Government was in debt because King Louis had loaned so much money to America for their revolution.
 Because France supported America, Britain cut ties with France financially.

12. A Weak Leader Characteristics:
Indecisive/weak leader very good hearted and generous.
Paid no attention to his government advisors
Marie Antoinette known as “Madame Deficit”

13. Marie Antoinette Very unpopular. From Austria.
Bought expensive jewels and gowns while people were poor in her country.

14. Louis Calls the Estates General
No money  impose a tax on nobles?
Second Estates forced him to call a meeting
The first meeting in 175 years
Louis had all estates prepare cahiers (notebooks listing their grievances)
Fairer taxes
Freedom of the press
Regular meeting of the Estates General

15. Voting on Issues How would each estate vote?
Each estate would meet and vote separately
Each estate had one (1) vote
Under this system, the First and Second Estate always outvoted the Third Estate two to one
The Third Estate wanted all three estates to meet in a single body, with the votes counted “by head”
Why did the Third Estate want to change the voting system used in the Estates General?

16. Third Estates  the National Assembly
After weeks of stalemate, delegates declared themselves the National Assembly representing the people of France
The National Assembly invited other delegates from the First and Second Estate to help write a:
Constitution
Laws/Rules

17. The Tennis Court Oath
Three days later the National Assembly found its meeting hall locked & guarded
The National Assembly moved to an indoor tennis court and there they took an oath:
“…never to separate and to meet wherever the circumstanced might require until we have established a sound a just constitution.”
577 members pledge their oath on June 20, 1789
Some reformed-minded clergy and nobles joined the Assembly, but rumor spread that the King planned to dissolve the Assembly

18. Storming the Bastille A Medieval Fortress Gathering Supplies
Prison
Gathering Supplies
July 4, 1789 a mob stormed the Bastille for gunpowder
Mob killed the guards & paraded their heads throughout Paris on pikes
Symbol  of the Revolution

19. Results of the Bastille
When Louis XVI asked, “Is it a revolt?” A noble replied, “No sire, it is a revolution.”
The Great Fear
Panic that spread through the French countryside
Peasants began to:
Attack nobles homes
Set fire to manor records
Steal grain from storehouses