1. Follow Up Interact with your notes on pg 7-8 1. Circle Key Terms
2. Highlight Main Ideas
3. Write questions for each box
4. Complete your summary

2. Backdrop to the French Revolution
Workbook pg

3. Essential Question
What was life like in France prior to the French Revolution?

4. Early French History France formed around 481 A.D.
Grew in size over the years
Bourbon Dynasty begins in 1272
As new provinces were added each had a unique tax and legal structure
Most laws favored the clergy and wealthy landowner

5. 18th Century French Economy
Nearly all of the 70,000 government offices were purchased
Most wealthy elite had tax exemptions
Mismanagement of money left France in massive debt
Spent money lavishly in order to look financially secure

6. 18th Century French Society
France was divided up into 3 Estates
1st Estate: Clergy “Those Who Prayed”
Made up of the clergy
1% of the population
Controlled about 5-10% of the land

7. 18th Century French Society
2nd Estate: Nobles “Those Who Fought”
Made up of the nobility
About 2-7% of the population
Owned 25% of the land
Most inherited their titles
However, most enjoyed both privileges and wealth ($$$).

8. 18th Century French Society
3rd Estate: Commoners/Peasants “Those Who Worked”
Made up of the common people
About 90-97% of the population
Owned about 40-50% of the land
INCLUDES:
Doctors and lawyers
Shopkeepers
The urban poor
The peasants
Bourgeoisie

9. 18th Century French Society
Growing discontentment about the state of France
Legal System
Laws differed by class and by location
Tax Structure
Poorer citizens could be forces to buy or sell goods at a set price
Private agencies were hired to collect taxes
Often “shook down” rural peasants
Royalty
Appeared disconnected from French citizens
The Palace at Versailles was created to draw wealthy out of Paris to “fawn” over the King