1. Causes of the French Revolution

2. HISTORICAL CAUSES
Organizing historical causes will help us explain history more clearly (…especially on essays!). Organizing things also helps us to remember them.
The most common categories of historical causes are political, social, and economic. Today, you will organize 11 causes of the French Revolution into those categories.

3. HISTORICAL CAUSES -- Examples
Political
Social
Economic

4. HISTORICAL CAUSES
Political
Social
Economic
(Government)

5. HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws
Voting
Types of Government
War
Military
Courts

6. HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws
Voting
Types of Government
War
Military
Courts
(People)

7. HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws
Voting
Types of Government
War
Military
Courts
(People)
Religion
Education
Culture
Food
Media
Language
Social Class

8. HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws
Voting
Types of Government
War
Military
Courts
(People)
Religion
Education
Culture
Food
Media
Language
Social Class
(Money)

9. HISTORICAL CAUSES Political Social Economic (Government) Leaders Laws
Voting
Types of Government
War
Military
Courts
(People)
Religion
Education
Culture
Food
Media
Language
Social Class
(Money)
Jobs
Trade
Resources/Raw Materials
Wealth
Economic Systems
Taxes

10. Think back to your Do Now…
Political
Social
Economic
(Government)
Leaders
Laws
Voting
Types of Government
War
Military
Courts
(People)
Religion
Education
Culture
Food
Media
Language
Social Class
(Money)
Jobs
Trade
Resources/Raw Materials
Wealth
Economic Systems
Taxes

11. Instructions
Your group/ pair will receive 11 slips listing different causes of the French Revolution. Then, as a group/ pair, organize the causes into categories: political, social, or economic. *You may have some that are in two categories.

12. What did you come up with?
As we organize the causes of the French Revolution, write down each cause in the “best” column on your chart. *You may have some that are in two categories. You may draw an arrow to the other column…

13. 1- French Revolution Causes
Countries in Europe were very competitive in the 1600s and 1700s. France was involved in expensive wars against its main rival, England. Examples: the Seven Years’ War ( ) and when the French supported the Americans in the American Revolution ( ). Conflicts like these cost the French government LOTS of money.

14. 1- French Revolution Causes
Countries in Europe were very competitive in the 1600s and 1700s. France was involved in expensive wars against its main rival, England. Examples: the Seven Years’ War ( ) and when the French supported the Americans in the American Revolution ( ). Conflicts like these cost the French government LOTS of money.
Economic
Political

15. 2 - French Revolution Causes
To raise more money, the French government started taxing the middle and lower classes of France (the “Third Estate”), two groups that were already paying high taxes.

16. 2 - French Revolution Causes
To raise more money, the French government started taxing the middle and lower classes of France (the “Third Estate”), two groups that were already paying high taxes.
Economic
Political

17. 3 - French Revolution Causes
The society of France was divided into three groups called Estates. The First Estate, the clergy, were about 1% of the population, but they controlled 10% of the land. The Second Estate, the nobility, were 2% of the population, but they controlled 25% of the land. The Third Estate were the other 97% of the population, but they owned only 65% of the land.

18. 3 - French Revolution Causes
The society of France was divided into three groups called Estates. The First Estate, the clergy, were about 1% of the population, but they controlled 10% of the land. The Second Estate, the nobility, were 2% of the population, but they controlled 25% of the land. The Third Estate were the other 97% of the population, but they owned only 65% of the land.
Social
Economic

19. 4 - French Revolution Causes
The king of France, Louis XVI (the Sixteenth) and his wife, Marie Antoinette, spent a lot of the government’s money on nice clothes, the best food and wine, and many other expensive goods to make their lives as comfortable as possible.

20. 4 - French Revolution Causes
The king of France, Louis XVI (the Sixteenth) and his wife, Marie Antoinette, spent a lot of the government’s money on nice clothes, the best food and wine, and many other expensive goods to make their lives as comfortable as possible.
Economic
Social

21. 5 - French Revolution Causes
France was an absolute monarchy, but in the 1700s, lots of new ideas were coming from Enlightenment thinkers. For example, John Locke said that if the government was not serving the people, the people could take control.

22. 5 - French Revolution Causes
France was an absolute monarchy, but in the 1700s, lots of new ideas were coming from Enlightenment thinkers. For example, John Locke said that if the government was not serving the people, the people could take control.
Social
Political

23. 6 - French Revolution Causes
Due to harsh (difficult) winters and less government controls, there was a shortage (not enough) of wheat, making the bread very expensive. Bread was the most important food for the poor people in France.

24. 6 - French Revolution Causes
Due to harsh (difficult) winters and less government controls, there was a shortage (not enough) of wheat, making the bread very expensive. Bread was the most important food for the poor people in France.
Economic
Political
Social

25. 7 - French Revolution Causes
The king could hold a special meeting called the Estates-General between the different groups of France: the First, Second, and Third Estates. Each group had the same number of votes at the meeting, 1, even though the Third Estate was much bigger than the other groups (97% of the population).

26. 7 - French Revolution Causes
The king could hold a special meeting called the Estates-General between the different groups of France: the First, Second, and Third Estates. Each group had the same number of votes at the meeting, 1, even though the Third Estate was much bigger than the other groups (97% of the population).
Political

27. 8 - French Revolution Causes
The middle class in France (the bourgeoisie) was getting richer, but they were a part of the less powerful Third Estate. The middle class wanted more power.

28. 8 - French Revolution Causes
The middle class in France (the bourgeoisie) was getting richer, but they were a part of the less powerful Third Estate. The middle class wanted more power.
Political
Social

29. 9 - French Revolution Causes
Farmers had very difficult lives. Their work was hard, and they had to pay high taxes.

30. 9 - French Revolution Causes
Farmers had very difficult lives. Their work was hard, and they had to pay high taxes.
Economic
Political

31. 10. French Revolution Causes
Baron de Montesquieu, an Enlightenment thinker, said that the power of the government should be separated.

32. 10. French Revolution Causes
Baron de Montesquieu, an Enlightenment thinker, said that the power of the government should be separated.
Social
Political

33. 11 - French Revolution Causes
People were starting to use reason (their ability to think), so they did not listen to the Catholic Church as much.

34. 11 - French Revolution Causes
People were starting to use reason (their ability to think), so they did not listen to the Catholic Church as much.
Social

35. If you had to choose…
In your opinion, were the causes of the French Revolution mostly political, social, or economic? Why?