1. LESSON 1 A CALL TO REVOLUTION
World History - The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars
Mr. Wang’s History Class

2. Do you hear the people sing? - Les Miserables
Something to help us get in the mood of the French Revolution!

3. Content Standards
Students compare and contrast the Glorious Revolution of England, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution and their enduring effects worldwide on the political expectations for self-government and individual liberty.
– Explain how the ideology of the French Revolution led France to develop from constitutional monarchy to democratic despotism to the Napoleonic empire.

4. Big Idea: Human Rights
What are essential human rights that everybody should have?
Essential and Universal Rights of Humanity: Understanding the process of attaining rights for all humanity allows us to better empathize with current battles for equality and fairness.

5. Big Idea: Revolutions
What are the causes of civil unrest and revolutions?
Nature of Revolutions: Exploring the different causes of civil unrest (i.e. social, economic, ideological) provides us with knowledge on how to identify early symptoms of revolutions and the tools to remedy them.

6. Lesson Objectives
Students examine the societal structure of France by comparing and contrasting the characteristics of the First, Second, and Third Estates.
Students analyze how the social inequality within the Three Estates contributed to the French Revolution.

7. *Hint: Think back on our study of the American Revolution.*
Warm-up: Why Revolt?
Think-Write-Pair-Share
What’s happening in the picture?
What are the people holding?
What could make people angry enough to do that?
Why do people revolt? List and draw 3 reasons.
*Hint: Think back on our study of the American Revolution.*

8. Background: False Appearances
France was considered the most advanced European in the 1700s:
Center of the Enlightenment
Large population
Thriving foreign trade
French culture and fashion were praised and emulated globally

9. Background: False Appearances
However… France was plagued by:
High prices of food
High taxes on the poor
General unrest due to revolutionary Enlightenment ideas

10. Why did the French Revolution Begin?
Ideological: Ideas of the Enlightenment, Influences of the American Revolution
Social: Social Inequality within the Three Estates
Economic: Debts, Unfair Taxation, High Prices of Bread
Political: Weak Leadership

11. Causes for Revolution: SOCIAL

12. Problems of the Old Regime
What is the Old Regime?
The political and social system that existed in France before the French Revolution.
It shared key characteristics with feudalism
Under this form of government, the people of France were divided into three large social classes known as the Three Estates.

13. The Three Estates
The Three Estates make up the structure of the French society
First Estate (Clergy) and Second Estate (Nobility) have privileges: can hold high offices and are exempt from paying taxes
Third Estate (Bourgeoisie, Workers, Peasants) cannot hold high offices and have to pay taxes

14. Social Inequality
Can you guess who is who in the picture? How can you tell? *Hint: One of them is King Louis XVI*

15. First Estate Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church
1% of the population, yet owned 10% of land
Paid 2% of income to government
Have access to high offices
Provided education and services to the poor
Received tithes (donations) from peasants
Disliked Enlightenment ideas

16. Second Estate Rich Nobles and other Nobility
2% of the population, yet owned 20-25% of land
Have many privileges and held highest positions in government
Paid almost no taxes
Taxed the peasants
Disliked Enlightenment ideas

17. Third Estate
Divided into three groups: Middle class (bourgeoisie), workers, and peasants
Remaining population, roughly 97-98%
Few privileges
Heavily taxed, paid 50% of income for taxes
No power to influence the government
Embraced Enlightenment ideas

18. 1st Group: Bourgeoisie Merchants and Artisans
Power growing since Middle Ages
Many are well-educated
Believed strongly in Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality
Some are as wealthy as nobles, but still paid much in taxes and lacked privileges
Desired the social status and political power to match their wealth

19. 2nd Group : Workers Urban Middle Class (Cooks, Servants… etc)
Poorer than bourgeoisie
Paid low wages, often out of work and thus went hungry (can’t pay for bread)
The most literate
Most supported revolution

20. 3rd Group: Peasants
Largest group within the Third Estate, 80% of the total population
Paid 50% of income in taxes to nobles, tithes to the church (clergy), and to the king
Corvee = If unable to pay taxes, peasants will pay in the form of physical labor on government roads
No Enlightenment ideals, but simply revolted against oppression

21. Food For Thought
Rousseau’s ideas inspired many leaders of the French Revolution!
“The heart of the idea of the social contract may be stated simply: Each of us places his person and authority under the supreme direction of the general will, and the group receives each individual as an indivisible part of the whole…
In order that the social contract may not be a mere empty formula, everyone must understand that any individual who refuses to obey the general will must be forced by his fellows to do so. This is a way of saying that it may be necessary to force a man to be free; freedom in this case being obedience to the will of all.”
- Jean Jacques Rousseau, “The Social Contract”
*Suggestion: Read ALOUD for best results!*

22. Food For Thought
Reflecting on Rousseau’s quote, answer the following questions:
What is Rousseau trying to say?
What type of government would Rousseau most likely suggest?
Which of the Three Estates do you think would prefer Rousseau’s suggestion? Why?

23. Food For Thought
How did the structure of the French society (Three Estates) contribute to the buildup to revolution? Using your notes, list 3 reasons and explain.

24. Review: Three Estates

25. Lesson Closure: Quick Write
Think-Write-Pair-Share
Do you think this social inequality made the French Revolution inevitable?
Why or why not?

26. Here’s some bread for the angry women of the French Revolution!