1. “Starpower” Discussion
How might this game be like real life? (Here ask students to explain their answers fully).
Describe some of your strategies you used to get more points.
Describe some of your feelings as a member of a group and your feelings towards other groups.

2. Compare “Starpower” to the 3 Estates
Take a moment to write your personal observations/comparisons of the Starpower Game with the 3 Estates of France you read about last night.
As a Triangle what were your feelings towards elevating your ‘status’
As a square how did it feel to be put in charge?
For everyone, how was the game after the squares were put in control?

3. Background to the French Revolution: The Three Estates
1st Estate
2nd Estate
3rd Estate
Who?
Clergy
Nobles
Everyone Else
% of Population 1% 2%
97%
# of People
150,000
400,000
25 Million (25,000,000)
Taxes?
No taxes paid, collected Tithe
Paid tithe, collected feudal dues from peasants
Paid tithe, paid labor tax & feudal dues to landlords, sales tax, income tax, and head tax to the king

4. Background to the French Revolution: The Three Estates
1st Estate
2nd Estate
3rd Estate
% of Land
5 – 10 %
25%
65% (35% for Peasants)
Work Done
Bishops – Wealthy
Parish Priests – poor
Advised king
High positions in army and government
Didn’t need to earn money
All the work!
Bourgeoisie: upper middle class
professionals,
lawyers/doctors/
business owners
Artisans
sans
culottes: urban
workers
Peasant farmers

5. Background to the French Revolution: The Three Estates
1st Estate
2nd Estate
3rd Estate
Rent?
Collected Rent
Feudal due
Paid rent
Hunting? No
Yes and fishing
No, (poaching)
Lifestyle
Luxurious
extravagant
fancy foods and
parties. expensive
fashion
harsh living
conditions for
peasants.
bourgeoisie-
steady income “top
of 3rd estate”

6. Background to the French Revolution: The Three Estates
1st Estate
2nd Estate
3rd Estate
Positions in Gov
Church Hierarchy
High Gov Positions and Military Leadership
Denied most Gov jobs
voting rights?
recognized as
special.
no rights or
privileges.
Forced labor or
forced military
no forced service
not forced
forced to positions

7. The Three Estates.
This French political cartoon from 1789 reveals a critical view of France’s privileged orders. Shown in the cartoon is a naked common man held in chains and being ridden by an aristocrat, a clergyman, and a judge. The message is clear: most ordinary French people (the Third Estate) are suffering horribly as a result of the privileges of the First and Second Estates.
p. 579

8. Back ground to the French Revolution: Underlying Causes
Unfair social class system
majority of people are poor/have no rights
king is weak + selfish - wants all the power but cant handle it wisely
bourgeoisie-rich, educated in the ideas of the Enlightenment
they have no rights- they are angry* they lead the revolution
American Revolution as Example

9. Back ground to the French Revolution: Trigger 1789
Economy is collapsing
High inflation, prices going up
The government is heavily in debt- but banks won't lend government any money.
The king needs to raise taxes- but the taxes on the Third Estate are already too high for them to pay.

10. Back ground to the French Revolution: Trigger 1789
The king decides to tax the First and Second Estates
The members of the Second Estate control the court system. The courts refuse to write down the new tax law until the king calls the Estates General to approve the change.
The king has to call the Estates General
1st time in almost 170 years
Basically admitting consent of nation was needed to pass/raise taxes
3rd Estate delegation of Estates general will eventually break away and start the revolution