1. American Revolution Review
What were the causes of the American Revolution?
What was the Boston Tea Party?
What is a boycott?
How do the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Amendments reflect Enlightenment ideas?

2. The French Revolution
The Causes

3. EQ: What were the underlying problems of France before the Revolution?

4. Social Structure of French Society
French society was divided into three estates (much like rich, middle, and poor)
1st Estate – Clergy
2nd Estate – Nobility
3rd Estate – Everyone else

6. The Top: 1st and 2nd Estates
Privileged, wealthy, influential
These two groups owned most of the land and paid few taxes.
Represented 2% of the population which is out of 26 million

7. The Bottom: The 3rd Estate
The 3rd Estate was 98 % of society
1. Bourgeoisie – merchants, artisans, lawyers
2. Urban Workers – worked small jobs in the city.
3. Peasants – mostly farmers, very poor, 80% of population

8. The Government Absolute Monarchy King has total power
Few rights for people

9. King Louis XVI Louis XVI is King Weak, insecure leader
Not good with people

10. Queen Marie Antoinette
Hated by the French people
Spent huge amounts of money
Nickname – “Madame Deficit”

11. Crop Problems
In the 1780s, France experienced an unprecedented amount of bad weather
Hurt crop production
Less crops = higher prices
Unhappy citizens

12. French Government was bankrupt Why this fiscal crisis?
Economic Problems
French Government was bankrupt
Had a huge debt
Why this fiscal crisis?
Spent money on several wars
Bad tax policy (not tax the wealthy)

13. The Estates General
As a result of these issues, the King calls the Estates General to fix them