1. French Revolution

2. Background on France 1700s France was most advanced country of Europe
Large population & prosperous foreign trade
Center of the Enlightenment

3. Social Problems
Old Regime- people divided into 3 large social classes or “estates”
1st Estate
Roman Catholic Church & Clergy
Owned 10% of land in France
Provided education to poor and only 2% of income to government
2nd Estate
Rich nobles
Owned 20% of land
Paid almost no taxes
1st & 2nd estates rejected enlightenment ideas because it threatened their status as privileged people

4. Social Problems Cont’d
3rd Estate
97% of the population
3 groups within this class
Bourgeoise- middle class (bankers, factory workers, merchants, skilled professionals)
Believed in enlightenment ideas
Many were as rich as the nobles but paid much higher taxes
City workers- cooks, servants, & others who were poorly paid & often unemployed
Peasants- 80% of the French population (20/26 million)
Farm workers
Paid roughly ½ of their income to church or nobles

5. 3 Factors of Revolution Enlightenment Ideas
People inspired by American revolution
Began demanding EQUALITY, liberty, & democracy to fix their society

6. 3 Factors of Revolution 2. Economic Troubles Economy was in decline
Good production/trade but taxes made workers no profits
Crop failures (bad winter)- caused starvation

7. 3 Factors of Revolution Inherited debt
3. Weak Leader- Louis 16th
Inherited debt
Doubled debt by helping American’s win independence
Paid little attention to advisers & didn’t like government business
Marie Antoinette (Queen of France)
Interfered w/ gov. business and offered poor advice
Spent lots of $ on gowns, jewels, gambling, & gifts
Very unpopular in France
“Madame Deficit”

8. King’s Solution Did not cut expenses Raised taxes on nobility
Forced king to call a meeting of delegates from each estate to discuss tax issue

9. Revolution
In previous meetings each estate got 1 vote- 1st & 2nd estate always voted with each other
3rd Estate- had more delegates than others combined
Wanted each delegate to have a vote
National Assembly- 3rd Estate
Claimed to represent all people
Ended absolute monarchy
Beginning of representative democracy in France
1st act of the revolution
Tennis Court Oath
Locked out of meeting room
Broke down door to indoor tennis court and promised not to leave until they had formed a new constitution

10. Revolution Cont’d Fall of Bastille
French citizens took control of a prison
1st act of violence
Celebrated like 4th of July

11. Great Fear Rebellion spreading throughout France
Rumors that nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize citiens
Great Fear
Wave of panic throughout France
Peasants began to storm gov. buildings destroying documents, demanding food, and stealing supplies
Broke into palace of Versailles, killed the guards, demanded King & Queen return to Paris
This signaled a change in power and reforms that were about to over take France

12. Veteran’s Day Bonus 5 Point Option 10 Point Option Find a veteran
Write down NAME, BRANCH (Marines, Army, etc.), and years served
Thank them for their service
10 Point Option
ALL of the above
Take a picture with them and bring it to show me