1. French Revolution and Napoleon
Chapter 23

2. I. Origins of the French Revolution

3. A. France during the Old Regime
Old Regime – Period in French history before 1789
Estates – French social classes

4. First Estate Roman Catholic Clergy Less than 1% of the population
Owned 10% of France’s land
Paid no direct tax
“Free Gift” – About 2% of their income went to taxes

6. Second Estate French Nobles 2% of France’s population
Owned 20% of France’s land
Were exempt from paying most taxes
Important government, military, & church positions were held by nobles

7. Primary Source – Louis Sebastien Mercier, 1783
“The distance which separates the rich from other citizens is growing daily and poverty becomes more insupportabe at the sight of the astonishing progress of luxury which tire the view of the poor. Hatred grows more bitter and the state is divide into two classes: the greedy and insensitive and the murmuring malcontents.”

9. Third Estate Everybody else in France 97% of France’s population
50% of their income went to pay taxes
Tithe – Church tax that was 1/10th of one’s total income
No voice in government

13. Were resentful of the privileges of the 1st and 2nd Estates

14. B. Economic Woes
French government was nearly bankrupt when Louis XVI becomes king
France’s involvement in the American Revolution ( ) nearly doubled France’s nation debt
French taxes were heavily increased as a result of the war

15. Primary Source – Jean Marie Roland, 1777
“Workmen today need twice as much money for their subsistence, yet they earn no more than fifty years ago when living was half as cheap.”

16. Question
Why would France want to become involved in the American Revolution?
France saw the Revolutionary War as an opportunity to restore its national pride (after its loss in the French and Indian War) and weaken the British

17. C. Bad Growing Years
1780s – Bad weather led to widespread crop failures
Caused the price of bread to double which increased starvation

18. Question
Why is the price of bread usually related to how many people face starvation?

19. D. Weak Leadership
Louis XVI – French king who wanted to do what was right for the French people – Nice Guy
Wrong Person
Wrong Position
Wrong Time

20. Louis XVI

21. Marie Antoinette French Queen does little to help her husband
Madame Deficit – Nickname earned by her elaborate spending
1786 – Lost the equivalent of 1.5 million dollars playing cards

23. E. Meeting of Estates-General
Louis XVI hopes to avoid bankruptcy by taxing the church and nobles
According to medieval tradition each estate was given one vote
Thus, the 1st and 2nd Estates could always outvote the 3rd Estate

24. Primary Source – What is the Third Estate, Abbe Sieyes, 1789
“1. What is the Third Estate? Everything.
2. What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing.
3. What does it demand? To become something therein.”

26. National Assembly – 3rd Estate declares that they represent all of France
Refuse to meet according to medieval tradition
Oath of the Tennis Court – Agree not to disband until France has a written Constitution

27. Oath of the Tennis Court

28. Primary Source – Oath of the Tennis Court – June 20, 1789
“We swear never to separate ourselves from the National Assembly, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the realm is drawn up and fixed upon solid foundations.”

29. F. Outbreak of War
Louis orders the 1st and 2nd Estates to join the National Assembly
Louis senses trouble and orders Swiss guard to Paris
Rumors spread that Louis plans to attack France with a foreign army

30. Revolution Begins
July 14, 1789 – Angry mob storms the Bastille which marks the beginning of the French Revolution

31. Storming of the Bastille

32. Bastille Day Celebration