2. I. THE OLD REGIME A. France is divided along class lines 1. Between 3 groups: Estates - Clergy (Catholic Church officials) - Nobility - Everyone else 2. France has been the dominant world power for 100 years

3. B. 1 st Estate – Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church (Under 5% of French population) 1. Holds 15% of all land in France 2. Collects vast amounts of money (rents, taxes, fees, etc…) 3. Pays no taxes

4. C. 2 nd Estate – The Nobility (1.5% of French population) 1. Pays few/very little taxes 2. Collects rent from peasants 3. Holds land (30% of all land in France) and highest positions in government and army

5. D. 3 rd Estate – The rest of the people of France (95 – 97% of French population – 25 million people) 1. Bourgeoisie (middle class) made up of wealthy doctors, merchants, lawyers, tradesmen, etc… a. 1 million people b. Held 20% of the land 2. Lowest class is city workers and rural peasants (20-23 million people) 3. Heavy taxes and rent as well as 10% tithe to the Church

7. II. CAUSE OF DISCONTENT IN FRANCE A. Enlightenment ideas of “Liberty” and “Equality” give hope to the people B. HUGE differences in quality of life between the rich and the poor

8. C. Rising prices & rising taxes on peasants with only small wage increases

9. III. MEETING OF THE ESTATES GENERAL A. Jacques Necker urges Louis XVI to call a meeting of “Estates General” in order to approve new taxes and economic policies B. Each Estate had equal amounts of votes and the 3 rd Estate wants more say in their government Estate% of Population% of Vote 1 st EstateUnder 5%33.3% 2 nd Estate1.5%33.3% 3 rd Estate93.5%33.3%

11. C. EG meets for 6 weeks and is unable to reach a compromise. 3 rd Estate wants: 1. More representation 2. 1 st and 2 nd Estate to pay more taxes D. Louis XVI locks the 3 rd Estate out of the EG and moves troops into Paris

12. IV. REVOLUTION! A. 3 rd Estate moves to a tennis court outside and creates a new constitution and National Assembly B. Louis XVI (unpopular) fires Jacques Necker (popular) C. Riots break out and people of Paris storm the Bastille and loot it for weapons – July 14, 1789