Causes of the French Revolution

Objectives
Outline the social structure of Frances Old Regime. Explain the economic troubles France faced in 1789. Identify the reasons Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General. Explain why a Paris crowd stormed the Bastille.

Current Day Map of France

The Old Regime

Under the ancien regime, or old order, everyone in France belonged to one of three classes

First Estate
The CLERGY Enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege

Second Estate
The NOBILITY Owned land but had little money income

Third Estate
BOURGEOISIE and PEASANTS

Owned about 10 percent of land, collected tithes, and paid no taxes Provided some social services

Hated absolutism
Feared losing traditional privilege, especially exemption from taxes

Peasants were 98 % of French population Resented privilege of first and second estates Burdened by taxes, miserable wages faced hunger, starvation

The Old Regime

Turn to page 167 in your textbook.

1. What is the topic of the two charts? 2.Of the three estates, which estate had the most people and which had the least? 3.Of the three estates, which estate owned the most land? Which held the next high amount of land? Which held the least amount of land?

Looking at the cartoon: What does the stone represent that the first and second estate are standing on?

Discontent among the Third Estate

Best jobs were always reserved for nobles Urban workers earned miserable wages Peasants taxed on land, necessary goods and spices Nobles imposed manor dues tax paid directly to noble instead of state Only nobles had the right to hunt wild game

Enlightenment thinkers led people to question the logic of the the Old Regime..where is the reason for it???

Economic Troubles
For years, the French government had engaged in deficit spending Louis XIV had left France deeply in debt. Recent wars, a general rise in costs in the 1700s, and the lavish court were incredibly costly. To bridge the gap between income and expenses, the government borrowed more and more money. Bad harvests in the late 1780s sent food prices soaring and brought hunger to poorer peasants and city dwellers.

Economic TroublesSummarized
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Deficit spending Debt Wars Inflation Lavish court Borrowed money Bad harvests

Absolute Monarchy Weakens

The heirs of Louis XIV were not the right men to solve the economic crisis that afflicted France. Louis XV pursued pleasure before business and ran up Frances debts Louis XVI was well-meaning but weak and indecisive Louis XVIs economic advisor suggested he tax the First and Second Estates (those Estates forced the King to fire his advisor) First/Second Estates force Louis XVI to call the Estates General to try to regain some of the power they lost under absolute monarchs

Meeting of the Estates General

The Estates General was a meeting of all three Estates Each Estate had one vote Under this system the First and Second Estates always outvoted the Third Estate The Estates General met in May of 1789 The Third Estate consisted mostly of bourgeoisie who were familiar with the Enlightenment The Third Estate wanted all three Estates to meet together and vote as a single body.they were denied

Meeting of the Estates General

Delegates of the Third Estate left the Estates General and declared themselves to be the National Assembly who represented France
They invited members of the other Estates to help them write a Constitution for France When the hall they were supposed to meet in was locked against them, the National Assembly met on a tennis court Delegates swore never to separate and to meet whenever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution

Tennis Court Oath

Meeting of the Estates General

Frances economic crisis worsened, bread riots spread, and nobles denounced royal tyranny.

Louis XVI summoned the Estates General in 1788 The Third Estate declared themselves to be the National Assembly and invited delegates from the other two estates to help them write a constitution. When reform-minded clergy and nobles joined the Assembly, Louis grudgingly accepted it.

Storming of the Bastille

On July 14, 1789, more than 800 Parisians gathered outside the Bastille, a medieval fortress used as a prison. They demanded weapons believed to be stored there in order to protect themselves from the royal troops surrounding Paris. The commander of the Bastille opened fire on the crowd, and a battle ensued, in which many people were killed. The storming of the Bastille quickly became a symbol of the French Revolution, a blow to tyranny. Today, the French still celebrate July 14 as Bastille Day or Independence Day.

Storming of the Bastille

Review Questions
Which class made up 98 percent of the population of France in 1789? a) the First Estate b) the Second Estate c) the Third Estate d) the First and Second estates combined Which of the following was not a cause of Frances economic troubles? a) deficit spending b) bad harvests c) overspending by Louis XIV d) increased wages for peasant workers

Review Questions
Which class made up 98 percent of the population of France in 1789? a) the First Estate b) the Second Estate c) the Third Estate d) the First and Second estates combined Which of the following was not a cause of Frances economic troubles? a) deficit spending b) bad harvests c) overspending by Louis XIV d) increased wages for peasant workers