1789: THE FRENCH 1789: THE FRENCH --------------REVOLUTION REVOLUTION Background CausesBackground Causes

1st Background Cause:1st Background Cause:POLITPOLITICAL SYSTEM ICAL SYSTEM AbsoluAbsolute Monarchy: te Monarchy: ReignReign of King Louis XVI of King Louis XVI

Reign of Louis XVI:ABSOLUTE MONARCHYABSOLUTE MONARCHYNOBLES HOLD SPECIAL NOBLES HOLD SPECIAL

POSITIONSPOSITIONSORDINARY PEOPLE ORDINARY PEOPLE

HAVE NO POWERHAVE NO POWER

KING LOUIS XVI WEAKWEAKFOOLISHFOOLISHINDECI-INDECI-

SIVESIVE

MARIE ANTOINETTEFOREIGNFOREIGNFOOLISHFOOLISHEXTRAVA-EXTRAVA-

GANTGANT

2nd Background Cause:2nd Background Cause:SOCIASOCIAL SYSTEM-- L SYSTEM-- the Esthe Estates of France tates of France

Social DivisionsSocial Divisions

First Estate Second Estate Third EstateFirst Estate Second Estate Third Estate

THE FIRST ESTATECLERGY:CLERGY: Owned 20% Owned 20%

of the landof the land Paid no taxPaid no tax TithesTithes

SECOND ESTATENOBLES:NOBLES:25% of land25% of landPaid no taxesPaid no taxesFeudal duesFeudal duesPositionsPositions

THE THIRD ESTATETHE RESTTHE REST97% 97% Middle ClassMiddle ClassCity WorkersCity WorkersPeasantsPeasants

GRIEVANCES OF THE THIRD ESTATE

Paid most of the taxesPaid most of the taxesPeasants paid Feudal duesPeasants paid Feudal duesHigh price of food (bread)High price of food (bread)Few positions of influenceFew positions of influenceNo power in the governmentNo power in the government

3rd Background Cause:3rd Background Cause: THETHE ENLIENLIGHTENMENTGHTENMENT

The EnlightenmentA) Enlightenment thinkers were A) Enlightenment thinkers were

against absolute monarchyagainst absolute monarchy..B)B) They believed in progress and They believed in progress and

political change to improve political change to improve society.society.

C) They also emphasized equality. C) They also emphasized equality.

The Enlightenment Encouraged...

Questioning the SystemQuestioning the SystemExpectations for ChangeExpectations for ChangeDemands for changes to the Demands for changes to the

governmentgovernmentRevolutionary actionRevolutionary action

4th Background Cause:4th Background Cause:THE AMERICAN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONREVOLUTION

American RevolutionInspirationInspirationLeaders Leaders

- Lafayette- LafayetteDebtDebt

5th Background Cause:5th Background Cause: THETHE FINANCIAL FINANCIAL

CRISISCRISIS

ROYAL SPENDINGLouis XIVLouis XIVVersaillesVersaillesWarsWarsFavors to Favors to the Noblesthe Nobles

National Budget of FranceNational Budget of France

Interest on Interest on the the DebtDebt

CCOOUURRTT

MilitaryMilitary Everything Everything ElseElse

Solutions RefusedJacques Jacques NeckerNecker

Reduce Reduce SpendingSpending

Tax NoblesTax Nobles

FATEFUL DECISION:King decides to call theKing decides to call the

Estates GeneralEstates GeneralPurpose: to raise thePurpose: to raise the taxes taxes

needed to pay off the debtneeded to pay off the debtTheThe Revolution Revolution will beginwill begin

1789: the End of the 1789: the End of the Beginning ... Beginning ...