Roots of Revolution22.1

Target

• Identify areas of discontent between the social classes.

Vocab

• Estate• Taille• Bourgeoisie

Vocab

• Estate• Taille• Bourgeoisie

Assignment

• Identify the factors of discontent for each “estate”.

Estate Factors of Discontent

First Estate

Second Estate

Bourgeoisie

Third Estate

First Estate 1%

• Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church.– Very powerful and wealthy.– Owned 15% of land in France.

• Most wealth held by the bishops, archbishops, and abbots.– Did not pay taxes.– Materialistic – neglected spiritual duties.

• Lower clergy did most of the work.

Second Estate 2%

• The nobles.– Enjoyed perks of feudalism.– Held high government positions.

• Paid few taxes.– Collected money from the peasants.

• Irresponsible about the welfare of France.

Bourgeoisie 8%

• Middle class.– Merchants, manufacturers, and professionals.

• Educated and wealthy.

Third Estate 75%-80%

• Very poor.– City workers, artisans, and rural people.

• Paid high taxes.• Forced to pay a tithe.– 1/10 of income to church.

• Had no say in the government.

Reasons of Discontent

• Growing population.• Poor economic conditions.• Rising food prices.• Taxes.• Political power.

Financial Crisis

• Louis XV spent too much money.– Taxes did not off set the budget.– Continues to borrow money from bankers.

• Louis XVI– Debt continues to grow.• American Revolution

– Married Marie-Antoinette (Austrian)– Can’t get the nobles to pay taxes.

Meeting of the Estates General

• Each estate would meet and vote on issues.– Top two estates would out vote the third.

• Estate General met on May 5th, 1789.– Third Estate disobeys Louis XV.– Claims to be the National Assembly.• Invites the other estates to join.

– Refuses to stop until there is a constitution.

Assignment AnswersEstate Factors of Discontent

First Estate Changing economic conditions.Political power in the hands of the king.

Second Estate Changing economic conditions.Desire to protect their privileges.

Bourgeoisie Taxes, lack of political power.

Third Estate High prices, taxes.