CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONESTATE SYSTEMMONEYBAD HARVESTS---FOOD SHORTAGEMEETING OF THE ESTATES GENERAL

PROBLEM #2: MONEYFrench government was bankrupt, Why?Spent money fighting costly wars (Example: American Revolution)Spending too much money on luxuriesCorrupt tax system (tax collectors did not hand over taxes to the government)

PROBLEM #3: BAD HARVESTSBad harvests (1787 and 1788) due to harsh wintersSmaller harvest- farmers smaller income/unemployed---food prices rise---people starveSANS-CULOTTES, BREAD AND PARISSans-culottes most ate 3 lbs of bread per day---little elseCost of bread increases---mobs attack carts of bread and grain in ParisWhy did the price of bread double?Severe winters in 1787 and 1788 lead to a grain harvest that was small

PROBLEM #4: MEETING OF THE ESTATES GENERAL

FRANCES KING IN 1780SLOUIS XVI(1774-1792):Good hearted, generous, weak, indecisive, believed to be clinically depressedMarried Marie Antoinette (from Austria) on May 16, 1770)He was 15 and she was 14Ascended to the throne at age 19

1789-LOUIS XVIS PLAN TO SOLVE THE CRISIS:Tax nobles (in addition to raising taxes on 3rd Estate) to avoid bankruptcyPROBLEM WITH LOUIS XVIS PLAN:Continued to spend money on warContinued to spend money on court luxuries and extravagancesRESPONSES OF THE NOBLES:Refuse to pay taxesDemand a meeting of the Estates General (like Englands Parliament)WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE ESTATES-GENERAL MET? 1614

HOW DOES THE ESTATES GENERAL WORK?Each estate meets to discuss the issue (1st, 2nd and 3rd) 1st and 2nd estate approximately 300 representatives3rd estate approximately 600 representativesEach estate votes for or against the proposalFinal decision Each estate has one vote1st and 2nd estate always out vote 3rd estate 2-1

DIFFERING GOALS FOR THE MEETING OF THE ESTATES GENERALKING hoped new taxes would be approvedNOBLES AND CLERGY hoped they would control affairs and continue their privileged lifestylesBOURGEOUISIE (MIDDLE CLASS) want to have more say in government like the EnglishPEASANTS Drew up a list of complaints and want solutions to their problems