The French Revolution

• Watch this short video and record the following:– Causes of the French Revolution – Pros and Cons of King Louis XIV

French Revolution

• What were some of the causes of the French Revolution?– War– Debt– Taxes– Angry people– Lavish lifestyle

Setting the Stage

• 1700s – France is most advanced country in Europe– Center of Enlightenment– Large population– Prosperous trade– Often imitated

• Success was deceiving…

Setting the Stage… contd.

• France’s Deception– Bad harvests– High prices and taxes– Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire raising questions

Estates

• France was divided into large social classes.

The Privileged Estates

– The First Estate• Roman Catholic Clergy – owned 10% of land• Contributed 2% of income to government

– The Second Estate• Rich Nobles• Paid almost no taxes• Only 2% of population – owned 20% of the land

The Third Estate• 97% of population

– Bourgeoisie / middle class• Bankers, factory owners, merchants, professionals• Well educated, supported Enlightenment Ideas• Some were rich, like Nobles

Workers of France’s citiesTrades people, apprentices, laborers, servantsExtremely poor, often went hungry and jobless

Peasants – 80% of populationPaid ½ their income to King, Nobles and Church

Forces of Change

• Enlightenment Ideas• Economic Troubles• Weak Leader

Enlightenment Ideas

• Who’s ideas may have helped to influence and move the French people towards revolution?

The American Revolution inspired the Third Estate to take action…

Critical Thinking Questions

• Did France’s system of estates violate the principle of equality?

• Which group within the Third Estate would suffer most from the increase in the price of bread?

• Why do you think Louis chose to raise taxes on the nobility?