French Revolution

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French Revolution A step towards democracy

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French Revolution. A step towards democracy. Regions of France. Good Climate, large area, ample rainfall and a wide variety of soils allow France to grow many crops. Question:. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of French Revolution

Page 1: French Revolution

French RevolutionA step towards democracy

Page 2: French Revolution

Regions of France

Good Climate, largearea, ample rainfall and a wide variety of soils allow France to grow many crops

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Question:Tell a partner what you think the

major form of transportation was during this time period? Why would this be important in France?

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Who owns the land?Much of the land was

owned by Aristocrats, royal families and the Catholic Church.

4 out of 5 farmed for a living and owed most of their produce to a feudal lord

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Where would you most like to be and why?Tell a partner (a new one from

last time) if you had to be a farmer, which part of France you would most like to farm in and why? This will include the crop you would like to produce.

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French Society PyramidKing

• Many privileges and paid few taxes

• Could tax peasants a tithe (10%)

Aristocrats

• Middle class• Some invested in new businesses• Laws and regulations made earning a profit

hard• Poor French infrastructure limited

opportunities

Bourgeoisie

• Made up majority of French Population

• Most income went to food

• Little access to education

• Worked hard with little to show for it

Peasants

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The Sun KingWas the Source of all light in the nation!

Built palace in Versailles and forced nobles to live with him

Depended solely on his own judgment and had few ministers. His word was Law!

Dragged France into many wars, depleted treasury, persecuted many religious groups, lived extravagantly

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Question:What sort of problems do you see

Louis XVI running into when he becomes King?

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Louis in chargeLouis was faced with various

problems:1. Not interested in governing and

left decisions to others2. Different laws in different parts

of country3. Language barriers4. Heavy taxes and duties on

merchants5. Terrible poverty

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Louis and MarieMarie Antoinette came from an

Austrian family (not popular! Austria was a French enemy)

Marie offended aristocrats with her attitude towards French traditions

She was very extravagant. Why would this bother people?

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Louis and MarieMarie was strong willed and

opinionated about things she had no experience in…like government!

Chose people without knowing what they would be responsible for.

Urged firing of A. R. Turgot because he wanted to tax nobles

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Talk to a partner!Tell a partner one thing you find

interesting about King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s relationship

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Revolution Begins!Louis got money to spend by

taxing lower and middle class (exploitation!). This made France almost bankrupt.

Rioting led to split in the royal court◦One side supports King and changes

to the economy◦Other side supports Marie and more

power for noblesMany demand democracy (Like

England)

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Even more problemsStarvation/Famine – abandoned

childrenUnemployment – Industrial

RevolutionLed to starvation, and violent,

unpredictable mobsLouis allowed critics to be

imprisoned or killed and turned to Estates General for solutions

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Making connectionsTell a partner some similarities

you have identified between the start and causes of the French Revolution and the English Civil War.

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The Estates General – sort of like parliament

First Estate - Clergy

Second Estate - Aristocrats

Third Estate – Middle Class

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Problems with the systemAristocrats and clergy could

combine forces to give themselves twice as much power as the 3rd estate

France was bankrupt and put faith in Necker to raise money and end rioting

Louis was ready to give some small responsibilities to the Estates (fixing tax system). But they don’t want this!

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Catching the Spirit!Ordinary people had great

expectations of delegates.Third Estate broke from other

Estates after little progress made and declared a new government known as National Assembly.

Retreated to Royal Tennis Courts and took the “Tennis Court Oath”

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Tennis Court OathPledge to continue to meet until France had a new form of government.

Louis responded with democratic reforms but this was rejected.

Forced to order the other two estates to join the National Assembly