FRENCH REVOLUTION BEGINS

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

The Three Estates divide the nation into three distinct groups.

These groups dictated the entire course of a person’s life

Clergy

– 130,000 people (.5%)

! Control 10% of overall land in France

! Exempt from Taille (tax)

! ! ! Nobility-! ! ! ! 350,000 people (1.5%)

! ! ! ! 25-30% of land in France

! ! ! ! Gov., Military, law courts

! ! ! ! Tax exemptions on Taille

Wanted to Expand Power

Commoners

98 % of society! ! *peasants = 80% of total ! population

*40% land in France

*serfdom eliminated*

upsets the nobles

! relics of feudalism- obligations of peasants to noble landlords that survived into the modern era.

BOURGEOISIE

-Wealthy, educated Middle Class

-Unhappy with privileges held by nobles

-Unhappy with monarchical system

! ! (leads to drastic action!!)

FINANCIAL CRISIS

(economy nearly collapsed in 1787-88) 2 reasons

1.Economy

-poor harvests! ! -slowdown in manufacturing

! ! -rising price for food

! ! -unemployment! ! ! poor=1/3 of population (p.331)

!

2.) Government Spending

spent a great amount on the American Revolution

Marie Antoinette- Spent money onunneeded luxuries while the economy was in ruins

FINANCIAL CRISIS

The French economy is in disarray

*Louis XVI calls a meeting of the Estates general to raise new taxes*---had not happened in 175 yrs.

Estates General (king led)

to National Assembly (3rd estate led)

NA= composed of 3 orders of French society

ESTATES GENERAL

Third Estate wanted to:

! -establish constitutional government & abolish tax exemptions

! ! *voting difficulties*

June 17,1789-

! National Assembly drafts a constitution

June 20,1789 –

! Doors Locked at Offices

TENNIS COURT OATH

Court would continue to meet until constitution was made

Louis XVI prepared to use military force against the National Assembly

This act of aggression leads to the fall of the Bastille (see page 328)

FALL OF THE BASTILLE

(July 14,1789)-Paris is abandoned to the Rebels-revolts occur throughout France

-citizens fear invasion from foreign nations ! ! +form militias+

DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD REGIME

National Assembly:destroys relics of feudalism*abolish rights of the landlords*abolish financial privileges of wealthy[Declaration of the Rights of Man (p.336)]

THE KING CONCEDES

!

March of Parisian Women on Versailles

(their children were starving)

Royal Family goes to Paris as a good will gesture– Become prisoners in Paris

(can’t leave)

CHURCH REFORMS

Church was a pillar of old order– Assembly seizes church

land for profit– Secularize the church– Bishops & Priests elected

by the people

NEW CONSTITUTION & NEW FEARS

New Constitution (1791) ! -limited monarchy ! ! *legislative assembly makes laws ! ! ! 745 Representatives ! ! ! $$$$ elected to office ! ! ! equality to all men++only MEN over 25 y.o.a. with $ could vote++

FEAR OF REVOLUTION IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

– The King needed ‘help’– Austria & Prussia threaten force to restore

Lois XVI to power in France– Legislative Assembly declares war on

Austria 1792

RISE OF THE PARIS COMMUNE

Defeats in War-blame the kingEconomic ShortagesLead to -mobs organize attacks on palace ! *take king captive ! *suspend monarchy

-Call for National Convention to choose new government ! ! *power moves to Paris Commune*

Political Demonstrations against Lois XVI

Did you know...?• The French Revolution gave

rise to the idea of a Modern Nation State

• With that, it also gave rise to the modern national holiday! (Bastille day)

• In the USA Independence Day, is somewhat the equivalent.

• If you could add a new National Holiday, what would it be and why?

Writing Activity• Prepare a "mini" speech that might

have been made by the Parisian women organizing the march to Versailles

• Include reasons for why to march.

HOMEWORK

–Questions 1,2,4, & 5–Pg.335