The French Revolution and Napoleon

1789-1815

OA #1

What do the phrases “social system” and “political

system” mean?

The French Revolution Begins

• Old Regime - People of France were divided into estates.– 1st Regime – Clergy (leaders of the Roman

Catholic Church).• Owned 10% of the land in France• Provided education and relief to the poor• Owned 2% of the land

– 2nd Regime – Rich Nobles• 2% of population• Owned 20% of land.• Paid almost no taxes• Against Enlightenment ideas.

Held all

power; didn’t

pay taxes

– 3rd Regime – 97% of people belonged here• Consists of 3 groups:

1. Bourgeoisie:• Middle class• Bankers, factory owners, merchants, professionals,

and skilled artisans• Believed in Enlightenment ideas

2. Urban lower class• Poorest group of the 3rd estate• Laborers, apprentices, domestic servants• Paid low wages and often out of work

3. Peasant farmers• 80% of population• Paid half of earnings to the Nobles, tithes to Church,

and taxes to King’s agents.

Work Packet #4

• Assignment 1– Analyze political cartoon; answer questions on the

back

OA #2

Describe the “Old Regime.” What did it include and who benefited

the most from this social and political system.

• Sensory Figure of chosen Estate

OA #2 (new left page)

Describe in your own words, what was society like in

France prior to the French Revolution.

Changes in France

• Enlightenment ideas influence the 3rd Estate– The 3rd estate began to

question the structure of society

– Voltaire and Rousseau were very influential towards the 3rd Estate

Changes in France

• France’s economy was in decline– The high taxes made it

almost impossible to do business with any profit.

– France’s government was in deep debt• Louis XVI and Marie

Antoinette’s spending was extravagant

Changes in France

• King Louis XVI would look to fix government debt to tax the Nobles (2nd Estate)– Led to the meeting of the Estates-General• Representatives of each Estate would make a decision

on the new tax.

• Complete Sensory Figure

• HW: Finish Reading Pages 220-221 in book.– Answer questions 5, 6, and 8.– You do not have to write down the question

OA #3 (new left page)

What was happening to the French government prior to the Revolution? What did King Louis XVI do to fix the

problem?

• Using your notes and your questions from yesterday, complete the “Causes of the French Revolution” map (#4 in the packet).

• By yourselves, you will have 6 Minutes to complete it. – No talking. – 1 stamp if it’s right; No stamp if it’s wrong or

copied or caught talking.

Reformations in France

• August 4, 1789, Noblemen joins the National Assembly to eliminate the 1st and 2nd Estates Old Regime was dead

• National Assembly created a statement: “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.”– “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

Reformations in France

• Major changes were made towards to change the Church.– The Catholic Church lost its land and political

independence.– As National Assembly restructured the

relationship between Church and State, Louis XVI felt he and his family was in danger and decided to leave the country.