The French

Revolution Begins

The The PrivilegePrivilege

d d EstatesEstates

The First The First EstateEstate

• Clergy (Church Workers)

• 1% of population

• Control 10% of land in France

• Give 2% of income to the French

government

The Second The Second EstateEstate

• Rich Nobles

• 2% of France’s

population

• Own 20% of the land

• Pay $0 in taxes

The Third The Third EstateEstate

• 97% of the population of France• Includes:

• Bourgeoisie (Middle Class)• Workers• Peasants

• Frequently out of work

• Paid low wages

• Taxes on staple goods

• 50% of income goes to taxes

Enlightenment Enlightenment IdeasIdeas

•Beliefs:

and liberty equality

Economic Economic TroublesTroubles

• Cost of living goes

• Drought makes grain

scarce

• Bread prices go

• France gives to the

American Revolution

Weak Weak Leadership: Leadership:

Louis XVI and Louis XVI and Marie Marie

AntoinetteAntoinette

• Refuses to listen to advisors• Marie Antoinette earns the name “Madame Deficit”

• Excessive spending on:

• Result: Increase in France’s debt

A Solution?A Solution?• Louis decides the solution to

debt is to TAX the Rich Nobles

• Calls a meeting of the Estates-General

• Each estate gets one vote

Creation of the Creation of the National AssemblyNational Assembly

• Third Estate calls for an equal vote• Louis says “NO!” He sides with

the nobles• Siéyés – Clergyman who convinces

the Third Estate to pass laws in the name of the people

National Assembly, cont.

The Third Estate gets a new name!

National Assembly

Why is “National Assembly” a good name for the Third Estate?

What is the Third What is the Third Estate?Estate?

“Therefore, what is the Third Estate? Everything; but an everything

shackled and oppressed. What would it be without the privileged order? Everything, but an everything free

and flourishing. Nothing can succeed without it, everything would be

infinitely better without the others.”

The Tennis Court The Tennis Court OathOath

• National Assembly (Third Estate)is locked out of the meeting!

• They meet on a tennis court to write a new constitution.

• King Louis calls for guards to surround Versailles.

The Storming of the The Storming of the BastilleBastille

• People fear the arrival of the army.

• July 14, 1789 – French citizens storm the Bastille , looking for weapons

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the

Citizen

The Rights of ManAugust 26, 1789

• The Declaration of the Rights of Man is ratified by the National Assembly (formerly known as the Third Estate)

• “Men are born free and remain equal in rights.”

• Other guaranteed rights: speech, religion, equal justice

The Great Fear The Great Fear Sweeps FranceSweeps France

• Women storm Versailles

• Demand lower bread prices

• Demand Louis return to Paris

• Louis returns…