What caused the French

Revolution?

Louis XIV vs. Louis XVI (14) (16)

• “Sun King”• Ruled until he died at 77• Imperial wars,

allied himself with local leaders

• Married to Marie Antoinette• Supported lowering the

taille!• Beheaded during the

French Revolutionbecause he symbolizedabsolute monarchy.

Bourgeoisie complaints

• In addition to all the social unrest, bourgeoisie were:• Upset with the old, rigid social order• Fed up with the French budget (nearly collapsed in

1788)• Angry at food shortages (bad harvest), rising prices,

and unemployment

Primary Source

“All the country girls and women are without shoes or stockings; and the plowmen at their work have neither shoes nor stockings to their feet. This is a poverty that strikes at the root of national prosperity.”

-an unknown English traveler in France

Estates-General

• Louis XVI called a meeting- 300 each of First and Second Estate representatives, about 600 Third Estate representatives.• Third Estate wanted a constitutional government that

would make everyone pay the taille.• Voting problems- each estate gets one vote (how would this

usually play out?)

National Assembly

• June 17, 1789 – Third Estate declared themselves the “National Assembly” and will draft a constitution.• June 20, 1789 – National Assembly goes to meet,

finds they are locked out!• Moved to a nearby tennis court and made an oath

(the Tennis Court Oath) that they would continue to meet until they drafted a constitution.

King’s Response?

•How do you expect the King to respond?

Hmph!

Vocab review

1. Who is this? 2. What is the name for the French main tax?

3. The Third Estate called themselves the _____________ when drafting the constitution in the summer of 1789

Vocab review

4. The French middle class is known as the ______________________

5. What was signed here?:

HINT: