French Revolution

an Intro

French Revolution

• France still followed ancient regime – old order (medieval)

• Their social system divided into 3

classes

3 Classes / Estates

• First Estate – Clergy • Enjoy Wealth & Privilege

• Ran schools, hospitals, & orphanages

• Paid NO Taxes!

• Different laws

3 Classes / Estates

• Second Estate – Nobles• Jobs in gov’t, army, and

courts

• Paid NO

Taxes!

3 Classes / Estates• Third Estate – Everyone else!• Largest (98% pop)• Divided into three groups

–Bourgeoisie–Rural Peasants–City Workers–Sans Culottes

0.5

1.5

98

1st Estate

2nd Estate

3rd Estate

Estate Population

10

20

70

1st Estate

2nd Estate

3rd Estate

Land Owned by Estate

French Revolution

• Enlightenment ideas questioning ancient regime

• Felt Upper Estates should pay Taxes

• Financial Crisis hits France!

Financial Crisis

•Cause =

Deficit Spending gov’t spends more $ then it takes in

Financial Crisis• Debt from Seven Years War

(French & Indian)

• Debt from aiding Colonists financially during Am. Rev.

• Bad Harvests

• Food Price Rise = Famine!

Financial Crisis• Poor Leadership made things worse!

• Louis XV – ran up the debt• Louis XVI – Tried to

reform w/ help from

Jacques Necker

Financial CrisisNecker’s Reforms

• Reduce Court Spending

• Reform Gov’t

• Abolish Tariffs

• Called for taxes by all EstatesNobles & Clergy forced King to

remove Necker

French Revolution

• Bread Riots break out! (Starving)

• King forced to call Estates General into session first time in 175 years.

French Revolution

• 3 Estates wrote cahiers – grievances

• Third Estate wanted radical reforms

• Other 2 Estates

wanted no change

French Revolution• Third Estate became National

Assembly after being bullied.

• Argued they rep.

the people

• King locked them

out of Estates General

French Revolution

• National Assembly met @ Tennis Court

• Tennis Court Oath – vow to not disband

until made a constitution for France

French Revolution• Louis XVI had to accept National

Assembly because some Nobles and Clergy joined the cause.

• Sent troops to Versailles• Rumors of a take over in Paris led

to the Storming of the Bastille!

Storming the Bastille

• Bastille- medieval fortress used as a prison

• 800 Parisians attacked looking for weapons

• July 14 – Bastille Day (French National Holiday)

Causes of American / French Revolutions “The Similarities are Uncanny”

• Colonists Forced to Pay Taxes (Acts)

• 1st & 2nd Estate NOT Forced to Pay Taxes

• Debt on Seven Year War

• Enlightenment Thinkers Locke/Hobbes

American Revolution French Revolution

• Lack of British Resources

• Bad Harvests lead to Famine

• Debt on French & Indian War

• Enlightenment Thinkers Voltaire/Rousseau

• Continental Congress • National Assembly

Causes of American / French Revolutions “The Similarities are Uncanny”

• Riots and Revolts

- Boston Massacre

- Boston Tea Party

American Revolution French Revolution• Grievances in

Declaration of Ind

• Riots and Revolts

- Bread Riot

- Storming the Bastille

• Grievances at Estates General

• Declaration of Independence

• Declaration of the Rights of Men and the Citizen

• Troops sent to Colonies (Quartering)

• Troops sent to Paris and other Towns

• Constitution • Constitution