The French Revolutionpt. 1

Mr. McCaskillLIBERTE, EGALITE,

FRATERNITE

Setting the StageIn the 1700s, France was considered

the most advanced country of Europe.

Paris was the center of the Enlightenment.

France’s culture was widely praised by the rest of Europe.

However, the appearance of success was deceiving.

The Three EstatesThe people in France were divided into three

large social classes.These social classes were called estates.Two of the estates had privileges.

Access to high positions in government and exempt from paying taxes

Upper ClassesThe upper class owned about 10% of the land

in France.Only about 1 percent of the populationOnly about 2 percent of its income went to

government.The Second Estate was made up of rich nobles.

Only about 2 percent of the population This Estate owned about 20% of the land and

paid no taxes.

The BourgeoisieAbout 97% of the people belonged to the Third

Estate.This class was split up as well.The bourgeoisie was the middle class.

bankers, factory owners, and professionals.Often they were educated and believed in

liberty and equality.

Common WorkersThe workers of France’s cities formed the

second group within the Third Estate.These were the butchers, bakers, and

candlestick makers.

PeasantsPeasants formed the largest group within the

Third Estate, more than 80% of France’s people.Peasants paid about half their income to the

king’s agents.The heavily taxed and discontented Third

Estate was eager for change.

Demands for changeNew ideas about government, economic

problems, and weak leadership all helped to create a desire for change.

New views about government were spreading among the Third Estate.

Members of the Third Estate were inspired by the success of the American Revolution.

People began to demand equality, liberty, and democracy.

All types of dramaBy the 1780s, France’s economy was in decline.Heavy taxes made it almost impossible to

conduct business profitably.Also, the cost of living was rising sharply.Bad weather caused widespread crop failures.

Not my bread!!!This caused the price of bread to double and

many people faced the threat of starvation. Bread was a staple of the diet of the common

people of France.Most families consumed three or four 4-pound

loaves a day.People were highly upset by the dramatic rise

in price of this extremely important item.

Impact of the AmericansDuring this time, France’s government sank

deeply into debt.The problem was the spending of Louis XVI

(16th) and his queen Marie Antoinette.He borrowed heavily in order to help the

American Revolution in their war against Great Britain.This nearly doubled the government’s debt.

Marie AntoinetteThe queen of France only added to Louis’s

problems.She often interfered in the government, and

typically gave Louis poor advice.Marie Antoinette had been unpopular from the

moment she set foot in France.As queen, she spent so much money on jewels,

gambling, and gifts that she became known as “Madame Deficit.”

Estates-GeneralLouis XVI was indecisive and allowed

matters to drift.Louis put off dealing with emergencies

until he practically had no money.His solution was to call a meeting of the

Estates-General.An assembly of representatives from all

three estates– to approve new laws.

Tennis Court OathThe Third Estate was eager to make

changes in the government.Shortly after establishing the idea of a

representative government, the Third Estate was locked out of their meeting room.

They met at an indoor tennis court, pledging to stay until they drew up a new constitution.

This became known as the Tennis Court Oath.

Storming of the BastilleIn Paris, rumors flew.Some suggested that Louis was intent on

using military force to dismiss the Third Estate.

People began to gather weapons in order to defend the city against attack.

On July 14, a mob searching for gunpowder and arms stormed the Bastille (a Paris prison).

Storming of the Bastille cont.The mob took control of the building.The angry attackers hacked the prison

commander and several guards to death.They were chopping heads off son!!!

The fall of Bastille became a great act of revolution to the French people.

Ever since, July 14 is similar to the Fourth of July in the United States.

The Great FearBefore long, rebellion spread through the entire

country.Rumors spread that nobles were hiring outlaws

to terrorize the peasants.A wave of senseless panic called the Great Fear

rolled through France.Armed with pitchforks and farm tools, they

broke into nobles’ houses and destroyed legal papers that made them pay taxes.

Women join the fightIn October 1789, thousands of women rioted over

the rising cost of bread.They turned their anger on the king and queen.They broke into the palace, killing some guards.The women demanded that Louis and Marie

return to Paris.A few hours later, the king, his family, and

servants left Versailles, never again to see the magnificent palace.