The French Revolution Twyla Black Ed639 Age of Revolution Unit First lesson Ninth Grade Social Studies Class

The French Revolution

Twyla Black

Ed639

Age of Revolution UnitFirst lessonNinth Grade Social Studies Class

Materials

• Computer

• LCD Unit

• Worksheets

Rationale

The French Revolution destroyed the entire structure of royal absolutism and ended the social order based on aristocratic privilege. It set the stage for democratic movements around the world during the next century.

Objectives

Explain how France’s class structure contributed to the French Revolution.

List the political reforms the National Assembly adopted for France.

Student Activities

Fill in worksheet as we go through lesson.

Participate in group activity about how France’s social divisions

contributed to the French Revolution.

Causes of the French

Revolution


Revolution

Population Divided

First Estate


Revolution

Population Divided

The First Estate was made up of Roman Catholic clergy. There were two levels in The

First Estate, the higher clergy and lower clergy. They made up about 1% of the population.

The higher clergy owned about 5 to 10% of the land and earned a great deal of money from

the taxes of those who worked the land.

This money helped fund schools and a aid the poor. It also paid for the grand lifestyles of the

higher clergy.

The lower clergy was made up of parish priest who were poor. They had more in common

with The Third Estate. They carried on religious duties and ran the school. They resent the higher clergy for their lavish

lifestyles.

First Estate

Second Estate


Revolution

Population Divided

The Second Estate consisted of the nobility. They owned about 25% of the land in

France and earned money through rent from the peasants who worked the land.

They enjoyed many privileges and lived a lavish lifestyle. Some lived in the palace at

Versailles and some lived in extravagant homes on the land they owned.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate


Revolution

Population Divided

The Third Estate was comprised of peasants, artisans and the bourgeoisie. This was the

largest social group but the one with the least political power.

The professionals (doctors, lawyers and merchants) of the bourgeoisie lived in the cities and towns. They were educated people and had

read Enlightenment works. They believed in freedom and social justice.

The remainder of The Third Estate was made up of peasants and artisans. Some of the artisans were able to live in cities even though they had meager means. The peasants typically lived in

rural areas. They owned some land but they also had a

great deal of taxes to pay to The First & Second Estates. They worked hard but had no voice in

the government.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate

Weak Absolute Monarchy


Revolution

Population Divided

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate


Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


Revolution

Population Divided

The young king, Louis the XVI married a 14y/o princess from Austria. Her name was Marie

Antoinette. She had a great deal of influence over the king.

She was not received well by the French people. It was expected that an heir would be produced quickly but one was not. This was

upsetting to the population. She was accused by the population of being sexually immoral.

This created a great deal of discord and discomfort for the royal couple.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate


Influenced byMarie

Antoinette

Incapable of strong decisive

decisions


Revolution

Population Divided

When Louis XVI took the throne he was very young. The country was in terrible financial condition. His grandfather and father had

poor fiscal policies and had created a financial crisis. Young Louis was only 19 y/o

and had poor examples to follow.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate


Preferred Personal Pursuits

Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution

Population Divided

Due to a physical condition, Louis was unable to consummate his marriage to Marie. This

caused the young King a great deal of embarrassment. He chose to pursue activities away from home. This opened the couple up

to a great deal of speculation.

Since he wasn’t home, he wasn’t able to address the issues of the financial crisis and

the discord of the population.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution

Govt. had Large Debt

Population Divided

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution


Overly Ambitious Wars

Population Divided

Since the reign of Louis XIV, France had been involved in many squirmishes with its

neighbors. Other European countries were afraid of the consequences should Louis XIV

dreams of expansion be realized. They banded together against France.

The War of Spanish Succession, in the early 1700’s, drained the French treasury, increased poverty of France, and created opposition to

the royalty rules.

Louis the XVI was faced will aftermath of this situation.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution



Extravagant spending by Court

Population Divided

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform

Population Divided

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform

Nobles Against Tax Changes

Population Divided

After much consideration Louis XVI decided the country was in such dire financial

straights that there was no choice but to tax the First and Second Estates. The members

of these groups refused to comply.

The Estates-General, with representatives of each of the Estates, met to discuss the

concerns of the land. It was the hope of the First and Second Estates that they could

strengthen their stake in the government and protect their pampered position in the social

stratification.

The Third Estate had other ideas.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &

Bourgeoisie Heavily Taxed

Population Divided

The peasants, artisans and bourgeois supported the First and Second Estates through their tithes

to the clergy, feudal dues, fines to the nobles and taxes to the king. The First and Second

Estates had no financial responsibilities to the country.

Even though The Third Estate provided the most financial support they had virtually no power in

the government.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &


Revolutionary Ideas

Population Divided

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &


Revolutionary Ideas

No Taxationw/o

Representation

Population Divided

Louis XVI had supported the efforts of the American Colonist in their bid for freedom

from England. One of the primary demands by the Colonist was “no taxation without representation.” The citizens of France,

initially only the Third Estates, created the National Assembly. Representatives of The

First and Second Estates join at the direction of the King. He was concerned about only members of the Third Estate writing a new

constitution

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &


Revolutionary Ideas

Take up arms against

Tyranny

No Taxationw/o

Representation

Population Divided

The First and Second Estates fought to continue with the current social order. The Third Estate fought for social equality. The

debates took to the streets.

The King was becoming increasingly ridden with anxiety about the turmoil of his citizens.

He called in the military for support.

Many of The French people became increasing agitated. They saw the prison, The Bastille, as representative of the tyrannical government. They attacked The Bastille on July 14, 1789. It

is now know as Bastille Day. Which is equivalent to our Independence Day.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &


Revolutionary Ideas


Tyranny

Republic Superior to Monarchy

No Taxationw/o

Representation

Population Divided

The French citizenry were also impressed by the American Colonies governmental

style of a democratic republic. This change sealed King Louis XVI’s fate.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &


Revolutionary Ideas


Tyranny


No Taxationw/o

Representation

Age ofEnlightenment

Population Divided

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &


Revolutionary Ideas


Tyranny


No Taxationw/o

Representation

Age ofEnlightenment

Appeal to Bourgeoisie Grievances

Population Divided

The Declaration of the Rights of Man took many of its ideas from the Enlightenment writers such as Locke and Rousseau. They write that all men are created equal and are equal before the law.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &


Revolutionary Ideas


Tyranny


No Taxationw/o

Representation

Age ofEnlightenment

Society can Flourish with

Free Economy


Population Divided

The artisans and people working the land as well as, the bourgeoisie were confident that

an open free economy could only be of benefit to the country.

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate



Influenced byMarie

Antoinette


decisions


Revolution




Need Tax Reform


Peasants &


Revolutionary Ideas


Tyranny


No Taxationw/o

Representation

Age ofEnlightenment

Challenge Absolute Rule

Society can Flourish with

Free Economy


Population Divided

An absolute monarchy had been in place for years. This system was not working for the majority of the population. Even

as the absolute leader, Louis XVI supported the efforts of the American

Colonist in their demand for a democratic republic. His citizens wanted to follow suit and demanded a drastic change in

France’s political system.

www.swil.ocdsb.edu.on.ca/FreRev/mission.htmlwww.historywiz.com/frenchrev.htmwww.hightower.com/bastil.htmwww.woodberry.org/acad/hist/FRWEB/timeline/timeline.htmwww.freespeech.org/republicansf/1798.htm

Resources for further exploration on the French Revolution on the Internet.

Documents

The French Revolution Twyla Black Ed639 Age of Revolution Unit First lesson Ninth Grade Social Studies Class