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On the Eve of Revolution. 3.1 Notes. I. French Society Divided. ancien regime or “old order” French divided into estates Estate-social classes 1 st Estate Clergy, closest to God 2 nd Estate Nobles 3 rd Estate Everyone else 98% of the population. I. French Society Divided cont.
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On the Eve of Revolution 3.1 Notes
I. French Society Divided • ancien regime or “old order” • French divided into estates • Estate-social classes • 1st Estate • Clergy, closest to God • 2nd Estate • Nobles • 3rd Estate • Everyone else • 98% of the population
I. French Society Divided cont. • Bourgeoisie- middle class that included bankers, merchants, lawyers, doctors • Poorest members of 3rd estate were urban or city workers • 1st and 2nd Estates paid almost no taxes
Questions • Describe the social structure in France? • The social structure in France… • Why would the 3rd Estate be upset? • The 3rd Estate was upset because…
II. Financial Trouble • France had economic problems • Deficit spending-spending more money than you take in • High national debt • Nobles and clergy refuse to pay more taxes • Louis XVI (16th) chose Jacques Necker to as a financial expert • Nobles and Clergy had him fired however to prevent him from raising their taxes
Questions • What were two economic problems France had? • Two economic problems France had were…
III. Louis Calls the Estates-General • Estates-General- a legislature where each estate gets one vote • Clergy and Nobles always gang up on 3rd Estate • Each estate prepared a list of complaints in notebooks called cahiers • “bloodsuckers of the nation who drink the tears of the unfortunate from goblets of gold” –3rd Estates cahier, describing the nobles and clergy
Questions • How was the Estates-General unfair? • The Estates-General was unfair because…
IV. Tennis Court Oath • Representatives of the 3rd Estate declared themselves the National Assembly that truly represented France • Locked out of their meeting place they went to a nearby tennis court • Tennis Court Oath-a pledge to never separate till France had a just constitution
V. Parisians Storm the Bastille • Bastille- old medieval prison • Rumors that the King would occupy the city with troops led to an angry mob of French people stormed the Bastille looking for weapons • Fall of the Bastille is a symbol of triumph over medieval times • French celebrate Bastille Day every July 14th