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Revolution Threatens the French King. Chapter 23 Section 1. I The Old Regime. 1700 France saw the system of feudalism left over from the middle ages Ppl of France still divided into 3 large social classes called Estates. A. the Privileged Estates.
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Revolution Threatens the French King Chapter 23 Section 1
I The Old Regime • 1700 France saw the system of feudalism left over from the middle ages • Ppl of France still divided into 3 large social classes called Estates
A. the Privileged Estates • 2 Estates had privileges (access to higher offices and exemptions from paying taxes) First Estate • Roman Catholic clergy • Owned 10% of land • Edu. And relief for poor
Second Estate • Made up of rich nobles (2% of pop) • Owned 20% of land • FIRST TWO CLASSES SAW ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS AS RADICAL AND A THREAT TO THEIR STATUS & POWER
b. The Third Estate • 98% of pop belonged to Third Estate • 3 groups made up the Third Estate Bourgeoisie • Well educated merchants & artisans who believed strongly in Enlightenment ideals of LIBERTY & EQUALITY • Some were as rich as nobles but paid high taxes & lacked privileges like the other of the Third Estate • Believed their wealth entitles them to greater degree of social status and power
Second Group • Made up of city workers who were poorer than the bourgeoisie • Low wages, frequently unemployed, starvedattack and steal to eat Peasants • Largest group w/in the Third Estate • Paid about half their income in taxes to nobles, church, & king • Joined the urban poor in resentment of clergy and their prove ledges HEAVILY TAXED AND DISCONTENT 3RD Estate WAS READY FOR CHANGE
II Forces for Change • Factors other than resentment began to contribute to the revolutionary mood of France
A. Enlightenment Ideas • Ppl in 3rd Estate begin questioning traditional structure of society • EQUALITY/LIBERTY/DEMOCRACY • inspired by success of the American Rev. • Believed in Popular Sovereignty= the gov’t power resides with the people
B. Economic Woes • Pop and trade was expanding but the high taxes made profitable business w/ France impossible • Bad weatherdestruction of cropsincreased bread pricesstarvation • Louis borrows heavily to help Americans fight rev. against GB • GB was Frances main rival • ALL THESE FACTORS LED TO ECONOMIC INSTABILITY AND DOWNSTURN
C. A Weak Leader • Louis XVI was not strong leader • Paid little attention to governing • Married Maria Antoinette who was member of Austrian royal fam->one of Frances rivals • AKA Madame Deficit because she spent a lot of $$$ • 2nd Estate forces him to call the Estates General to approve his proposed tax increase on the Aristocrats • Estates General= assembly of reps from all 3 estates
III Revolution Dawns • Under Estates-General assemblies medieval rules each estates delegates would meet in separate hall to vote • Each estate had 1 vote • 2 privileged classes could outvote the Third Estate
A. The National Assembly • 3rd Estate was eager for change • Insisted all 3 estates meet together and each delegate get one votewould give advantage to 3rd Estate who had more delegates as the other two estates • King orders them to follow the medieval rules • Abbe Sieyes suggests the 3rd Estate delegates name themselves the National Assembly & pass laws & reforms in name of French ppl • Establish the Nat’l Assembly proclaiming end of absolute monarchy & beg. Of rep. gov’t • Tennis Court Oath= pledge to stay in an indoor tennis court in which they broke into until they create their new constitution
IV a Great Fear Sweeps France • Rebellion spreads from Paris to countryside • Rumors start that nobles were hiring outlaws to attack peasantsthe Great Fear= panic over the outlaw rumors • Group of Parisians protesting over rising bread prices turns into riot • They march and storm Versailles • Royal family leave Versailles signaling the change of power and reform that were abut to take place