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CH 18 – The French Revolution and Napoleon

CH 18 – The French Revolution and Napoleon. CH 18 – Sect. 1, -- The French Revolution Begins Causes: Class system called the Three Estates . 1 st Estate : The clergy, paid no taxes ( taille ), owned 10% of the land. Were divided between wealthy church members and parish priests.

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CH 18 – The French Revolution and Napoleon

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  1. CH 18 – The French Revolution and Napoleon

  2. CH 18 – Sect. 1, -- The French Revolution Begins Causes: Class system called the Three Estates. 1stEstate: The clergy, paid no taxes (taille), owned 10% of the land. Were divided between wealthy church members and parish priests.

  3. 2nd Estate: The nobility, owned 25-30% of the land, exempt from paying taxes, controlled most positions in the gov’t, military, law courts, and higher church offices. -- had a huge influence over the monarchy.

  4. 3rd Estate: Commoners of French society, 90% of the population. Had huge differences in occupation, education, and wealth. • Peasants: Largest group, 75-80% of the population. • --Were still forced to pay fees to the nobility for use of farm equipment. • Artisans and Shopkeepers: Angry about increasing high prices and low wages. • Bourgeoisie: The middle class, consisted of merchants, bankers, industrialists, professionals. • --Angry about the power and privileges of the • nobles. • --Heavily influenced by the Enlightenment.

  5. Taxes

  6. Causes: Financial Crisis • Bad harvests: 1787 and 1788 led to higher food prices and shortages. • --Led to terrible poverty for the peasants. • Wars: Seven Years War +American Revolution was very costly for France. • Monarchy: Spent money on court luxuries and other excessive spending.

  7. Louis XVI was forced to call a meeting of the Estates General (French Parliament) to raise new taxes. • 1st and 2nd Estate always voted together to out vote 3rd Estate. • 3rd Estate wanted the clergy and nobility to pay taxes, wanted a constitutional gov’t. • 3rd Estate then formed the National Assembly and decided to draft a constitution.

  8. The Tennis Court Oath: • Members of the 3rd Estate were locked out of their meeting place. • So they moved to an indoor tennis court. • They would not leave until they had written a French Constitution.

  9. Storming of the Bastille: • Louis XVI prepared to use force against the 3rd Estate but was stopped by the following: • --A mob of Parisians stormed a prison • called the Bastille in Paris, released all • the prisoners, and tore down the prison. • --Royal troops no longer supported the king. • --Riots occurred in French cities.

  10. The Great Fear: • Peasants and French citizens feared foreign invasion to support the monarchy. • Panic spread throughout France (The Great Fear). • Citizens formed militias.

  11. Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. Adopted on Aug. 26, 1789. • Inspired by the English Bill of Rights, and American Declaration of Independence and Constitution. • Declared freedom and equal rights for all men • Access to public office for all men. • Eliminate tax exemptions for 1st and 2nd Estates. • All citizens can vote. • Allowed freedom of press and speech.

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