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The French Revolution

The French Revolution. Old Regime. Social and political system in France Existed until the late 1770s 3 social classes called Estates. First Estate. Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church Exempt from paying taxes Owned 10% of the land Made up only 1% of the population of France.

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The French Revolution

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  1. The French Revolution

  2. Old Regime • Social and political system in France • Existed until the late 1770s • 3 social classes called Estates

  3. First Estate • Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church • Exempt from paying taxes • Owned 10% of the land • Made up only 1% of the population of France

  4. Second Estate • Nobility • Owned 20% of the land • Paid little in taxes • Made up 2% of the population of France

  5. Third Estate • 97% of the population of France • Supported Enlightenment ideas • Paid high taxes • Lacked privileges • Resented upper classes for their wealth, privileges & special treatment • They wanted change!

  6. Third Estate: Groups Three groups: • Bourgeoisie (middle class) • Well-educated, sometimes wealthy • Urban working class • Poorest • Often unemployed • Peasant farmers • Made up 80% of population • Paid 50% of income in dues, tithes and taxes

  7. Assignment: • Textbook Page 218 • Answer the Skillbuilder Questions #1 and 2 on a scrap sheet of paper. • Be prepared to discuss or answer when called upon.

  8. Causes of Unhappiness: • Enlightenment Ideas: • Equality • Natural rights • Relationship between citizens and government • Economic problems in France: • Rising taxes • High cost of living • Starvation (crop failures)

  9. Causes of Unhappiness: • Government Debt: • Spending habits of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette • Weak Leadership • Indecisive • Avoided issues • Unpopular Queen • From Austria • Spent $- purchases and gambling

  10. Estates- General • An assembly of representatives from all three Estates • Met to approve a new tax to raise money • Met May 5, 1789 at Versailles

  11. Estates-General • Discussion among Estates about whether to follow medieval rules of governance or create new ones • Medieval Rules: clergy and nobles met separately and had more votes • Bourgeoisie wanted all Estates to meet together and have equal voting power • Bourgeoise was empowered by the Enlightenment and wanted to be the voice of the people

  12. National Assembly • Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes- suggested the Third Estate delegates rename themselves the National Assembly. • Reform the government • Be the voice of the people • June 17, 1789 • Voted to establish a representative democracy • Beginning of a revolution

  13. Tennis Court Oath • Members of the Third Estate were locked out of meeting rooms • Broke into an indoor tennis court • Vowed to remain until having written a new constitution • Some members of nobility and clergy joined their cause

  14. Storming of the Bastille • July 14, 1789 • Citizens of Paris entered the Bastille in search of weapons • Believed they needed to arm themselves against a coming army • A mob took control of the prison, killed several guards and carried their heads around Paris on pikes. • Bastille Day is still celebrated today- symbol of the revolution.

  15. Rebellion spreads • The rebellion spread into the French countryside • Nobility and peasants fought each other for power • Parisians demanded lower prices on staples, such as bread • Others stormed into Versailles, demanding the monarchs return to Paris.

  16. Assignment: Poster • Conditions of France in the 1780s • Conflicts between the Estates • Formation of the National Assembly • Tennis Court Oath • Storming of the Bastille • Fighting in the countryside • Draw pictures of each event on the list • Write a caption describing each event • You will present your poster to the class • 4 people per group • In color

  17. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen • “men are born and remain free and equal in rights” • Rights include, “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” • Guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech and freedom of religion • Which Enlightenment philosopher’s influenced this document?

  18. Maximilien Robespierre • Wanted to reform French society by erasing all traces of the past • Became a dictator • Instituted the Reign of Terror

  19. Reign of Terror • July 1793-1794 • Goal: protect the revolution from it’s “enemies” • Use the guillotine to execute people • 16,000-40,000 beheaded • Ended when Robespierre was executed

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