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The Background of the French Revolution

The Background of the French Revolution. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity… -- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities.

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The Background of the French Revolution

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  1. The Background of the French Revolution

  2. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity… -- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities

  3. Europe on the Eve of theFrench Revolution

  4. Ancien Regime Map, 1789

  5. GENERAL PROBLEM I: The Three Estates of Ancien France • 1st: Clergy • Owned 10% of the land • Paid no taxes • Privileged Class • Tithe 2nd Nobility • Considered privileged • Some were not as wealthy as some members of the 3rd estate • 2% of the population controlled 20% of the land • Privileged Class 3rd estate: 3 groups • Bourgeoisie (Middle class, merchants, bankers, artisans) Wealthy but paid very high taxes. • Urban Poor • Peasants 80% of population. ½ of income went to taxes.

  6. Socio-Economic Data, 1789

  7. General Problem II: The French Monarchy:1775 - 1793 Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI

  8. Marie Antoinette and the Royal Children

  9. Marie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”

  10. Marie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”

  11. The Necklace Scandal 1,600,000 livres[$100 million today] • Cardinal Louis René Édouard de Rohan • The Countess de LaMotte

  12. Let Them Eat Cake! • “Madame Deficit”

  13. GENRAL PROBLEM III: Financial Difficulties Bad weather destroyed harvests Financial bankruptcy of the government - Wars of Louis XIV, Versailles, The Seven Years War, The American Revolution=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Where is the tax money?

  14. French Budget, 1774

  15. Financial Problemsin France, 1789 • Urban Commoner’sBudget: • Food 80% • Rent 25% • Tithe 10% • Taxes 35% • Clothing 20% • TOTAL 170% • King’s Budget: • Interest 50% • Army 25% • Versailles 25% • Coronation 10% • Loans 25% • Admin. 25% • TOTAL 160%

  16. The French Urban Poor

  17. GENERAL PROBLEM IV: • THE ENLIGHTENMENT:- New Ideas of equality - New Ideas of Liberty - New Ideas on Government Power - Free Commerce/Trade - Bourgeoisie Interests

  18. GENERAL PROBLEM V: The American Revolution Rochambeau Lafayette

  19. Convening the Estates General May, 1789 Last time it was called into session was 1614!

  20. The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by Estates Clergy 1st Estate 1 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 1 1 Commoners 3rd Estate

  21. The Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head! Clergy 1st Estate 300 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 300 648 Commoners 3rd Estate

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