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French Revolution. The French Revolution Begins. The Three Estates Who was a part of each estate/what jobs did they have? What percentage of the population was in each estate? How much land did they own? Did they pay taille (taxes)?. Financial problems.
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The French Revolution Begins • The Three Estates • Who was a part of each estate/what jobs did they have? • What percentage of the population was in each estate? • How much land did they own? • Did they pay taille (taxes)?
Financial problems • Bad harvests in 1787 and 1788 led to Food shortage, high prices and unemployment • 1/3 of population was estimated to be poor • Government still spent money on wars (helping Americans against British) and court luxuries • Louis XVI called for a meeting of the Estates- General • Not met since 1614_
Solution to problems? • Estates-General( met in Versailles) • Who was a part of the Estates-General? • How man votes did each Estate have? • What was the problem with this? • What did the Third Estate want? • What did the King say to this?
Solution continued • Tennis Court Oath- swore they would meet until they made a French Constitution • Stormed the Bastille • In response Louis XVI wanting to use force against the Third Estate • Dismantled it brick by brick • Saved the National Assembly
Solution continued • Peasant rebellions took place in cities and countryside (summer 1789) • Militias were formed in fear foreign troops would support the French Monarchy • Aug 4, 1789- National assembly voted to abolish the rights of landlords and financial privileges of nobles and clergy
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen • Inspired by US Declaration of Independence, Constitution and English Bill of Rights • “Liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression” • Enlightenment ideas • Freedom and equal rights for all men • Right to take part of law making • Access to public office based on talent • End exemptions from taxation • Freedom of speech and press
Declaration continued • Olympe de Gouges- wrote Declaration of Rights of Women and the Female Citizen • Did not believe that rights would be spread to women • Louis XVI would not accept the Declaration • Women marched to Versailles and demanded that the king accept the declaration because their children were starving (Oct. 5)
Church Reforms • Church would reform as well because part of old order • Land was seized and sold by the national assembly • Bishops and priests were to be elected and paid by the state • Many Catholics opposed the revolution
New constitution 1791 • Set up limited monarchy • King with legislative assembly to make laws • 745 representatives • Men over 25 who paid a specific amount could vote • New order was opposed • Catholic priests, nobles, lower class hurt by rise of cost of living, radicals that wanted a more drastic solution. • King Louis XVI tried to flee France but was caught • Other countries feared that revolution would spread to their countries • Austria and Prussia wanted to force power back to Louis XVI • Legislative assembly declared war on Austria
Paris Commune • Shortages at home and defeats of war lead to new political demonstrations • Paris Commune- radical political groups • Organized a mob attack on the royal palace and legislative assembly • Took the king captive • Forced assembly to hold a national convention to decide future form of government • Power was now with the Paris Commune • Many called themselves sans-culottes