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The French Revolution Begins

The French Revolution Begins. Background to the Revolution. France’s Three Estates First Estate Clergy Owned 10% of the land Did not have to pay taille or taxes Second Estate Nobility Owned 25 to 30 % of the land Did not have to pay taille Third Estate Everyone Else

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The French Revolution Begins

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  1. The French Revolution Begins

  2. Background to the Revolution • France’s Three Estates • First Estate • Clergy • Owned 10% of the land • Did not have to pay taille or taxes • Second Estate • Nobility • Owned 25 to 30 % of the land • Did not have to pay taille • Third Estate • Everyone Else • Owned 35 to 40% of the land • Divided based on occupations . . .

  3. Background to the Revolution • France’s Three Estates • Third Estate • Peasants made up the largest amount of the Third Estate • Pay a fee to grind his flour or press grapes • Had to work a certain number of days harvesting the noble’s crop • Bourgeoisie • Lawyers, doctors and writers • Agreed with the nobles that something had to be done with Louis XVI

  4. Background to the Revolution • Financial Crisis • Immediate Cause of the revolution: Near collapse of the French budget • Bad harvests, slowdown in manufacturing, rising food prices, unemployment • King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette continued to spend money on wars and court luxuries • People of France were getting angry

  5. From Estate-General to National Assembly • Tennis Court Oath • King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates • Third estate wanted to set up a constitutional government that would make everyone pay taxes • Also wanted the votes to be fair – each deputy (representative) would have one vote – king said NO!!!! • Third Estates declared they were to be a National Assembly and would draft a constitution • Found the doors locked so they went to an indoor tennis court • Swore an oath that they would meet until a constitution was made

  6. From Estate-General to National Assembly • July 1789 about 900 Parisians gathered in the courtyard of the Bastille (prison) • Price of bread was too high and it was rumored that the King was coming and they had munitions • The people attacked the Bastille and many of the French Guard joined in the attack • The prison guard surrendered and the rebels cut off the warden’s head and took apart the prison brick by brick • Louis XVI’s power was dwindling and people began panicking – Great Fear

  7. End of the Old Regime • Declaration of the Rights of Man • Inspired by the American Declaration of Independence • Proclaimed that: • All men were free and equal before the law • Appointment to public office should be based on talent • Freedom of Speech and press

  8. End of the Old Regime • The King Concedes • Louis XVI refused to accept the new ideas • Thousands of women marched to Versailles armed with broomsticks, lances, pitchforks, swords, pistols and muskets • Met with the King and told him that their children had no bread and he had better accept these changes or he was dead • The King and his family returned to Paris and brought wagonloads of flour • The King and his family were taken prisoner in Paris

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