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Causes of the French Revolution

Causes of the French Revolution. Essential Questions for the French Revolution. 1. What were the political causes? 2. What were the economic causes? 3. What were the social causes ?. The Enlightenment. Liberty Equality Individual rights Tolerance Freedom of Speech

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Causes of the French Revolution

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  1. Causes of theFrench Revolution

  2. Essential Questionsfor the French Revolution 1. What were the political causes? 2. What were the economic causes? 3. What were the social causes ?

  3. The Enlightenment • Liberty • Equality • Individual rights • Tolerance • Freedom of Speech • Against absolutist monarchy • Equal Taxation Could these ideas lead to revolution?

  4. The American Revolution (1776-83) • -Fight for independence from Britain • -Seen as a revolution based on equal rights for all Revolutionaries like Benjamin Franklin were in Paris and were in contact with intellectuals • France assisted the Americans in the revolution. The French soldiers were influenced by the ideas of the revolution(Rights, Equality, Liberty)

  5. The order of French societybefore theRevolutionSeen as a system of tyrannyand oppression Ancien Regime (Old Order)

  6. King Louis XVI • Monarch from 1774-1789 • Was only 20 when he gained title of King of France • Financially mismanaged France • He tried several reforms with no luck

  7. Queen Marie Antoinette • Wife of Louis XVI • Born in Austria and came to France as a teenager. • More concerned with the luxury and fashion than the well-being of her country.

  8. Ancien Regime God The King 1stEstate -clergy 2ndEstate -nobility 3rdEstate -commons (everyone else)

  9. Together: The Estates-General First Estate -Clergy (priests/ ministers) -Did not have to pay taxes - 0.5% of France’s population Second Estate -Nobility (landowners) -Did not have to pay taxes -1.5% of France’s population Third Estate -Mostly poor peasants -merchants and professionals called Bourgeoisie -Had to pay all the taxes -98% of the population

  10. The Estates-General • All laws and decisions were made by the monarch. • However, in times of crisis, the monarch could call a meeting Estates-General to decide on the direction of the country • The Estates-General would have equal representation of each estate. • Therefore, it could be easy for the 1st and 2nd Estates to outvote the 3rd Estate 2 to 1

  11. The Estates-General Does this seem fair?

  12. Problems Facing France and Its People in the Late 18thcentury

  13. Wars • 1701-1714 War of Spanish Succession • War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748 • Seven Year’s War 1756-1763 • American Revolution 1776-1783 International wars proved to be disastrous for France. They cost enormous sums to fight, and resulted in the loss of valuable colonies in North America (Today: Canada)

  14. Economic & Social Crisis • Debt and tax was arguably the largest cause of the French Revolution • Wars and extravagant building caused increased debt and taxes for the third estate • Famine (failed crops) and food shortages and had also hit France in 1788 and 1789, and the price of bread nearly doubled. As the main source of food for French citizens, this was a crushing development and led to starvation and chaos • Louis XVI’s state on the verge of bankruptcy

  15. “Sire, the state is in peril” -Louis XVI’s brother to the king in 1788 -France is starving and almost bankrupt . -1789 - Louis XVI allows all three estates to share their problems in books called Cahiers de Doléances -In the hope for reform, Louis XIV calls a meeting of the Estates-General at Versailles for the first time in 175 years. Representatives from each estate come together in May, 1789 to decide the future of the country…

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