1. French Revolution A step towards democracy

2. Regions of France Good Climate, large area, ample rainfall and a wide variety of soils allow France to grow many crops

3. Question: • Tell a partner what you think the major form of transportation was during this time period? Why would this be important in France?

4. Who owns the land? • Much of the land was owned by Aristocrats, royal families and the Catholic Church. • 4 out of 5 farmed for a living and owed most of their produce to a feudal lord

5. Where would you most like to be and why? • Tell a partner (a new one from last time) if you had to be a farmer, which part of France you would most like to farm in and why? This will include the crop you would like to produce.

6. French Society Pyramid

7. The Sun King Was the Source of all light in the nation! Built palace in Versailles and forced nobles to live with him Depended solely on his own judgment and had few ministers. His word was Law! Dragged France into many wars, depleted treasury, persecuted many religious groups, lived extravagantly

8. Question: • What sort of problems do you see Louis XVI running into when he becomes King?

9. Louis in charge • Louis was faced with various problems: • Not interested in governing and left decisions to others • Different laws in different parts of country • Language barriers • Heavy taxes and duties on merchants • Terrible poverty

10. Louis and Marie • Marie Antoinette came from an Austrian family (not popular! Austria was a French enemy) • Marie offended aristocrats with her attitude towards French traditions • She was very extravagant. Why would this bother people?

11. Louis and Marie • Marie was strong willed and opinionated about things she had no experience in…like government! • Chose people without knowing what they would be responsible for. • Urged firing of A. R. Turgot because he wanted to tax nobles

12. Talk to a partner! • Tell a partner one thing you find interesting about King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s relationship

14. Revolution Begins! • Louis got money to spend by taxing lower and middle class (exploitation!). This made France almost bankrupt. • Rioting led to split in the royal court • One side supports King and changes to the economy • Other side supports Marie and more power for nobles • Many demand democracy (Like England)

15. Even more problems • Starvation/Famine – abandoned children • Unemployment – Industrial Revolution • Led to starvation, and violent, unpredictable mobs • Louis allowed critics to be imprisoned or killed and turned to Estates General for solutions

16. Making connections • Tell a partner some similarities you have identified between the start and causes of the French Revolution and the English Civil War.

17. The Estates General – sort of like parliament

18. Problems with the system • Aristocrats and clergy could combine forces to give themselves twice as much power as the 3rd estate • France was bankrupt and put faith in Necker to raise money and end rioting • Louis was ready to give some small responsibilities to the Estates (fixing tax system). But they don’t want this!

19. Catching the Spirit! • Ordinary people had great expectations of delegates. • Third Estate broke from other Estates after little progress made and declared a new government known as National Assembly. • Retreated to Royal Tennis Courts and took the “Tennis Court Oath”

20. Tennis Court Oath Pledge to continue to meet until France had a new form of government. Louis responded with democratic reforms but this was rejected. Forced to order the other two estates to join the National Assembly