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The French Revolution Begins

The French Revolution Begins. Economic and social inequalities in the Old Regime help cause the French Revolution. Ch. 7.1. The Old Order . The Old Regime Old Regime —social and political system in France during the 1770s Estates —three social classes of France’s Old Regime

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The French Revolution Begins

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  1. The French RevolutionBegins Economic and social inequalities in the Old Regime help cause the French Revolution. Ch. 7.1

  2. The Old Order The Old Regime • Old Regime—social and political system in France during the 1770s • Estates—three social classes of France’s Old Regime • A VERY unequal society (people were not treated equally) The Privileged Estates First Estate — Catholic clergy—1% of the population but own 10 percent land, pay few taxes Second Estate — rich nobles—2 percent population, own 20 percent land The Third Estate • 97 percent of people • middle class (bourgeoisie) lacked the status of nobles • Peasants (urban workers & farm workers) very poorly paid 80% of the French people • Have few rights, pay heavy taxes, want change while the rich paid hardly any taxes

  3. The Forces of Change Three factors led to Rev. in France. 1) Enlightenment Ideas • Enlightenment ideas inspire some in Third Estate (esp. the powerful members) 2) Economic Troubles • High taxes kept profits low • rising costs (esp. food prices) damage economy by 1780s. Crop failures resulted in severe grain shortages • The government owed money 3) Weak leadership of the monarchy • King Louis XVI andhis wife Marie Antoinetteknown for extravagance • Marie Antoinette was unpopular – from Austria, France’s long time rival • Louis doubles nation’s debt; banks refuse to lend more money • Louis XVI is forced to call a meeting of the Estates-General

  4. Dawn of the Revolution A Weak Leader • Louis’s poor decisions and lack of patience add to France’s problems • He calls Estates-General (May 1789)—meeting of representatives from all three estates • Each Estate got one vote • 3rd Estate wanted each delegate to have a vote • King and other 2 Estates said NO - why? The National Assembly (June 1789) • The Third Estate broke w/ the others and met separately • Delegates of the Third Estate sets up National Assembly—new legislature to make reforms (the beginning of representative govn’t in France) • got locked out of their meeting because they spoke out • Broke into a tennis court - Sieyès persuades them to make major changes in French government • Tennis Court Oath — delegates decide to write new constitution for France

  5. Storming the Bastille • Louis tried to make peace • Encouraged the Nobles and Clergy to join the National Assembly • Rumors fly in Paris that Louis wants to suppress National Assembly and attack French citizens • Mob attacks and seizes Bastille (a Paris prison), killing guards on July 14, 1789 • The mob wanted gun powder to defend Paris & themselves

  6. A Great Fear Sweeps France Rebellion • Rumors and panic spread throughout France • Great Fear— attacks by peasants taking place across France • Peasants destroy legal papers binding them to feudal system (had to pay fees to the nobles) • In October 1789, Parisian women revolt over rising price of bread “The March to Versailles” • They demand action, forcing Louis to return from Versailles to Paris • King and Queen never return to Versailles

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