Eve of RevolutionWhat was the social structure of the old

regime?

Why did France face economic troubles in 1789?

Why did Louis XVI call the Estates General?

Why did a Paris crowd storm the Bastille?

The Old RegimeThe Old Regime

The BOURGEOISIE and PEASANTS

Peasants were 90% of population

Resented privilege of first and second estates

Burdened by taxes

Many earned miserable wages faced hunger,even starvation

The NOBILITY

Owned land but had little money income

Hated absolutism

Feared losing traditional privilege, especially exemption from taxes

The CLERGY

Enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege

Owned about 10 percent of land, collected tithes, and paid no taxes

Provided some social services

THIRD ESTATESECOND ESTATEFIRST ESTATE

Under the ancien regime, or old order, everyone in France belonged to one of three classes.

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The Three Estates

• A. Financial Troubles– 1. Deficit Spending led to continued economic

problems.• a. Wars had strained the national treasury.• b. Costs rose during 1700s. • c. Bad harvests in 1780s led to soaring food

prices, widespread hunger.• d. Govt. needed to increase taxes, decrease

spending.

• B. Economic Reforms Fail– 1. Louis XVI – weak & indecisive king.

• A. Jacques Necker was his financial advisor.• B. Necker proposed many reforms

– 1. reduce govt. spending– 2. abolish tariffs– 3. tax first & second estates– 4. King forced to dismiss him by 1st & 2nd estates.

• C. Deepening Crisis– 1. Wealthy demanded King to summon the

Estates General.• a. Legislative body/representatives from all three

classes.• b. 1st time called in 175 years.• c. Some nobles hoped for peaceful changes

• D. Estates General called– 1. 1789-France on verge of bankruptcy

• a. Bread riots• b. nobles denounced royal tyranny• c. Louis called estates general

– 1. had estates prepare lists of grievances (cahiers)– 2. Lists contained boiling class resentments.

The Meeting of the Estates General

The Meeting of the Estates General

France’s economic crisis worsened, bread riots spread, and nobles denounced royal tyranny.

Louis XVI summoned the Estates General.

The Third Estate declared themselves to be the National Assembly and invited delegates from the other two estates to help them write a constitution.

After the Tennis Court Oath, reform-minded clergy and nobles joined the Assembly, Louis accepted it.

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Tennis Court OathTennis Court Oath

E. Storming of the Bastille

1. July, 14, 1789, more than 800 Parisians gathered outside the Bastille

2. They demanded weapons believed to be stored there.

3. A battle ensued, many were killed

4. Symbol of the French Revolution

Storming of the BastilleStorming of the Bastille

Which class made up 98 percent of the population of France in 1789?a) the First Estateb) the Second Estatec) the Third Estated) the First and Second estates combined

Which of the following was not a cause of France’s economic troubles?a) deficit spendingb) bad harvestsc) overspending by Louis XIVd) increased wages for peasant workers