Global History—Wednesday July 29, 2009

Unit #2: The French Revolution

Topic: Creating a Revolution

Aim Question: Why did France experience revolution in 1789?

Objective: Identify the causes of the French Revolution. Analyze French society and poor government action.

Agenda:1. Attendance2. Announcements: 3. Lecture: French Revolution—Causes!4. reading

DO NOW~Make observations and Inferences~

Why would a revolution occur?

French Revolution(Causes)

Gap between Estates& responsibilities

Poor leadership Economic ProblemsEnlightenment Ideas

Poor Leadership:~King Louis XV & XIV of France~

THE GRANDSONLOUIS XVI

The grandpa:Louis XV

“Sun King”

King Louis XIV

• Short & Fat• Married his wife at

fifteen years old.• Little interest in

being King.• If left to him, he

would just go hunting everyday.

Maria Antoinette(QUEEN)

Maria Antoinette

• Played cards and gambled (one year she lost the equivalent to $1.5 million!)

• Threw extravagant parties

• Was known for her fashion

• Called, “Madam Deficit.”

The home of the King & the Queen

~Versailles~

The backyard of Versailles

The front of Versailles

Second Cause: Gaps Between Estate

The Old Regime or Ancien Régime

What do you see in this image?

*The Three Estates*

First Estate:• King & Queen• Catholic Clergy• Disagreed with Enlightenment Ideas

Second Estate:• Rich Nobles• Held Highest Office in government • Disagreed with Enlightenment Ideas

Third Estate:• Bourgeoisie (well educated), Urban lower class, rural poor

(peasant farmers)• No power in government • Favored Enlightenment ideas

French Society in the Ancien Régime What dos this graph tell you about society?

0102030405060708090

100

First Estate Second Estate Third Estate

Percent ofTotalPopulation

Percent oftotal LandOwned

Percent ofIncomeTaxed

Third Cause: Economic Problems• Louis XV and his

grandson spend France’s money!!!– Build Versailles – Funded American

Revolution– In deep debt from

failed 7 Years War against Britain

– No national budget for King to follow

France loses Seven Year War

France loses more $$$ helping King to build himself new home!

FORTH CUASE: Enlightenment Ideas