obj: to understand the desire for reform in 18 th century france focus: read setting the scene pg...
TRANSCRIPT
Obj: To understand the desire for reform in 18th century France
Focus: Read Setting the Scene pg 468 and look at chart on pg 469. Make at least 5 generalizations
about the social structure of France at the Start of the
Revolution.
On the Eve of Revolution
Chapter 19Section 1
The Old Regime
France still used the old social classesFirst Estate
Second EstateThird Estate
The First Estate
The ClergyVery
wealthy(no taxes)
Owned 10% of the land
Provided social services
The Second Estate
The NoblesLavish lifestyle
Didn’t have to pay taxes
The Third Estate
98% of the French population
10% - Bourgeoisie (bankers, merchants &
manufacturers)90% - peasants
(farmers, urban workers)
Discontent
Members of the Third Estate were jealous of the 1st and 2nd Estates
Urban workers were the poorest
Discontent
Peasants had to pay taxes on EVERYTHING
Price of food went up & many were faced with
starvation
Discontent
Peasants began to question the unfairness
of the system
Economic Troubles
Problem:Deficit Spending – the government spends more money than they make
The Burden of Debt
Solution:Create new taxes for the peasants
ORHave the nobles pay
taxes
Poor Harvests
Bad harvests sent food prices higher
No money + No food = Angry Peasants
Poor HarvestsPeasants attacked
the nobles & rioted for
more food and
better prices
Failure of Reform
The rulers after Louis XIV could not solve the economic problems
Failure of Reform
Louis XVI hired
Jacques Necker
to solve the financial problems
Failure of Reform
Necker’s Suggestions:Stop spending so much
moneyHave the nobles pay taxes
Nobles’ Reactions:Fire him! We’re not paying!
Failure of Reform
When:May 1789
What:The
Estates General
Failure of ReformWho: The Leaders of each
of the EstatesWhy: To help solve the
financial problems of France, and to bring the absolute monarch under the control of the nobles
The Cahiers
Before the meeting, Louis had all the estates
prepare notebooks called cahiers to list all
of the problems and concerns of each estate
The Tennis Court Oath
Problem:The delegates could not
decide how to voteSolution:
A new group was formed called the National
Assembly
The Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly was made up of members of the Third Estate.
Finally some nobles and clergy joined as well.
King Louis XVI realized he had to accept this group
The Tennis Court Oath
When the National
Assembly found their meeting hall locked,
they had their meeting in an indoor tennis
court
The Tennis Court Oath
At the tennis court, they promised to work
together until they could agree to a new
constitution that would benefit the people of
France
The Tennis Court Oath
Although the king agreed to the National
Assembly, there were rumors spreading that
he was going to break it apart
Storming the Bastille
The Bastille
Prison for political
prisoners
Storming the Bastille
When: July 14, 1789
Why: People thought there were
weapons and gunpowder there
Storming the Bastille
What Happened1.They crashed through the
gates2.Killed five guards3.Killed the commander4.Released some prisoners5.Never found any weapons
This is the beginning of the
French Revolution
And Finally…
• Create a chart that identifies the causes of the French Revolution…