The Estates GeneralThe Estates General

BackgroundBackground

By 1787, France’s economy is in By 1787, France’s economy is in ruins for several reasonsruins for several reasonsLavish spending by Louis XVI and Marie Lavish spending by Louis XVI and Marie

AntoinetteAntoinettePoor taxing policiesPoor taxing policiesSeven Years War (1756-1763) and the Seven Years War (1756-1763) and the

American Revolution (1775-1783)American Revolution (1775-1783)

King Louis XVI promises to call King Louis XVI promises to call together the Estates General, which together the Estates General, which had not met since 1614had not met since 1614

Hopefully this will solve France’s Hopefully this will solve France’s problemsproblems

The Estates General is scheduled to The Estates General is scheduled to meet on May 5meet on May 5thth, 1789 at Versailles, 1789 at Versailles

Louis XVI, king ofLouis XVI, king of

FranceFrance

What Was the Estates What Was the Estates General?General?

This was a legislative assembly for This was a legislative assembly for the different French classes the different French classes (Congress)(Congress)

The Estates General was made up of The Estates General was made up of three classesthree classesClergy-1Clergy-1stst Estate EstateNobility-2Nobility-2ndnd Estate EstateBourgeoisie (peasants)-3Bourgeoisie (peasants)-3rdrd Estate Estate

ClergyClergy

By 1789, the 1By 1789, the 1stst Estate (Clergy) was Estate (Clergy) was made up of 100,000 peoplemade up of 100,000 people

Owned 5-10% of the landOwned 5-10% of the landAll property was tax-exemptAll property was tax-exempt

ClergyClergy

NobilityNobility

The 2The 2ndnd Estate (Nobility) was made Estate (Nobility) was made up of 400,000 peopleup of 400,000 people

Enjoyed the better government jobsEnjoyed the better government jobsWas also tax-exemptWas also tax-exempt

NobilityNobility

BourgeoisieBourgeoisie

The 3The 3rdrd Estate (Bourgeoisie, peasants) Estate (Bourgeoisie, peasants) was made up of 25 million peoplewas made up of 25 million people

The 3The 3rdrd Estate paid all of the taxes Estate paid all of the taxesThis means the burden fell on This means the burden fell on

France’s poorest France’s poorest Each Estate had one voteEach Estate had one voteThe 1The 1stst and 2 and 2ndnd Estates usually voted Estates usually voted

togethertogether

The 3The 3rdrd Estate had to sit by Estate had to sit by themselves at the Estates Generalthemselves at the Estates General

They had to wear black robesThey had to wear black robesHad to enter the Estates General Had to enter the Estates General

through a side doorthrough a side doorThe 3The 3rdrd Estate (98% of France) is Estate (98% of France) is

getting fed up…getting fed up…

2008-2009 Academics Mid-2008-2009 Academics Mid-TermTerm1-25 Geography (there will be a map)1-25 Geography (there will be a map)

26-40 Countries and capitals (no map)26-40 Countries and capitals (no map)

41-55 Middle Ages (matching)41-55 Middle Ages (matching)

56-62 Roman Numerals56-62 Roman Numerals

63-71 Middle Ages63-71 Middle Ages

72-96 Renaissance72-96 Renaissance

97-121 Absolute Monarchs97-121 Absolute Monarchs

122-144 Reformation122-144 Reformation

145-180 French Revolution145-180 French Revolution

There will also be an essayThere will also be an essay

2008-2009 Honors Mid-Term2008-2009 Honors Mid-Term1-25 Geography (there will be a map)1-25 Geography (there will be a map)

26-40 Countries and capitals (no map)26-40 Countries and capitals (no map)

41-55 Middle Ages (matching)41-55 Middle Ages (matching)

56-62 Roman Numerals56-62 Roman Numerals

63-71 Middle Ages63-71 Middle Ages

72-96 Renaissance72-96 Renaissance

97-121 Absolute Monarchs97-121 Absolute Monarchs

122-144 Reformation122-144 Reformation

145-180 French Revolution145-180 French Revolution

181-200 Scientific Revolution/Enlightenment181-200 Scientific Revolution/Enlightenment

There will also be an essay There will also be an essay

Perform a Skit (10 points)Perform a Skit (10 points) In groups of three, perform a skit In groups of three, perform a skit

about today’s material so about today’s material so everyone is everyone is involvedinvolved

Some ideas include the following:Some ideas include the following:A meeting between Louis XVI and his A meeting between Louis XVI and his

advisors to discuss the economy crisisadvisors to discuss the economy crisisThe clergy and nobility ganging up on 3The clergy and nobility ganging up on 3rdrd

Estate (NO violence!)Estate (NO violence!)Re-enact voting in the Estates GeneralRe-enact voting in the Estates GeneralPretend you are a 3Pretend you are a 3rdrd Estate family. What Estate family. What

might you complain about?might you complain about?33rdrd Estate complaining about treatment at Estate complaining about treatment at

the Estates Generalthe Estates General