The French RevolutionThe French Revolution1789-17991789-1799

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

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France in the 1700s

France was ruled by what is called, an authoritarian government.

This means that political authority is concentrated in a small group of people.

The First EstateThe First Estate The First EstateThe First Estate The Clergy The Clergy

(Church leaders)(Church leaders) 1% of population1% of population

– There were very wealthy There were very wealthy abbots, members of the abbots, members of the aristocracy who lived in luxury aristocracy who lived in luxury off of wealthy church landsoff of wealthy church lands

– There were poor parish There were poor parish priests, who lived much like priests, who lived much like the peasantsthe peasants

The Second EstateThe Second Estate The Second Estate The Second Estate The The

Nobles Nobles 2% of population 2% of population Inherited their titles and Inherited their titles and

got their wealth from the got their wealth from the landland– Some members of the Some members of the

nobility had little money, nobility had little money, but had all the privileges but had all the privileges of noble rankof noble rank

– Most enjoyed both Most enjoyed both privileges and wealthprivileges and wealth

The NobilityThe NobilityWith the With the exception of a exception of a few liberals, few liberals, the nobility the nobility wanted greater wanted greater political political influence for influence for themselves but themselves but nothing for the nothing for the Third Estate.Third Estate.  

The Third EstateThe Third Estate The Third Estate The Third Estate Common Common

People.People. The largest group in France- The largest group in France-

97% of population 97% of population (25,000,000) (25,000,000)

Everyone who was not a Everyone who was not a member of the first or second member of the first or second estates was a member of the estates was a member of the thirdthird

It included:It included:– Merchants, some whose Merchants, some whose

wealth was similar to the wealth was similar to the nobilitynobility

– Doctors and lawyersDoctors and lawyers– ShopkeepersShopkeepers– The urban poorThe urban poor– The peasants who worked the The peasants who worked the

landland

What does this contemporary political cartoon say about conditions in France under the Old Regime?

The Tennis Court OathThe Tennis Court Oath

The National Assembly swore an oath of The National Assembly swore an oath of allegiance not to disband until a constitution had allegiance not to disband until a constitution had been created for France been created for France 

The delegates agreed and all but one of the 578 The delegates agreed and all but one of the 578 delegates signed itdelegates signed it– Their oath is known as the Their oath is known as the Tennis Court OathTennis Court Oath  – It said: It said: "The National Assembly, considering that it has "The National Assembly, considering that it has

been summoned to establish the constitution of the been summoned to establish the constitution of the kingdom... decrees that all members of this assembly kingdom... decrees that all members of this assembly shall immediately take a solemn oath not to separate... shall immediately take a solemn oath not to separate... until the constitution of the kingdom is established on until the constitution of the kingdom is established on firm foundations..."firm foundations..."    June 20, 1789June 20, 1789

““Let us swear to Let us swear to God and our God and our country that we will country that we will not disperse until not disperse until we have established we have established a sound and just a sound and just constitution, as constitution, as instructed by those instructed by those who nominated us.”who nominated us.”

-M. Mounier -M. Mounier

Tennis Court OathTennis Court Oath

Revolution Spreads to Common Revolution Spreads to Common PeoplePeople

The Revolution was set in motion by the The Revolution was set in motion by the bourgeoisie (merchants/middle class), and now bourgeoisie (merchants/middle class), and now spread to the common people!!spread to the common people!!

Mobs Search for WeaponsMobs Search for Weapons

Mobs roamed in search of weapons Mobs roamed in search of weapons – Although some muskets were found when they Although some muskets were found when they

broke into a public hospital for wounded broke into a public hospital for wounded soldiers, there was no ammunitionsoldiers, there was no ammunition

– The ammunition was stored in the BastilleThe ammunition was stored in the Bastille

The Bastille as a medieval fortress

The Storming of the BastilleThe Storming of the Bastille On July 14, 1789, the On July 14, 1789, the

mob, joined by some of mob, joined by some of the King's soldiers, the King's soldiers, stormed the Bastillestormed the Bastille

The commander of the The commander of the Bastille, de Launay, Bastille, de Launay, attempted to surrender, attempted to surrender, but the mob would not but the mob would not accept it accept it – He was killed as they He was killed as they

poured through the poured through the gates gates

– No guard was left alive No guard was left alive

The Great FearThe Great Fear Riots in the countryside Riots in the countryside

Peasants burned their Peasants burned their nobles' castles and nobles' castles and destroyed documents which destroyed documents which contained their feudal contained their feudal obligation (rent/taxes)obligation (rent/taxes)

It was called It was called "The Great "The Great Fear" Fear"