The French Revolution

1789-1799

This cartoon represents the social order in France before the French Revolution. While a member of the Third Estate is beginning to express anger and rise up, a nobleman representing the Second Estate and a priest, representing the First Estate, recoil in surprise and fear.

The First Estate

Consisted of Clergy membersOwned 10% of landCollected tithesTax-exempt

The Second Estate

Consisted of the titled nobilityHeld top jobs in the govt, army,

church, and courtsOwned 20% of landTax-exemptHad exclusive hunting privileges

The Third EstateMade up 97% of populationPaid about 50% of their income in

taxes• Dues to nobles

•Corvee – unpaid labor to repair roads

• Tithes to the Church

• Taxes to the king

The Third EstateBourgeoisie- Middle ClassJobs included merchants,

bankers, lawyers, doctors and professors (fam. w/ Enlightenment ideas)

Most were educated and well off, but paid very high taxes, lacked privileges.

The Third EstatePeasants and urban workers

made up the restThe smallest rise in food prices

could cause widespread starvation• Prostitution and child abandonment

were commonForbidden to hunt for food

Causes of the French Revolution

1. Resentment of the Third Estate/Social Inequality (Old Regime)

2. Enlightenment Ideas - The Old Regime did not pass the

test of reason. Success of American Revolution key.

Causes of the French Revolution

3. Economic Problems• Deficit spending – L16 and Marie

Antoinette – “Madame Deficit”

• Huge national debt (half of all tax revenue was going toward interest alone.)

• Poor harvests caused the price of bread to double in 1789

Causes of the French Revolution

4. Weak Leadership

- Louis XVI was indecisive

- neglected duties as king

- preferred hunting and tinkering with locks as hobbies

The Estates-General

Had not been called together in 175 yrs – years of absolutism

With France on the verge of bankruptcy, L16 called it together on May 5, 1789 at Versailles

The National Assembly Third Estate wanted voting reform = 1

vote per delegate, instead of 1 vote per estate. Louis XVI and nobles refused.

Declared themselves the National Assembly

The Tennis Court Oath: “vow to never separate” until they had drawn up a new constitution

Storming the Bastille Sensing trouble, Louis XVI stationed

foreign troops around Paris. Fearing that the king was going to try to

stop the new reforms of the National Assembly or order the troops to massacre them, French citizens decide to arm themselves.

Storming the Bastille Bastille- a medieval fortress used to hold

political prisoners A mob of 800 stormed the prison:

• In search of guns and ammunition

• To revolt against a symbol of tyranny The commander and 5 guards were

beheaded; heads paraded through the city. July 14: Bastille Day- independence day

The Revolution SpreadsThe “Great Fear” – rumors caused

panic; peasants set fire to manor records

Aug 4 – nobles voted to end their privileges: gave up feudal dues, hunting rights, and tax exemption

The Old Regime was dead!

Declaration of the Rights of Man• Adopted by the N.A. on Aug. 27

• “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights”

Women’s March on Versailles (Oct 5)

• 6,000 women marched 12 miles in the rain from Paris to Versailles demanding bread. Forced L16 and family to return to Paris.

National Assembly Reforms

Voted to sell church lands to pay off France’s huge debt.

The Church was placed under state control.

Even peasants who wanted change protested this. Why?

This act drove a wedge between the peasants and bourgeoisie.

National Assembly Reforms

Constitution of 1791• Transformed France into a constitutional

monarchy (instead of absolute)

• Gave the new Legislative Assembly the power to make laws, collect taxes, etc…

• King Louis XVI and family tried to escape, but were recognized and forced to return to Paris under house arrest.