On the Eve of Revolution

3.1 Notes

I. French Society Dividedancien regime or “old order”

French divided into estatesEstate-social classes

1st EstateClergy, closest to God

2nd EstateNobles

3rd EstateEveryone else98% of the population

I. French Society Divided cont.Bourgeoisie- middle

class that included bankers, merchants, lawyers, doctors

Poorest members of 3rd estate were urban or city workers

1st and 2nd Estates paid almost no taxes

QuestionsDescribe the social

structure in France?The social structure in

France…Why would the 3rd

Estate be upset?The 3rd Estate was upset

because…

II. Financial TroubleFrance had economic problems

Deficit spending-spending more money than you take in

High national debtNobles and clergy refuse to pay more

taxesLouis XVI (16th) chose Jacques

Necker to as a financial expertNobles and Clergy had him fired

however to prevent him from raising their taxes

QuestionsWhat were two economic problems France had?

Two economic problems France had were…

III. Louis Calls the Estates-GeneralEstates-General- a legislature where each estate

gets one voteClergy and Nobles always gang up on 3rd EstateEach estate prepared a list of complaints in

notebooks called cahiers“bloodsuckers of the nation who drink the tears of the

unfortunate from goblets of gold” –3rd Estates cahier, describing the nobles and clergy

QuestionsHow was the Estates-General unfair?

The Estates-General was unfair because…

IV. Tennis Court OathRepresentatives of the 3rd

Estate declared themselves the National Assembly that truly represented France

Locked out of their meeting place they went to a nearby tennis court

Tennis Court Oath-a pledge to never separate till France had a just constitution

V. Parisians Storm the BastilleBastille- old medieval prisonRumors that the King would

occupy the city with truth led to an angry mob of French people stormed the Bastille looking for weapons

Fall of the Bastille is a symbol of triumph over medieval times

French celebrate Bastille Day every July 14th