The French Revolution

French Social Structure

95 %of the population: includes the

bourgeoisie (middle class) urban workers, and

peasants

Nobility

Clergy1st Estate

2nd Estate

3rd Estate

Owned 10% of land, collected taxes, paid no taxes

Had the top jobs in government & army, paid no taxes

Did not have access to best gov’t jobs, faced starvation when bread prices rose, many in debt

Voting occurred at the Estates General

1 voteThird Estate

1 voteFirst

Estate

1 voteSecond Estate

Economic troubles caused social unrest

Deficit spendingLouis XIV’s lavish lifestyleSeven Years WarSupporting the American Revolution

* To solve the problem, the government increased taxes

When Necker proposed taxing the First and Second Estates, the nobles and high clergy forced Louis XVI to dismiss him.

• Reduce extravagant court spending

• Reform government

• Abolish tariffs on internal trade

• Tax the First and Second Estates

Louis XVI appointed Jacques Necker as his financial advisor. Necker made recommendations to reduce the debt:

• Fairer taxes!

• Freedom of the press!

• Regular meetings of the Estates-General!

Before the meeting, Louis had all the estates prepare lists their grievances.

The members of the National Assembly took the Tennis Court Oath. They pledged to continue meeting until a constitution

was established.

They were locked out of their meeting hall and moved to a nearby tennis court.

The Third Estate declared themselves to be the National Assembly-- the true representatives of the people.

But when royal troops gathered in Paris, rumors spread that the king planned to dissolve

the National Assembly.

Louis XVI was forced to accept the new body.

Some clergy and nobles joined the Third Estate in the National Assembly.

• A crowd gathered outside the prison to demand weapons they thought were stored there.

• The commander fired on the crowd, killing many. The mob broke through, freeing prisoners but finding no weapons.

• This challenged the existence of the monarchy.

On July 14, 1789, events erupted into revolution with the storming of the Bastille.

The Storming of the Bastille

Bastille Day

Unité, Indivisibilité de la République, Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité ou

la Mort

Unity, indivisibility of the Republic, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity or

Death