LESSON 1A CALL TO REVOLUTION

World History - The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars

Mr. Wang’s History Class

Do you hear the people sing? - Les Miserables Something to help us get in the mood of the French Revolution!

Content Standards10.2 - Students compare and contrast the Glorious Revolution of England, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution and their enduring effects worldwide on the political expectations for self-government and individual liberty.• 10.2.4 – Explain how the ideology of the French Revolution led France to develop

from constitutional monarchy to democratic despotism to the Napoleonic empire.

Big Idea: Human Rights• What are essential human rights that everybody should have?• Essential and Universal Rights of Humanity: Understanding the

process of attaining rights for all humanity allows us to better empathize with current battles for equality and fairness.

Big Idea: Revolutions• What are the causes of civil unrest and revolutions?• Nature of Revolutions: Exploring the different causes of civil unrest

(i.e. social, economic, ideological) provides us with knowledge on how to identify early symptoms of revolutions and the tools to remedy them.

Lesson Objectives• Students examine the societal structure of France by comparing

and contrasting the characteristics of the First, Second, and Third Estates.• Students analyze how the social inequality within the Three

Estates contributed to the French Revolution.

Warm-up: Why Revolt?Think-Write-Pair-Share 1. What’s happening in the picture? 2. What are the people holding?3. What could make people angry enough to do

that?4. Why do people revolt? List and draw 3

reasons.

*Hint: Think back on our study of the American Revolution.*

Background: False Appearances

France was considered the most advanced European in the 1700s:1. Center of the Enlightenment

2. Large population

3. Thriving foreign trade

4. French culture and fashion were praised and emulated globally

Background: False Appearances

However… France was plagued by:1. High prices of food

2. High taxes on the poor

3. General unrest due to revolutionary Enlightenment ideas

Why did the French Revolution Begin?

1. Ideological: Ideas of the Enlightenment, Influences of the American Revolution

2. Social: Social Inequality within the Three Estates3. Economic: Debts, Unfair Taxation, High Prices of Bread4. Political: Weak Leadership

Causes for Revolution: SOCIAL

Problems of the Old RegimeWhat is the Old Regime?1. The political and social system that existed in France before the

French Revolution.2. It shared key characteristics with feudalism3. Under this form of government, the people of France were divided

into three large social classes known as the Three Estates.

The Three EstatesThe Three Estates make up the structure of the French society• First Estate (Clergy) and Second

Estate (Nobility) have privileges: can hold high offices and are exempt from paying taxes

• Third Estate (Bourgeoisie, Workers, Peasants) cannot hold high offices and have to pay taxes

Social Inequality

Can you guess who is who in the picture? How can you tell?

*Hint: One of them is King Louis XVI*

First EstateClergy of the Roman Catholic Church• 1% of the population, yet owned 10% of land• Paid 2% of income to government• Have access to high offices• Provided education and services to the poor• Received tithes (donations) from peasants• Disliked Enlightenment ideas

Second EstateRich Nobles and other Nobility• 2% of the population, yet owned 20-25% of land• Have many privileges and held highest positions in

government• Paid almost no taxes• Taxed the peasants• Disliked Enlightenment ideas

Third EstateDivided into three groups: Middle class (bourgeoisie), workers, and peasants• Remaining population, roughly 97-98%• Few privileges • Heavily taxed, paid 50% of income for taxes• No power to influence the government• Embraced Enlightenment ideas

1st Group: BourgeoisieMerchants and Artisans• Power growing since Middle Ages • Many are well-educated• Believed strongly in Enlightenment ideals of liberty

and equality• Some are as wealthy as nobles, but still paid much in

taxes and lacked privileges• Desired the social status and political power to match

their wealth

2nd Group : WorkersUrban Middle Class (Cooks, Servants… etc)• Poorer than bourgeoisie• Paid low wages, often out of work and thus went hungry

(can’t pay for bread)• The most literate• Most supported revolution

3rd Group: Peasants• Largest group within the Third Estate, 80%

of the total population• Paid 50% of income in taxes to nobles, tithes

to the church (clergy), and to the king• Corvee = If unable to pay taxes, peasants will

pay in the form of physical labor on government roads• No Enlightenment ideals, but simply revolted

against oppression

Food For ThoughtRousseau’s ideas inspired many leaders of the French Revolution!

“The heart of the idea of the social contract may be stated simply: Each of us places his person and authority under the supreme direction of the general will, and the group receives each individual as an indivisible part of the whole…

In order that the social contract may not be a mere empty formula, everyone must understand that any individual who refuses to obey the general will must be forced by his fellows to do so. This is a way of saying that it may be necessary to force a man to be free; freedom in this case being obedience to the will of all.”

- Jean Jacques Rousseau, “The Social Contract”

*Suggestion: Read ALOUD for

best results!*

Food For ThoughtReflecting on Rousseau’s quote, answer the following questions:1. What is Rousseau trying to say?2. What type of government would Rousseau most likely suggest?3. Which of the Three Estates do you think would prefer Rousseau’s

suggestion? Why?

Food For ThoughtHow did the structure of the French society (Three Estates)

contribute to the buildup to revolution? Using your notes, list 3 reasons and explain.

Review: Three Estates

Lesson Closure: Quick WriteThink-Write-Pair-Share 1. Do you think this social inequality made the French

Revolution inevitable? 2. Why or why not?

Here’s some bread for the angry women of the French Revolution!