Revolution Threatens the French King

Chapter 23 Section 1

I The Old Regime• 1700 France saw the system of feudalism left over from the middle

ages• Ppl of France still divided into 3 large social classes called Estates

A. the Privileged Estates• 2 Estates had privileges (access to higher offices and exemptions from

paying taxes)First Estate• Roman Catholic clergy• Owned 10% of land• Edu. And relief for poor

Second Estate•Made up of rich nobles (2% of pop)•Owned 20% of land

•FIRST TWO CLASSES SAW ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS AS RADICAL AND A THREAT TO THEIR STATUS & POWER

b. The Third Estate• 98% of pop belonged to Third Estate• 3 groups made up the Third EstateBourgeoisie• Well educated merchants & artisans

who believed strongly in Enlightenment ideals of LIBERTY & EQUALITY• Some were as rich as nobles but paid

high taxes & lacked privileges like the other of the Third Estate• Believed their wealth entitles them to

greater degree of social status and power

Second Group• Made up of city workers who were poorer

than the bourgeoisie• Low wages, frequently unemployed,

starvedattack and steal to eatPeasants• Largest group w/in the Third Estate• Paid about half their income in taxes to

nobles, church, & king• Joined the urban poor in resentment of

clergy and their prove ledgesHEAVILY TAXED AND DISCONTENT 3RD Estate WAS READY FOR CHANGE

II Forces for Change• Factors other than resentment began to contribute to the

revolutionary mood of France

A. Enlightenment Ideas• Ppl in 3rd Estate begin questioning traditional structure of society• EQUALITY/LIBERTY/DEMOCRACY

• inspired by success of the American Rev.• Believed in Popular Sovereignty= the gov’t power resides with the

people

B. Economic Woes• Pop and trade was expanding but the high taxes made profitable

business w/ France impossible• Bad weatherdestruction of cropsincreased bread pricesstarvation• Louis borrows heavily to help Americans fight rev. against GB• GB was Frances main rival

• ALL THESE FACTORS LED TO ECONOMIC INSTABILITY AND DOWNSTURN

C. A Weak Leader• Louis XVI was not strong leader• Paid little attention to governing

• Married Maria Antoinette who was member of Austrian royal fam->one of Frances rivals• AKA Madame Deficit because she spent a

lot of $$$

• 2nd Estate forces him to call the Estates General to approve his proposed tax increase on the Aristocrats• Estates General= assembly of reps from

all 3 estates

III Revolution Dawns• Under Estates-General

assemblies medieval rules each estates delegates would meet in separate hall to vote• Each estate had 1 vote

• 2 privileged classes could outvote the Third Estate

A. The National Assembly• 3rd Estate was eager for change• Insisted all 3 estates meet together and each

delegate get one votewould give advantage to 3rd Estate who had more delegates as the other two estates

• King orders them to follow the medieval rules• Abbe Sieyes suggests the 3rd Estate delegates

name themselves the National Assembly & pass laws & reforms in name of French ppl

• Establish the Nat’l Assembly proclaiming end of absolute monarchy & beg. Of rep. gov’t• Tennis Court Oath= pledge to stay in an indoor

tennis court in which they broke into until they create their new constitution

IV a Great Fear Sweeps France• Rebellion spreads from Paris to countryside • Rumors start that nobles were hiring outlaws to attack peasantsthe Great

Fear= panic over the outlaw rumors

• Group of Parisians protesting over rising bread prices turns into riot• They march and storm Versailles

• Royal family leave Versailles signaling the change of power and reform that were abut to take place