THE START of the FRENCH REVOLUTION

1

1789

Lesson #4

Meeting of the Estates General

• Summer 1789• Purpose of meeting:

RESTRUCTURE TAX SYSTEM

• All three estates sent representatives

The Three Estates (p. 594)

Meeting of the Estates General• First and Second

Estates– Planned to work

together to block any changes that would increase their taxes

• Louis XVI planned to DOUBLE THE THIRD ESTATE and give them as much voting power as the first two states combined

National Assembly• Nothing got accomplished• Third estate pulled away and formed a

new group • THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• They swore to change the government, to include a CONSTITUTION

• King Louis agreed(reluctantly)

Storming of the Bastille • King Louis brought troops to defend

VERSAILLES Why would he do this?How should the “common people” respond?

• Paris commoners attacked the BASTILLE to get guns for protection

• Bastille had been a prison; represented the KING’S TYRANNY

The Great Fear

• In the COUNTRYSIDE • Peasants attacked houses of NOBLES

– Destroyed records of their debts• Nobles ran in fear

– Left country: EMEGREES

Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

• Feudal rights of first two estates abolished by NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• Debts of peasants totally forgiven• New document – Declaration:

– Basic idea of “liberty, equality, brotherhood” for all citizens

– Read p. 589; analyze document– Guaranteed rights of free SPEECH and

RELIGION

March on Versailles

• Louis called in MORE TROOPS again• Sans Culottes marched to Versailles (12 mi)

– (mostly women, around 7000)• Broke into PALACE of VERSAILLES • Louis agreed to move to Paris with wife,

Marie Antoinette and face the problems in Paris