Chapter 23

Section 1The French Revolution Begins

The Old Order The Old Regime-

social and political system in France during the 1770s Estates-three social

classes of France’s Old Regime

The Privileged Estates First Estate

Catholic clergy Own 10% of lands Pay few taxes Scorned Enlightenment ideas

Second Estate Made up of rich nobles Made up 2% of population Owned 20% of lands Held highest offices in government Disagreed about Enlightenment ideas

Third Estate 97% of people are peasants, urban workers,

middle class Have few privileges Pay heavy taxes Embraced Enlightenment ideas Resented other two social classes

Clergy: bishops, abbots, and parish priests are at the top of the social pyramid.

This group represented .5% of the total population.

Doctors, lawyers, merchants, and business managers made up the middle class.

The French Urban Poor

% of Income Spent on Bread0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1787

1788

a Urban Commoner’sBudget:

Food 80% Rent 25% Tithe 10% Taxes 35% Clothing 20% TOTAL 170%

a King’s Budget:

Interest 50% Army 25% Versailles 25% Coronation 10% Loans 25% Admin. 25% TOTAL 160%

Financial Problemsin France, 1789

The Forces of Change Enlightenment Ideas

Third Estate members inspired by the success of the American Revolution

Questioned their own society’s structure

Economic Troubles High taxes and rising costs damage economy

by 1780s King Louis XVI and his wife Marie

Antoinette known for extravagance Louis doubles nation’s debt; banks refuse to

lend more money

A Weak Leader Louis’s poor decisions and lack of patience

add to France’s problems His wife makes things worse

Gives Louis bad advice Not well-liked by the people

He calls Estates-General in Versailles, 1789 Meeting of representatives from all three

estates

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy

2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by Estates

1

1

1

Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head!

300

300

648

Convening the Estates General May, 1789

Last time it was called into session was 1614!

Dawn of the Revolution The National Assembly

Third Estate has little power under old rules Sieyes persuades them to make major changes

in the French government Third Estate sets up National Assembly-

new legislature to make reforms Tennis-Court Oath-

Delegates decide to write new constitution for France

“The Tennis Court Oath”by Jacques Louis David

June 20, 1789

Storming the Bastille Rumors fly in

Paris that Louis wants to suppress the National Assembly

Mob attacks and seizes Bastille, killing guards on July 14, 1789

A Great Fear Sweeps France Rebellion-

Rumors and panic spread throughout France Great Fear-attacks by peasants taking place across

France Peasants destroy legal papers binding them to

feudal system In October 1789, Parisian women revolt over

rising bread costs They demand action, forcing Louis to return from

Versailles to Paris

Estates

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate