1789: THE FRENCH 1789: THE FRENCH --------------REVOLUTION REVOLUTION Background CausesBackground Causes
1st Background Cause:1st Background Cause:POLITPOLITICAL SYSTEM ICAL SYSTEM AbsoluAbsolute Monarchy: te Monarchy: ReignReign of King Louis XVI of King Louis XVI
Reign of Louis XVI:ABSOLUTE MONARCHYABSOLUTE MONARCHYNOBLES HOLD SPECIAL NOBLES HOLD SPECIAL
POSITIONSPOSITIONSORDINARY PEOPLE ORDINARY PEOPLE
HAVE NO POWERHAVE NO POWER
KING LOUIS XVI WEAKWEAKFOOLISHFOOLISHINDECI-INDECI-
SIVESIVE
MARIE ANTOINETTEFOREIGNFOREIGNFOOLISHFOOLISHEXTRAVA-EXTRAVA-
GANTGANT
2nd Background Cause:2nd Background Cause:SOCIASOCIAL SYSTEM-- L SYSTEM-- the Esthe Estates of France tates of France
Social DivisionsSocial Divisions
First Estate Second Estate Third EstateFirst Estate Second Estate Third Estate
THE FIRST ESTATECLERGY:CLERGY: Owned 20% Owned 20%
of the landof the land Paid no taxPaid no tax TithesTithes
SECOND ESTATENOBLES:NOBLES:25% of land25% of landPaid no taxesPaid no taxesFeudal duesFeudal duesPositionsPositions
THE THIRD ESTATETHE RESTTHE REST97% 97% Middle ClassMiddle ClassCity WorkersCity WorkersPeasantsPeasants
GRIEVANCES OF THE THIRD ESTATE
Paid most of the taxesPaid most of the taxesPeasants paid Feudal duesPeasants paid Feudal duesHigh price of food (bread)High price of food (bread)Few positions of influenceFew positions of influenceNo power in the governmentNo power in the government
3rd Background Cause:3rd Background Cause: THETHE ENLIENLIGHTENMENTGHTENMENT
The EnlightenmentA) Enlightenment thinkers were A) Enlightenment thinkers were
against absolute monarchyagainst absolute monarchy..B)B) They believed in progress and They believed in progress and
political change to improve political change to improve society.society.
C) They also emphasized equality. C) They also emphasized equality.
The Enlightenment Encouraged...
Questioning the SystemQuestioning the SystemExpectations for ChangeExpectations for ChangeDemands for changes to the Demands for changes to the
governmentgovernmentRevolutionary actionRevolutionary action
4th Background Cause:4th Background Cause:THE AMERICAN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONREVOLUTION
American RevolutionInspirationInspirationLeaders Leaders
- Lafayette- LafayetteDebtDebt
5th Background Cause:5th Background Cause: THETHE FINANCIAL FINANCIAL
CRISISCRISIS
ROYAL SPENDINGLouis XIVLouis XIVVersaillesVersaillesWarsWarsFavors to Favors to the Noblesthe Nobles
National Budget of FranceNational Budget of France
Interest on Interest on the the DebtDebt
CCOOUURRTT
MilitaryMilitary Everything Everything ElseElse
Solutions RefusedJacques Jacques NeckerNecker
Reduce Reduce SpendingSpending
Tax NoblesTax Nobles
FATEFUL DECISION:King decides to call theKing decides to call the
Estates GeneralEstates GeneralPurpose: to raise thePurpose: to raise the taxes taxes
needed to pay off the debtneeded to pay off the debtTheThe Revolution Revolution will beginwill begin
1789: the End of the 1789: the End of the Beginning ... Beginning ...