FOCUS QUESTION

Who said “Let them eat cake!” What did she/he mean? Why is it important?

The French Revolution

The 3 Estates of Man

1. Clergy – Priests2. Nobility – Aristocrats3. Everyone else

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Sources of Discontent (long term causes) Unequal land ownership

2% of the people owned 35% of the land Unequal Taxation

Only the third estate paid taxes Unequal political power

Absolute Monarchy

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Immediate Cause

Debt from war with England

Only the poor were taxed

Depression and famine

Deficit spending

(Expenditure more than revenue)

Louis XVI’s life of luxury Louis XVI’s

Solution:More taxes on the Poor!

Quick Write

Imagine you were a member of the Third Estate (because mostly likely, you would be). How would you feel about paying all the taxes? How would the Enlightenment have influenced your feelings and possibly your actions?

Estates General Meeting of all three estates to solve financial

crisis Problem: one vote per estate, 3rd Estate always

outvoted

Tennis Court Oath

Locked out of the Estates General, the Third Estate met in a tennis court Swore to meet

until a new constitution was drafted

Formed the National Assembly

Storming the Bastille

Parisians tear down the Bastille, a prison.

Scares the King out of Paris

Saves the Revolution

A New France!

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Based on the U.S.

Constitution Constitution of 1791

Set up a limited Monarchy