Objective

SWBAT: describe the social division of France’s old order List reasons for France’s economic troubles Explain why Louis XVI called the Estates-General and

summarize what happened Understand why Parisians stormed the Bastille

TV France: Wrap up Questions

Do the interviews suggest that one social class was more important or influential than another?

Which social classes were more optimistic about their future? What reasons can you suggest for this?

Make an argument for and against each social class as the “most important”

Do Now Tuesday 1/8/13

In your notes, explain the political cartoon.

What do each of the four men represent?

What is the message?

Qu’est-ce que le tiers état?

Ancien Regime old order

Clergy enjoy wealthChurch owns 10% of land, collect tithe, no

taxesEnlightenment ideas target the 1st estate

(Clergy)NoblesHold top government jobs

Army, courts & churchFeared losing traditional positionsVastly Diverse Third EstateBourgeoisie at top

Bankers, merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, doctors, journalisits, professors

MOST were rural peasants

The French Revolution

all 3 estates had grievances against the monarchy.

to improve their condition - take power from the monarchy

Third estate felt most stress: provided goods and services. Paid heavy taxes

Causes: Enlightenment Ideas & Philosophes

The Enlightenment Ideas: Liberty Equality Reason Progress

Philosophes:Locke private property, limited sovereignty

& fair governmentVoltaire attacked noble privileges &

Church’s authority

Causes: Am. Rev & Economy

The American Revolution: 1775-1783Enlightenment ideas in actionFrench soldiers (Lafayette) came home

inspiredPut Louis XIV in more debtFrench economy was failing:50% of government’s income went to debt

interestNo central bank or paper currencyInefficient and uneven taxation system

(Varied by region and estate)

Causes: Feudal System

Estate System outdated

Difficult to move up in society, unless very rich

The poor/peasantry resented the inequality of the three estates

Harvest failure 1787-1788 Less food, higher prices, businesses failed,

unemployment in cities

Causes: Louis XVI

Good intentions“Enlightened”Weak-willedIndecisiveMarie Antoinette

allowed him “to dispense patronage amongst friends”

How does the cartoonist portray the Third Estate? What were the differences among the social classes in pre-

revolutionary France?

Events of the French Revolution

Moderate Stage: 1789-1792Radical Stage: 1782-1794The Directory: 1794-1799Napoleon: 1799-1815

Outbreak: Estates-General

May 5, 1789: Estates General convenes at

Versailles

First time in 175 years (1614)

All three estates prepared cahiers (notebooks) listing their grievances “Cahiers de doleances”

Fairer taxes, freedom of press, regular meetings of the Estate-General

Outbreak: Estates General

Reps from Third Estate Disagreed on how to vote

Tradition: each estate met and voted separately, each estate had one vote

First & Second Estates always outvoted the Third Estate

The Third Estate wanted all estates to meet in a single body and count votes “by head”

Tennis Court Oath

June 17, 1789: delegates of the Third Estate

declared themselves to be The National Assembly

June 20, 1789: The Oath of the Tennis Court

Meeting hall locked and guarded

Met at an indoor tennis court

Swore, “never to separate and to meet wherever

the circumstances might require until we have

established a sound and just constitution.”

Tension between king & Assembly

Storming the Bastille

July 14, 1789: Paris

More than 800 Parisians assembled outside the

Bastille

Demanded weapons and gunpowder (rumored to be there)

Commander of Bastille refused & opened fire on the

crowd

Crowd killed the commander, set free prisoners, found

no weapons

Importance: Challenged the king & won

Celebrated every year since 1880

Place de la Bastille

French Revolution

French Rev Part 1French Rev Part 2French Rev Part 3

Do Now

What is the significance of La Place de la Bastille?

Explain the historical significance as well as current day.