recap: causes of french rev
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Recap: Causes of French Rev. 1) Louis 16 th & Marie Antoinette 2) The Estate system 3) The American Revolution 4) Bankruptcy 5) Famine, Harvest Crisis 6) Enlightenment . Estate System. The People of France were divided into 3 Estates The First Estate was the clergy - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Recap: Causes of French Rev. 1) Louis 16th & Marie Antoinette 2) The Estate system 3) The American Revolution 4) Bankruptcy 5) Famine, Harvest Crisis 6) Enlightenment
Estate System The People of France were divided into 3 Estates
The First Estate was the clergy Approximately 100,000 people
The Second Estate was the Nobility Approximately 400,000 people The Nobles had almost complete authority over the peasants
Both estates:
Collected tolls for usage of the roads, markets, mills, ovens and winepresses Were not required to do Military Service Did not have to pay taxes and most of them lived in great luxury in
chateaux and palaces
Note: Several attempts were made to tax the nobility, but Louis was to weak to implement it
Third Estate Approx. 97% of the Population (27 million) Forced to do military service Forced to pay taxes and tolls to the King,
Nobility and Clergy – economically crushing Denied important positions in the
government and Army (can’t move through the ranks)
Not all the third estate were peasants – many in France were educated – doctors, lawyers, merchants, middle class workers - shared the same fate as the country folk
BankruptcyBankruptcy: - France had been involved in
many costly wars during the reigns of Louis the 14th, 15th and 16th
- They had recently fought in the American Revolution and the seven years war
- They sent soldiers, naval vessels and money to support he both wars
- At the same time; the King and the nobility were spending enormous amounts on luxury
American Revolution
American Revolution: The success of the American
revolution proved that democracy could work and that common people could rise to power
It acted as a model French troops fought beside
Americans in the Revolution (witnessed the American victory)
Harvest Crisis This was the spark
that set off the firestorm (tipping point)
Very few fruits and vegetables were being produced by France’s farms
The price of produce, especially wheat and bread were very high
Despite the crisis, taxes continued to rise to combat the national debt
The French RevolutionOpening Stages of the French Revolution
The Estates General is called In 1788, Louis 16th called the Estates
General A gathering of Representatives of all
three estates Had not been done since 1615 because
this symbolized the failure of the current government
The meeting took place in May 1789 in the palace if Versailles
During the year long preparation, the representatives of each estate were chosen
As part of tradition, the representatives were asked to draft complaints or grievences (cahiers de doleances) ------------------------
Why was this important? This was the first time most people got a
chance to express themselves A lot of anger and frustration was openly
discussed for the first time
People like this dude; Abbe Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes
He wrote; What is the Third Estate?- Political pamphlet
Abbe Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes in January 1789, in response to the calling of the Estates General
What does it say?
What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been until now in the political order? Nothing.What does it ask? To become something.
He believed that the 3rd estate is was a complete nation and that the other 2 estates are simply “Dead Weight”
Also suggested that the Estates General should be restructured. (Wants to emphasize the numerical superiority of the 3rd estates)
The Estates General Meets
When the meeting was called, all three estates were frustrated as Louis had no agenda or proposals for discussion (incompetent)
That being said, he brought a large contingent of troops to the meeting – seen by some as an attempt to intimidate (not a good choice)
There were 600 representatives of the 3rd estates, 300 representatives of the 2nd estate and 300 representatives of the 1st estate but they voted by estate, not by numbers (not fair)
What did they talk about? Injustice (Taxes, labour, conscription) Whether they should Vote by Estate or
vote all together
The 3rd Estate wanted each representative to get a vote but the others insisted on the current system where each estate gets a vote
Knowing that all there proposals would be defeated, the 3rd estates decides to act
WHAT DO THEY DO? The openly declare themselves a NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY They claimed that since they represent 97%
of the population, they are a true parliament They wanted to create a constitutional
monarchy (boundaries of a constitution, whether written or unwritten similar to England) Non-political monarch
When they take a break, King louis locks the doors!
The Tennis Court Oath The representatives of the 3rd estate wander into an indoor
tennis court They promise to continue to meet until France has a constitution
Who is?
Then, The Storming of the Bastille The Third estate was fuelled by starvation and
the dismissal of France’s Minister of Economics (who was asking for a revision of France’s tax system), a mob formed
Louis Reacts: He sends troops into Paris to calm the people This was perceived as tyranny (Ancien Regime)
Violence breaks out: Members of the Paris Guards joined the people The stormed a military outpost and stole
thousands of muskets, however, they had no powder or shot
They turned to the Bastille, a political prison and symbol of Royal authority
They fight though the Prison defences (including cannon fire), break in, free the prisoners, murder the guards and place their heads on Pikes . They also murder mayor of France
The King reacts Louis hears of what is happening in Paris He believes that he is losing control of the people
and the Army He also believes that this was partially caused by the
removal of the 3rd estate from the Estates General
In desperation, the King decides to recognized the representatives of the 3rd Estate as a national assembly, and grants them political power
Orders the first two estates to join the third The first stage of the French Revolution is over! The
National Assembly is partially in charge
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Why are they relevant?
RECAP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvSod16wfgg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjmzw2z5cxI
Exit Cards
Name one thing you learned
Exit cards: Write down what you think I should do differently