The French Revolution

Terms

First Estate

• Was made up of Church officials.

• Owned 10 percent of the land

• Paid 2% of income to the government.

Second Estate

• Rich Nobles• Made up 2% of the

population• Owned 20% of the

land• Paid no taxes

Third Estate • 98% of the people in

France.• Three groups make it up

– Bourgeoisie • Merchants believed in

Enlightenment ideas– Workers

• Paid low wages and went hungry

– Peasants• Made up 80% of the

population.• Paid 50% of income to state.

Louis XVI

• King of France• Inherited huge

national debt.• Borrowed money to

help the American revolution

• Weak leader

Maria Antoinette

• Queen of France• Austrian by birth.• French do not like her.• Was known as

Madame Deficit • Was 14 when married

Estates-General• A meeting of all three

different estates • Was called to help fix

Frances economic problems

Tennis Court Oath

• Third Estate (National Assembly) was locked out of their building.

• Got into a Tennis court and wrote it there.

• Vowed not to leave until a new constitution was drawn up.

What Happened

Enlightenment Ideas

• Challenged government and peoples thinking about equality, liberty, and government.

Economic Problems

• Population and trade were expanding

• Heavy taxes prevented the people to be able to do well.

• Bad weather caused crop shortages and rising bread prices.

Weak Leader

• National debt because of the America revolution hurt Frances.

• Louis XVI was indecisive and did not do anything to fix it.

Taxes

• Louie wanted to raise taxes but Second Estate called for an Estate-General.

Events at the Estates-General

• Each Estate has one vote that allows the First and Second Estate to always dominate.

• Third Estate demands to take control.

National Assembly

• Third Estate changes name to National Assembly.

• Passes laws and reforms for the French people

Tennis Court Oath

• Third Estate (National Assembly) was locked out of their building.

• Got into a Tennis court and wrote it there.

• Vowed not to leave until a new constitution was drawn up.

Storming the Bastille

• Louis stations troops in Paris

• People believe troops are going to massacre people.

• Mob storms the Bastille for weapons.

• Fall of Bastille is like the Fourth of July in America