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The French Revolution: The Old Order in F rance

By Chris Anderson Randolph-Henry High School. The French Revolution: The Old Order in F rance. Introduction. France will reach its height during the same time as the American Revolution France was very rich and powerful

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The French Revolution: The Old Order in F rance

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  1. By Chris Anderson Randolph-Henry High School The French Revolution: The Old Order in France

  2. Introduction • France will reach its height during the same time as the American Revolution • France was very rich and powerful • Although a rich nation, most of the people of France were not rich--instead, the people had very few rights • the people of France saw how the American colonists were able to gain their independence and yearned for a change in France

  3. French Society Divided • France’s class system allowed for lots of inequality among the people • there were three estates--classes--in French society: • First Estate--Catholic Clergy • Second Estate--Nobility • Third Estate--97% of all French people • Third Estate people had very few rights and were envious of the 1st and 2nd Estates • the 3rd Estate was the only class required to pay taxes • 3rd Estate people did not share the same rights as the 1st or 2nd

  4. First Estate • This was constructed of the Roman Catholic clergy • this Estate was comprised of only 1% of the French population • 2 groups existed in the 1st Estate-- • higher clergy--bishops, abbots • lower clergy--parish priests • High Clergy • these controlled 5-10% of all French land • they collected a tithe from each church member • Low Clergy • poorer clergy • socially part of the 3rd estate

  5. Second Estate • Formed by the French nobility • only about 2% of the French population • these members owned about 25% of the land in France • held high government positions • usually they were rich--their main income coming from feudal dues paid to them by peasant farmers

  6. Third Estate • The 3rd Estate was the largest social group in France • Although the largest group and the only group that paid taxes, they had no voice in government • peasants, artisans, middle class (bourgeoisie) • very few political rights • members of the bourgeoisie lived in cities and towns • bourgeoisie were usually educated • Poor artisans and workers also lived in cities • made little money in very bad jobs • many lived in the Paris slums • peasants lived outside the cities in rural areas • peasants owned 40% of the land but were still very poor • paid heavy taxes • they will eventually call for social equality

  7. Growing Unrest • The people of the 3rd Estate will be unhappy and want change • as the cost of living , the peasants’ anger also • peasants were also being over-charge for the use of mills and wine presses • artisans were experiencing high prices but no change in wages--inflation • The bourgeoisie were also unhappy along with some nobles • the nobles did not like the king’s absolute power • nobles wanted more influence in government

  8. Louis XIV had spent a lot of money on many wars during his reign • these wars had left France with a huge debt • his grandson, Louis XV, increased the debt during his reign • these debts had left France economically weak • 1774: Louis XVI becomes king of France • he is only 19 years old • Louis XVI is the grandson of Louis XV • Louis XVI is married to 18-yo Marie Antoinette • Louis XVI understood the financial troubles facing France • Louis decided he must tax the clergy and nobility in order to reduce France’s debts • problem: the clergy and nobility refused to pay the taxes

  9. Louis XV (15) Louis XVI (16)

  10. Marie Antoinette

  11. 1786: French banks were refusing to loan $ to the government • 1786: crop failures bread shortages in 1788 & 1789 • the clergy and nobility refuse to help the government • Louis was forced to call the Estates-General into session to raise additional funds

  12. Calling the Estates General • When Louis XVI called the Estates-General into session in 1789, it was the 1st time since 1614 • the Estates-General was made up of people from each different estate • Louis hoped the Estates-General would levy new taxes • the nobles had different ideas

  13. Meeting of the Estates General

  14. The nobles wanted to: • weaken the power of the king • gain control of the government • each estate had only 1 vote in the Estates-General • the nobles hoped the votes of the 1st & 2nd estates would outweigh the vote of the 3rd • the 3rd estate members refused to follow the plan set by the nobles • the 3rd estate--since it made up 97% of France’s population--believed it should more of a right to represent France than the nobles

  15. The 3rd estate wanted their members to have individual votes--each delegate having a vote • many nobles supported this 3rd estate’s ideas • king Louis XVI did not like the 3rd estate’s idea of having a mass meeting where each individual member gets a vote • Louis wanted the different estates to meet separately • the bourgeoisie--members of the 3rd estate--ignored the king • these bourgeoisie were locked out of the meetings • these bourgeoisie will demand a constitution for France and rename themselves the National Assembly

  16. This National Assembly gathered more supporters • they met, many times, on indoor tennis courts--thus those who became members had to take what was called the Tennis Court Oath • members promised not to break-up until France had a constitution • the king did not want the members of the National Assembly (3rd estate) to create a constitution • Louis orders the 1st and 2nd estate to join in the National Assembly to help create a national constitution • the king also ordered troops to come to Paris

  17. A Call to Revolt • In the National Assembly, people voiced their unhappiness over the French government • most members of the 3rd estate wanted total social equality and the end of titles • other delegates wanted to copy the constitutional monarchy present in Britain • as the National Assembly was meeting, the idea of rebellion spread throughout France • because of fear, the Louis XVI began gathering troops at Versailles • French citizens reacted against this troop movement by storming a prison--the Bastille

  18. Fall of the Bastille • The Bastille was a prison located in Paris • the French people saw the Bastille as a symbol of the power and unfairness of the French government • July 14, 1789: a large group of French people surrounded the prison • these people were out to steal weapons to help defend the National Assembly from a possible attack • The people tried to force their way into the Bastille • eventually, the people were able to get into the prison, freeing 7 prisoners • soldiers defending the Bastille fired upon the mob of people killing 98 French citizens • some of the soldiers, too, were killed by the mob

  19. The mob of angry people took over the Bastille • a revolutionary government was set up in the city of Paris • news of what happened in Paris spread quickly in France • other areas in France erupted into violence--a period called the Great Fear • peasants in the country began to arm themselves for protection • these peasants eventually began violently combing the country side robbing, pillaging, and destroying property, driving landlords off of the land • this was the beginning of the French Revolution

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