Friday, October 9, 2009 Make a list of things you see. Cause #: Social Inequalities Many among the 3 rd estate were unhappy with the inequalities of French society. Cause #2: Inspiration! Enlightenment ideas inspired many from the 3 rd Estate to reform French society. The success of the American Revolution also inspired many! Economic Worries!! Although the Bourgeoisie was doing ok, heavy taxing by King Louis XVI made it almost impossible to run a profitable business in France. In addition, bad weather destroyed many crops! This made the price of bread double. Many people faced starvation.
Cause #3: Economic Crisis What makes a bad leader? The threat of increased taxes and starvation intensified the hatred towards the monarchy. Very Bad Leader. King Louis XVI became the king of France at the age of 20. He was very uninterested with government affairs and paid little attention to them. He was very indecisive. He put off important decisions until it was almost too late. He enjoyed hunting and being a locksmith. Very Bad Leader. His wife, Marie Antoinette, was a big spender. She was only 4 when she married King Louis XVI She would spend money on luxurious clothing, entertainment, and gambling. She was known as Madame Deficit. Because of this, the French people hated her. Cause #4: Weak Leadership King Louis XVI s inability to deal with important decisions right away allowed problems to intensify. The French Revolution Begins 2
More Economic Worries King Louis XVIinherited a great deal of debt from previous kings. The King borrowed a heavy amount of money in order to help American colonists during the American Revolution. When French banks would not lend more money to the King, his only choice was to tax the Second Estate VERY BAD LEADER VERY BAD ECONOMY THE START OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION Let s call a meeting! The Second Estateforced King Louis XVIto call an Estates-General to pass his proposed new tax. The Estates-General was a big meeting with representatives from each of the three estates. This was the first meeting like this in 75 years! Each Estate met in a separate hall First Estate Vote Second Estate Vote Third Estate Vote Event #: The Estates-General The Estates General gathered to vote on a new tax. Each estate had one vote. The 3 rd estate was usually outvoted. Take that, King Louis!! Because they felt they were being unfairly represented, leaders of the Third Estate named themselves the National Assembly. The National Assemblywanted to pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people. After a night full of debate, members of the Third Estate voted to establish the National Assembly 3
0/30/2009 Event #2: Establishment of the National Assembly This event effectively proclaimed the end of the French absolute monarchy and the start of a representative government. (Just like the U.S.!) THIS CAME TO BE KNOWN AS TENNIS COURT OATH Locked out!! 3 days later, delegates of the third estate were locked out of their meeting room! A delegate is a representative. The delegates broke down a door into an indoor tennis court and promised not to leave until a new constitution was created. It worked. Event #3: The Tennis Court Oath Third Estate members swore not to leave the Estates-General until they had created a new constitution for France! Soon after this, some delegates of the First and Second Estates joined the Third Estate delegates. KING LOUIS XVI RESPONDED BY SURROUNDING HIS PALACE IN VERSAILLES THE PEOPLE TOOK THE KINGS RESPONSE AS A THREAT! SO THEY GATHERED WEAPONS TO DEFEND PARIS FROM A POSSIBLE ATTACK! 4
WORD ON THE STREET WAS THAT THE BASTILLE HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF WEAPONS & GUN POWDER STORED WITHIN THE PRISON. SO THEY ATTACKED IT!! THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE BECAME A GREAT SYMBOLIC ACT OF REVOLUTION TO THE FRENCH PEOPLE. Event #4: The Fall of the Bastille THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE BECAME A GREAT SYMBOLIC ACT OF REVOLUTION AND PROTEST TO THE FRENCH PEOPLE. BEFORE LONG, REBELLION SPREAD THROUGHOUT FRANCE! RUMORS WERE SPREADING THAT NOBLES WERE HIRING OUTLAWS TO TERRORIZE PEASANTS THIS BEGAN A WAVE OF SENSELESS PANIC KNOWN AS THE GREAT FEAR! PEASANTS ATTACKED THE HOMES OF NOBLES! Event #5: The Great Fear A wave of senseless panic fueled by rumors swept throughout France! Many nobles were beaten and killed! 5
WHEN THE PRICE OF BREAD DRAMATICALLY ROSE ONCE AGAIN, PARISIAN WOMEN MARCHED ON VERSAILLES! GO TO THE MAP MR. JARA INSERT MOVIE HERE MR. JARA DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND CITIZEN Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. These rights included: liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. Guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Event #6: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is created This document proclaimed the beliefs behind the revolution and granted basic rights to all citizens. (It s like the Declaration of Independence + U.S. Bill of Rights) 6