CW2 – 4 Questions from Book

French Revolution

• 3 Parts1. Old Regime/Crisis

2. Louis XVI Response

3. Revolution and Reforms

• Poor/Common People Get Angry, Revolt

Old Regime in France

• Outdated social system called ancienregime, people belonged to 3 classes or estates.

First Estate• Clergy and the Church

• Owned 10% of land

• Did provide some social services (school, hospital)

Second Estate• Nobility

• Traditional privileges from ancient nobility

• Lived far from noble lands (Versailles)

Third Estate

• Middle class down to peasants (97% of people)

• Top of the 3rd estate were bourgeoisie, the middle class that included most professions

• Poorest members were urban workers, very poor, turned to begging or crime

• Very much resented, hated being 3rd estate

First Estate Second Estate Third Estate

• Paid almost no taxes

• Owned most of the land and charged rent on it

• Got privileges

• Paid almost no taxes

• Held most of the good jobs

• Charged the third estate old manor dues from the middle ages

• Got privileges

• Taxed on everything: land, soap and salt.

• Rioted frequently, once over the price of bread (Flour War)

• Paid for privileges

Economic Crisis

• Along with the social unrest, economic problems hurt France

• Caused by years of deficit spending, when a government spends more than it takes in.

1. Paid for multiple wars (7 Years, American)

2. Paid for lavish court and palaces

3. Borrowed money from other countries

4. Most tax income paid interest on loans.

Failure to Reform

• Louis 14 & 15 both spend too much

• Next Louis XVI was well-meaning, but weak and indecisive.

• Chose a financial advisor, Jacques Necker…

1. Reduce spending2. Reform govt3. Abolish some taxes

• 1st/2nd Estate got rid of Necker

Estates-General

• All 3 states demanded the King call E-G

• Estates-General –legislative body of representatives from all 3 estates

• Had not been called in 175 years