Causes of the French Revolution Flashcards
1
Q
1st estate
A
- members of the clergy
- 0.5% of the population
- owned 10% of the land
- collected taxes
- did not pay pay taxes
- “upper clergy vs. lower clergy”
2
Q
2nd estate
A
- the aristocracy and nobility
- 1.5% of the population
- owned 20-35% of the land
3
Q
3rd estate
A
- everyone else outside of 1st and 2nd estate
- included bourgeoisie (middle class) which compromised of the wealthy and educated employed in the cities
- majority peasants that were desperately poor and suffered
- 98% of population
4
Q
main causes of french revolution
A
- american example by Declaration of Independence (showed all men are created equal and certain amount of people are able to make a difference)
- increased prices on food, rent, goods, etc. (people did not have enough money)
- economic difficulties ( deficit spending, HUGE debt)
- administration of government (Louis XVI inadequacies and Marie Antoinette)
- poor harvests and famine, raising prices….”a hungry mob is an angry mob”Bob Marley
- enlightenment thinking
- examples of American revolution
5
Q
estate
A
social classes in France
6
Q
roles of estates in order
A
- king: appointed by God, very rich, rules over everyone
- 1st estate: clergy, rich, pray to God
- 2nd estate: nobles, rich, fighting for the King
- 3rd estate: everyone else (peasants), poor, farm the land
7
Q
Marie Antoinette
A
- her popularity decreased during reign
- known as “Madame Deficit” and “that Austrian woman” because people didn’t even want to speak her name
- influenced husband (Louis XVI) to make poor decisions as king
8
Q
enlightenment ideas that inspired 3rd estate
A
- natural rights, gov. protects these rights
- rule by popular consent (popular sovereignty)
- free speech/thought
- people should live with little gov. control and as much freedom as possible
- separation of powers and checks$
- gov. oppression goes against natural order
- gender equality education for women
- free trade
- supply and demand
