the french revolution Flashcards
Who is King Louis XVI?
The French monarch (1774) who got this position at age 19 (he was an absolute monarch meaning there were no limits to his power)
Did King Louis XVI believe in the divine right?
Yes, he believed God gave him the power to be king
King Louis XVI inherited a lot of debt from his predecessors; how did this debt increase?
The debt increased when he supported the American colonists in their fight for independence from the British (the French and British were rivals)
How did France become bankrupt?
France became bankrupt from wars, royals spending too much on luxuries, and a corrupt tax system
What did King Louis start doing once France started going bankrupt?
He tried to get the 1st and 2nd estates to pay taxes. They’ve not been doing this so they refused
When was France divided into 3 estates?
During 18th century France
What is the first estate?
The first estate is the clergy (church officials), made up 1% of the population. The clergy didn’t pay taxes and lived in luxury
What is the second estate?
The second estate is the nobility (aka aristocrats), made up 2% of the population. The nobility had almost complete control over peasants and lived in luxury
What did the second estate collect?
Tolls from people to use the roads and markets
Did the nobility have to do military service?
No, they weren’t required
What is the third estate?
The third estate is the bourgeoisie (wage earners and peasants), they made up 97% of the population. They were forced to do military service and they had to pay taxes.
