The French Revolution

Question 1

Problem 1: Social Problems

Answer 1

• unequal French class system
• FIRST ESTATE- clergy
• privileges- own 10% of land and pay no taxes
• provided religious and social services
• SECOND ESTATE- nobility
• privileges- held top jobs in government, military, and courts, owned land, and paid no taxes
• not all wealthy but had great privileges
• THIRD ESTATE- bourgeoisie (middle class), rural peasants, and urban workers
• made up 98% of the population and paid the taxes!

Question 2

Problem 2: Economic Problems

Answer 2

Burden of Debt;
*french government was spending more money than it had
*costly wars and upkeep at the Palace of Versailles
SOLUTION- reduce expenses and/or raise taxes
Poor Harvest;
*bad harvest led to an increase in food costs
*led to increased hunger and riots demanding bread

Question 3

Failure of Reform

Answer 3

• poor leadership under Louis XIV, XV, and XVI

* refusal by first and second estates to be taxed

Question 4

Meeting of the Estates General

Answer 4

• Estates General made up of three estates
• wanted to approve new taxes on the third estate
• August 1788 Louis agreed to the meeting
• had not met in 175 years
• people wanted the estates to pass sweeping reforms
• each estate had one vote
• first and second usually voted together
• enlightenment philosophers gave third estate a feeling of importance

Question 5

Dawn of The Revolution

Answer 5

• King went over voting rules
• Third Estate which had more representatives refused the King’s order
• King locked the Third Estate out of the meeting
• Third Estate met at an indoor tennis court
• swore The Tennis Court Oath

Question 6

Storming of the Bastille

Answer 6

• Louis ordered troops to Paris and Versailles
• National Assembly (Third Estate) feared that the King would use violence
• July 14, 1789 a mob went to the Bastille looking for weapons

Question 7

A Great Fear Sweeps France

Answer 7

• storming of the Bastille was a powerful symbol of the French Revolution
• Great Fear- a wave of senseless panic
• they feared the King would punish them
• great fear swept France
• rumors of massacres spread

Question 8

Restriction of Power

Answer 8

• 7,000 women march on Versailles demanding bread
• King, family, and servants fled and would never return to Paris
• change of power