1789: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION Background Causes

1

• 1789 THE FRENCH -------REVOLUTION Background
  Causes

2

• 1st Background Cause
• POLITICAL SYSTEM Absolute Monarchy Reign of
  King Louis XVI

3
Reign of Louis XVI

• ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
• NOBLES HOLD SPECIAL POSITIONS
• ORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE NO POWER

4
KING LOUIS XVI

• WEAK
• FOOLISH
• INDECI-SIVE

5
MARIE ANTOINETTE

• FOREIGN
• FOOLISH
• EXTRAVA-GANT

6

• 2nd Background Cause
• SOCIAL SYSTEM-- the Estates of France

7
Social Divisions
First Estate Second Estate Third Estate
8
THE FIRST ESTATE

• CLERGY
• Owned 20 of the land
• Paid no tax
• Tithes

9
SECOND ESTATE

• NOBLES
• 25 of land
• Paid no taxes
• Feudal dues
• Positions

10
THE THIRD ESTATE

• THE REST
• 97
• Middle Class
• City Workers
• Peasants

11
GRIEVANCES OF THE THIRD ESTATE

• Paid most of the taxes
• Peasants paid Feudal dues
• High price of food (bread)
• Few positions of influence
• No power in the government

12

• 3rd Background Cause
• THE ENLIGHTENMENT

13
The Enlightenment

• A) Enlightenment thinkers were against absolute
  monarchy.
• B) They believed in progress and political change
  to improve society.
• C) They also emphasized equality.

14
The Enlightenment Encouraged...

• Questioning the System
• Expectations for Change
• Demands for changes to the government
• Revolutionary action

15

• 4th Background Cause
• THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

16
American Revolution

• Inspiration
• Leaders - Lafayette
• Debt

17

• 5th Background Cause
• THE FINANCIAL
• CRISIS

18
ROYAL SPENDING

• Louis XIV
• Versailles
• Wars
• Favors to the Nobles

19
National Budget of France
Interest on the Debt
Everything Else
Military
COURT
20
Solutions Refused

• Jacques Necker
• Reduce Spending
• Tax Nobles

21
FATEFUL DECISION

• King decides to call the Estates General
• Purpose to raise the taxes needed to pay off the
  debt
• The Revolution will begin

22

• 1789 the End of the Beginning ...