Chapter 18

The French Revolution and

Napoleon 1789-1815

Section 1
On The Eve of Revolution
pg. 572-577
 France is Divided
Under Frances old regime there were 3 social
classes or estates (Estates General).
First Estate: clergy
Second Estate: nobility
Third Estate: vast majority of the population
 First Estate: Clergy
By 1789, the Church enjoys much wealth, power,
and privilege.
Owned about 10% of land, collected tithes (taxes),
and paid no direct taxes to the state.
High Priests lived well as Local Priests struggled.
They did provide social services (schools,
hospitals, orphanages)
Enlightened thinkers attacked the church for being
idle (not doing enough), getting into politics, and
collecting too many riches.
 Second Estate: Nobles
Nobles were under government control, but still
had top jobs in the government, army, courts, and
in the Church.
All nobles owned land, however, some did not
receive any income (became poor)
Many hated absolutism and were unsure of the
Enlightenment (didnt want the middle class to
take jobs and power and feared losing privileges
such as not having to pay taxes).
 Third Estate: Everyone Else
Most diverse of the social classes.
Top: Bourgeoisie or middle class. Wealthy bankers,
merchants, lawyers, doctors, and professors.
Most were rural peasants (some owned land and
others just worked it)
Poorest members were the urban workers (apprentices,
servants, construction workers, street sellers, and the
unemployed). Many turned to begging or crime.
Resented privileges of the rich and not having the best
jobs. Many had low wages and bad working
conditions. Paid all the taxes.
Took Enlightened ideas and used them to revolt.
 Financial Trouble
Financial trouble added to the chaos in France
France has a huge deficit (spends more than it
makes)
Costs had risen, paying for wars and the lavish
government used money for themselves.
Government had to keep borrowing money
Bad harvests made food prices rise (hunger)
Govt needed to increase taxes or reduce spending
The upper class still did not want to pay taxes
NATIONAL DEBT SOARS
 Economic Reform Fails
Louis XIV and XV did not solve the econ crisis.
Louis XVI choose Jacques Necker, a financial
expert, as an advisor.
Stopped govt spending and wanted to tax the 1st
and 2nd Estate. King Louis said NO.
Needed reform so King Louis XVI called the
Estates General meeting (not called for 175 years)
to help with this process.
Now facing possible bankruptcy, bread riots,
angry nobles and starving and angry peasants.
 The Estates General: Grievances
Each Estate prepared cahiers (notebooks) that listed
their grievances (fairer taxes, freedoms, regular
meetings of the Estates General).
Became nasty (name calling and arguing).
Members of the Third Class (upper citizens only) went
to Versailles to solve the financial crisis and to insist on
reform (ideas of the philosophes).
Usually each Estate voted separately. The Third Estate
wanted everyone to vote together and each count as 1
vote per person (not 1 vote per Estate)
After weeks of deadlock, the Third Estate claiming to
represent the people of France, formed the National
Assembly. Their meeting hall was locked so they took
their oaths in an indoor tennis court (Tennis Court Oath.
 Results
National Assembly: swear never to separate and
meet wherever and whenever necessary.
Some clergy and nobles joined them, the King
accepted it, but royal troops gathered around Paris
and rumors spread that the King planned to
dissolve the Assembly.
 Parisians Storm the Bastille
July 14, 1789 the city of Paris stole the spotlight from
the Assembly in Versailles.
800 Parisians assembled outside the Bastille, a
medieval fortress used as a prison, and demanded
weapons and gunpowder (believed to be there).
Commander opened fire on them and they broke down
the gates and killed him, released the prisoners, but
did not find any weapons.
This represented the people of France revolting
against the years of abuse they had endured from the
French government.
Wake up call to the French government and since
1880, France celebrates Bastille Day as their national
independence day.