The Old Regime
The old regime was the social and political system of France in which people were separated into three social classes also known as the estates.
1st Estate: The First Estate contained the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. This was only 1% of the population of France. The 1st estate owned 10% of the land in France and contributed 2% of their income towards the government.
2nd Estate: The Second Estate contained nobles. This was only 2% of the population of France. The 2nd estate owned 20% of the land in Franc and contributed no taxes.
The 1st and 2nd Estates were known as the privileged esates. They both disliked the ideas of the Enlightment because they claimed it threatened their status and power.
3rd Estate: The Third Estate contained three different groups that made up 97% of the population in France.
Bourgeoisie - bankers, factory owners, merchants, and artisans. They paid high taxes and lacked privileges
Workers - The workers of France were the poorest group in France. They were tradespeople, apprentices, laborers, and servants.
Peasants - Peasants were the farmers of France. They contained 80% of the third estate. They paid about half of their income to the nobles and the clergy.
1st Estate: The First Estate contained the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. This was only 1% of the population of France. The 1st estate owned 10% of the land in France and contributed 2% of their income towards the government.
2nd Estate: The Second Estate contained nobles. This was only 2% of the population of France. The 2nd estate owned 20% of the land in Franc and contributed no taxes.
The 1st and 2nd Estates were known as the privileged esates. They both disliked the ideas of the Enlightment because they claimed it threatened their status and power.
3rd Estate: The Third Estate contained three different groups that made up 97% of the population in France.
Bourgeoisie - bankers, factory owners, merchants, and artisans. They paid high taxes and lacked privileges
Workers - The workers of France were the poorest group in France. They were tradespeople, apprentices, laborers, and servants.
Peasants - Peasants were the farmers of France. They contained 80% of the third estate. They paid about half of their income to the nobles and the clergy.
Causes of the French Revolution
It may not have appeared that France's economy was declining because production and trade were expanding, but in France the taxes were rising and made it almost impossible for businesses to make any profit. Just about everything in France was rising. The price of housing was rising and so were food prices. The bad weather that was occuring kept crops from growing and caused shortages of foods.
In the 1770s - 1780s the government of France was being ruled by Louis XVI and Marie Antionette. The spending that Louis and Marie were making was sinking the economy into a deep debt crisis.inue to buy gowns, jewels, and gifts. She later became known as "Madame Deficit". Marie would cont For him to keep France going, Louis continued to borrow money to help American revolutionaries in the 1786 war against Great Britian. After awhile the banks refused to lend the government officials any money which created serious problems. Under Louis the XVI he was not concerned about any problems in France. Queen Marie Antoinette did not help Louis in any way, she only made matters worse. Marie did not give Louis any good advice and she was a member of the royal family of Austria, which is an enemy of France and this time. As soon as Louis paid attention to the rising debt, he wanted to tax the nobility, or the Second Estate. The Second Estate disapproved this action and called for a meeting on May 5, 1789, at Versailles.
First Act of Revolution: As problems continue to rise in France, the Third Estate wanted to make a change in the government. Their idea was for all the estates to meet and have each delegate only have one vote. Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes was a clergy member that was siding with the Third Estate. Sieyes had given them the advice to call themselves the National Assembly, which would give them power to pass laws and reforms. July 17, 1789, they had hoped to end the rule of absolute monarchy in France and have a representative government.
Tennis Court Oath: This was the act of the Third Estate knocking down the door to the indoor tennis courts to recieve a new constition. Louis did not appreciate these acts and placed an army of Swiss guards around Versailles.
Storming the Bastille: On July 14, rumors were spreading that foreign troops were coming to Paris to murder the French. In hearing so, people began to gather weapons. They also broke into Bastille, a prison, to get more weapons and gunpowder.
Great Fear: The Great Fear was a march of women to the king and queen to riot about the rising bread prices in October of 1789. After the women had marched, a few hours later the royal family has exited and never returned to the palace.
In the 1770s - 1780s the government of France was being ruled by Louis XVI and Marie Antionette. The spending that Louis and Marie were making was sinking the economy into a deep debt crisis.inue to buy gowns, jewels, and gifts. She later became known as "Madame Deficit". Marie would cont For him to keep France going, Louis continued to borrow money to help American revolutionaries in the 1786 war against Great Britian. After awhile the banks refused to lend the government officials any money which created serious problems. Under Louis the XVI he was not concerned about any problems in France. Queen Marie Antoinette did not help Louis in any way, she only made matters worse. Marie did not give Louis any good advice and she was a member of the royal family of Austria, which is an enemy of France and this time. As soon as Louis paid attention to the rising debt, he wanted to tax the nobility, or the Second Estate. The Second Estate disapproved this action and called for a meeting on May 5, 1789, at Versailles.
First Act of Revolution: As problems continue to rise in France, the Third Estate wanted to make a change in the government. Their idea was for all the estates to meet and have each delegate only have one vote. Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes was a clergy member that was siding with the Third Estate. Sieyes had given them the advice to call themselves the National Assembly, which would give them power to pass laws and reforms. July 17, 1789, they had hoped to end the rule of absolute monarchy in France and have a representative government.
Tennis Court Oath: This was the act of the Third Estate knocking down the door to the indoor tennis courts to recieve a new constition. Louis did not appreciate these acts and placed an army of Swiss guards around Versailles.
Storming the Bastille: On July 14, rumors were spreading that foreign troops were coming to Paris to murder the French. In hearing so, people began to gather weapons. They also broke into Bastille, a prison, to get more weapons and gunpowder.
Great Fear: The Great Fear was a march of women to the king and queen to riot about the rising bread prices in October of 1789. After the women had marched, a few hours later the royal family has exited and never returned to the palace.