Questions and Answers
The nobility and clergy were exempt from taxes in the Estate System.
True
What was the main reason for the financial crisis in France?
Wars, including the American Revolutionary War
Which of the following was a social cause of the French Revolution?
The representatives of the 3rd estate, joined by some members of the 1st and 2nd estates, declared themselves the _______________________.
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What was the immediate cause of the French Revolution?
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The nobility held most of the power and wealth in France.
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Match the following causes of the French Revolution with their descriptions:
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What was the taille?
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What was the purpose of the king convening the Estates General in 1789?
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The Third Estate had more representatives than the First and Second Estates combined.
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What was the name of the oath taken by the National Assembly?
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The Estates General was a periodic meeting of the three estates of France: the ___________, the nobility, and the commoners.
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Match the following estates with their descriptions:
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Study Notes
Causes of the French Revolution
Social Causes
- ** Estate System**: France was divided into three estates: Clergy (1st), Nobility (2nd), and Commoners (3rd). The 3rd estate was burdened with taxes, while the 1st and 2nd estates were exempt.
- Enlightenment Ideas: Spread of ideas like liberty, equality, and democracy inspired the common people to question the authority of the monarch and the aristocracy.
- Social Inequality: The nobility and clergy held most of the power and wealth, while the common people were oppressed and deprived of basic rights.
Economic Causes
- Financial Crisis: France was heavily indebted from wars, including the American Revolutionary War, and the burden fell on the common people.
- Taxation: Heavy taxation, including the taille (land tax) and gabelle (salt tax), affected the common people disproportionately.
- Food Shortages: Crop failures and food shortages led to widespread poverty and discontent.
Political Causes
- Absolute Monarchy: King Louis XVI's authoritarian rule and lack of effective governance created resentment among the people.
- Privileges of the Nobility: The nobility's exemption from taxes and their hold on power created resentment among the common people.
Immediate Causes
- Estates-General of 1789: The assembly of representatives from all three estates, called to address the financial crisis, became a platform for the expression of grievances and demands for reform.
- National Assembly: The representatives of the 3rd estate, joined by some members of the 1st and 2nd estates, declared themselves the National Assembly, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.
Causes of the French Revolution
Social Causes
- France was divided into three estates: Clergy (1st), Nobility (2nd), and Commoners (3rd), with the 3rd estate bearing the burden of taxes.
- The Enlightenment spread ideas like liberty, equality, and democracy, inspiring the common people to question the monarch and aristocracy.
- Social inequality prevailed, with the nobility and clergy holding power and wealth, while common people were oppressed and deprived of basic rights.
Economic Causes
- France faced a financial crisis due to debts from wars, including the American Revolutionary War, with the burden falling on common people.
- Heavy taxation, including the taille (land tax) and gabelle (salt tax), disproportionately affected common people.
- Crop failures and food shortages led to widespread poverty and discontent.
Political Causes
- King Louis XVI's absolute monarchy and ineffective governance created resentment among the people.
- The nobility's exemption from taxes and hold on power created resentment among common people.
Immediate Causes
- The Estates-General of 1789, an assembly of representatives from all three estates, became a platform for expressing grievances and demanding reform.
- The National Assembly was formed when representatives of the 3rd estate, joined by some 1st and 2nd estate members, declared themselves the National Assembly, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.
Estates General
- Representative assembly in France that played a significant role in the French Revolution.
Background
- Comprised of three estates: clergy (First Estate), nobility (Second Estate), and commoners (Third Estate).
- Convened by the king to address financial and political issues.
- Last meeting before the French Revolution was in 1614.
1789 Convocation
- Convened by King Louis XVI on May 5, 1789, to address France's financial crisis.
- Third Estate, representing 95% of the population, was underrepresented in the assembly.
- Each estate had one vote, regardless of the number of representatives, favoring the privileged classes.
National Assembly
- Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly on June 17, 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.
- Goal was to create a new constitution and reform the French government.
- Adopted the Tennis Court Oath, pledging to continue their work until a constitution was established.
Key Demands
- Equal representation in the Estates General.
- Creation of a new constitution.
- End to absolute monarchy and feudal privileges.
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Description
Explore the social causes that led to the French Revolution, including the estate system, Enlightenment ideas, and social inequality.
