French Revolution History Class

Study Notes

France was an advanced nation in the 1700s, with a large population, prosperous trade, and the Enlightenment.

1st Estate: Clergy, owned 10% of land, paid 2% of income to the government, and received 10% tithes from the people.
2nd Estate: Nobility and Aristocracy, owned 20% of the country, paid little in taxes, and opposed Enlightenment ideas.
3rd Estate: 97% of the people, paid most of the taxes, consisting of:
- Bourgeoisie (middle class, professionals): educated, supported Enlightenment ideas, and paid high taxes.
- Workers (domestic servants, laborers, factory workers): low wages.
- Peasants (80% of population): paid ½ of income to Nobles, tithes to the Church, and taxes to the king.

Enlightenment ideas of government.
Serious economic problems:
- Cost of living increased.
- Price of bread doubled in 1789.
- Commerce was almost impossible.
- Extremely high taxes.
- Poor harvests.
- Government debt.
Weak, indecisive leadership:
- Louis XVI ignored the problem.
- Marie Antoinette gave poor advice.

Assembly of all 3 estates, first time in 175 years.
Met on May 5, 1789, at Versailles.
The 3rd Estate demanded:
- One vote per delegate.
- Meeting together with other estates.
Nobility sided with the king, wanting to maintain medieval rules of voting.

Created on June 17, 1789, by the 3rd Estate.
Abolished the absolute monarchy and began a representative government.
3 days later, the 3rd Estate was locked out of the meeting room, leading to the Tennis Court Oath.
At the Tennis Court, the National Assembly remained until they created a new constitution.