French Society in the Late 18th Century

French Society in the Late 18th Century

• The French society was divided into three estates during the late 18th century.
• The gap between the rich and poor widened, leading to subsistence crises.

The Rise of the Middle Class

• The middle class believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth.

Influence of the American Constitution

• The American Constitution and its guarantee of individual rights influenced the political theories in France.

Louis XVI and the French Monarchy

• Louis XVI inherited a full treasury when he became king of France in 1774.
• The Third Estate formed the National Assembly in 1789.
• The storming of the Bastille occurred in 1791.

Peasant Revolts and Constitutional Reform

• Peasant revolts took place in the countryside in 1791.
• A constitution was framed in 1791 to limit the powers of the king and to guarantee basic rights to all human beings.

Enlightenment Philosophers

• John Locke, an English philosopher, put forward ideas about equality in late 18th century France.
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a French philosopher, not German, put forward ideas about equality in late 18th century France.