Nobility vs Bourgeoisie

French Revolution

• The financial crisis triggered by France's involvement in the American Revolutionary War led to the need for a new tax system in France.

Estates of France

• The Third Estate, making up 98% of the population, was composed of commoners, including peasants, artisans, and bourgeoisie, with most working as farmers, artisans, or merchants.
• The clergy made up the First Estate, while the nobility made up the Second Estate, with its main function being to provide military service and defend the king.
• The three estates in France prior to the French Revolution were the Clergy (First Estate), the Nobility (Second Estate), and the Commoners (Third Estate).

Challenging the Monarchy

• The nobles of the robe (high-ranking government officials) challenged the divine right of the king in France.

Estates-General and National Constituent Assembly

• The goal of the Estates-General in 1789 was to address France's financial crisis.
• The event that led to the reconstruction of the National Constituent Assembly in July 1789 was the failure of the Estates-General to reform France's tax system.

Key Events of the Revolution

• The Tennis Court Oath was significant because it marked the National Assembly's pledge to continue their work on a new constitution despite the king's orders to disperse.
• The Women's March on Versailles in 1789 was significant because it forced the royal family to return to Paris, demonstrating the people's power.

Principles and Causes

• A key principle of the French Revolution was the idea of equal rights and opportunities for all citizens.
• The main cause of the French Revolution was the financial crisis caused by the burden of taxation on the common people and the privilege and inequality of the nobility and clergy.

Test your knowledge on the distinctions between nobility and bourgeoisie in France. Learn about the concept of "nobles of the robe" and the qualifications for noble status. Explore the blurred lines between the bourgeois and the aristocracy.