Onset of the French
Revolution
Agenda
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1. Bell Ringer: Quick Practice Questions (10 minutes)
2. Lecture: Onset of Revolution in France (20 minutes)
3. Estates Chart (10 minutes)
4. Image interpretation: Revolutionary Views (10
minutes)
• 5. Illustration of Revolution (15 minutes)
• 6. Storming of the Bastille (15 minutes)
• 7. Objectives
• HW: Test on Thursday!!
The Estates
• The people of France
were divided into
Estates, a holdover
from the Feudal
system.
• First Estate
– Catholic Church and
Clergy.
• Second Estate
– Nobles, made up 2%
of the population.
Third Estate
• Constructed of several groups
within the Estate
• Varying economic status, 98%
of the population.
• Group 1- Bourgeoisie,
– Merchants and Artisans
– Well educated and
believed in enlightenment
ideas.
• Group 2- skilled workers,
cooks and servants.
• Group 3- Peasants, 80% of the
population
Reasons for Revolution
• Enlightenment Ideas– People looked at Voltaire
and Montesquieu
– Success of American
Revolution.
• Economic Woes
– Heavy taxation led to little
profit.
– Crop shortages led to
higher prices on food.
– Debt by previous leaders.
• Weak Leadership
– Louis XVI was indecisive,
Marie Antoinette was more
worried about gambling…
The Estates-General
• France was facing
bankruptcy
• Attempts to tax the
Second Estate led to a
meeting of the EstatesGeneral in 1789.
• Each Estate had their
own hall, and each one
had one vote.
– Not exactly equal.
• Third Estate wants to
meet together to promote
equality, king refuses.
Storming the Bastille
• They form the National
Assembly, beginning the
Revolution.
• Form a new Constitution
called the “Tennis Court
Oath”
• Fearing military action by the
French royals, peasants
storm the Bastille.
• Bastille surrenders and the
mob rushes in, kills and
decapitates several soldiers,
and parade their heads
through town on spikes.
Illustration of the Revolution
• Imagine you are trying to
get the word about the
Revolution to everyone in
France. Literacy is
severely limited, so it
must be an illustration.
Create an illustration
showing the “need” for a
Revolution against Louis
XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Image Interpretation