•The Three Estates
•Enlightenment Ideas
•Economic Crisis
•Weak Leadership
•1st Estate – Clergy
1% of the total population
Pay no taxes
•2nd Estate – Noblemen
2% of the total population
Collect “Protection” Taxes
Pay no taxes
•3rd Estate – Everyone Else
97% of the total population
Workers
Peasants
Bourgeoisie
•3rd Estate begins to
challenge the authority of
st
nd
1 and 2 estates
•Reinforced the ideas of
equality and liberty
•High Taxes
•High Prices
•Food Shortage
•Huge spending by the
King and Queen
•Meeting of the EstatesGeneral
•Establishment of the
National Assembly
•Tennis Court Oath
•Storming of the Bastille
•3rd Estate refuses to be
st
dominated by the 1 and
nd
2 estates
•Asserted their
Independence
•Ended the Absolute
Monarchy
•Began a French
Representative Gov’t
•King forced to yield to the
demands of the National
Assembly
•July 14, 1789
•Prison
•Becomes symbol of the
revolution