Name ________________________________________ Date ____________ Class Period ____________
Background to the Revolution
The Three Estates
- clergy
- 0.5-1%
- paid no taille
- 130,000 people
owned 10% of the
land
- nobility
- 2% of the population
- paid no taille
- 350,000 people owned
25% of the land
- bourgeoise
- commoners
- artisans
- peasants
- 98 % of the population
- paid 100% of the taille
- 2 million crowded on 65% of the land
Use this diagram to list the
characteristics of people
that belong in each of the
three estates.
The 3rd Estate
demands 1
vote per
person in the
Estates
General
Use this web diagram to
list the factors that
contributed to the
French Revolution.
The King
denies the
new voting
method
The 3rd Estate
breaks away
and forms the
National
Assembly
Other causes:
- Food shortages
- Unemployment
- lavish spending
by the monarchy
People begin
to feel as if
they could also
make changes
within their
own country
The
American
Revolution
The French
Revolution
Complete the timeline below using the information in class. Identify the four governmental
bodies that ruled France after the Estates-General convened in 1789 and before Napoleon seized
control in 1799. Also indicate the years that each of these four bodies controlled France along
with a quick description.
The Estates General
(the French
Parliament)
April 1302 –
May 1789
National Convention
and the Committee of
Public Safety
1792-1795
- The reign of Terror took
place during this time
- Pursued a dechristianization
policy.
- adopted a new calendar
system
National Assembly
1789-1791
Legislative Assembly
1791-1792
- group created by the 3rd
Estate when they broke away
from the Estates General.
- adopted the Declaration of
the Rights of Man and the
Citizen
- started drafting a new
constitution
- was set up in the National
Assembly’s new constitution
- Made the laws but shared
power with a limited
monarchy
- some people (radicals) didn’t
think that this was enough
and decided to take over after
only a year
Directory/Legislature
1795-1799
- Churches were allowed to reopen
- a new constitution was written
- Established a National Legislative
Assembly with 2 chambers, the
Council of 500 and the Council of
Elders.
- The Council of Elders elected 5
directors to act as the executive
committee
- this was a time of corruption
- ended with a coup detat led by
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon’s
Consulate and
Empire
May 1804 –
April 1814