1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Explain the problems with the Estate System.
Describe the Estates-General. Why did the Third
Estate dislike it?
What was the National Assembly? What was their
goal?
Describe the storming of the Bastille.
THINKER: In your opinion, what was the BIGGEST
cause of the French Revolution? Think about what
created the most problems for France….what
inspired the third estate to revolt? Explain!
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Made up of clergy
About 1% of the
population
Controlled 5 – 10% of
land in France
Enjoyed many
privileges
Did not have to pay
taxes
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Made up of the nobility
About 2% of the population
Owned 25% of land in France
Held high positions in the
government and military
Owned large estates and paid
no taxes
Incomes came mostly from
peasants living and working on
their land
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Made up of Middle Class
(bourgeoisie), peasants, and
artisans
About 97% of population
Middle Class (doctors, lawyers,
merchants) were educated and
wealthy, but had no prestige or
privileges
Looked to Enlightenment
philosophers that spoke about
freedom and social justice
Peasants were forced to pay over
half of their income to king, clergy
and nobles
Members of this estate had no
voice in government
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In 1774, King Louis XVI and
wife Marie Antoinette came
to power
The king was faced with
severe debt and wanted to
tax the First and Second
Estates
The two estates refused to
pay the taxes
The king was forced to call
the Estates-General in 1789
#2 - Describe the EstatesGeneral. Why did the Third
Estate dislike it?
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The Estates-General was made up
of delegates from each estate and
each estate was given 1 vote
With this type of voting, the clergy
and nobility would vote together
and always overrule the Third
Estate
The Third Estate felt the vote
should be based on the number of
people in the estate, thus giving
them the majority vote.
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Fearing a revolt, the king locked
the Third Estate out of their
meeting place in the EstatesGeneral.
#3 - What was the National
Assembly? What was their goal?
The Third Estate then declared
themselves the National
Assembly and began meeting
in an indoor tennis court
Here, they took an oath called
the Tennis Court Oath—
refusing to disband until they
had a written constitution for
France
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The Bastille (a Paris prison)
symbolized injustices of the
monarchy
#4 - Describe the storming
of the Bastille.
July 14, 1789 a mob
surrounded the Bastille in
an attempt to steal weapons
needed to defend the
National Assembly
The soldiers killed 98 rioters
and the rioters released 7
prisoners
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This outbreak led to the
formation of a Revolutionary
Government in Paris
The Storming of the Bastille
led to a wave of violence in
France
This event is considered the
beginning of the French
Revolution
LONG TERM
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Enlightenment
American Revolution
Social Problems (Estate
System)
Political Problems
(Absolute/corrupt)
Economic Problems
(Debt/over-taxation)
SHORT TERM
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Growing economic
problems and monarch’s
unwillingness to help
Estates-General
Creation of the National
Assembly
Tennis Court Oath
Storming of the Bastille
#5 - THINKER: In your opinion, what was the BIGGEST cause of the French
Revolution? Think about what created the most problems for France….what
inspired the third estate to revolt? Explain!
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As you know, the National Assembly (3rd Estate) formed after they were
locked out of the Estates-General. They are the group that leads the
Revolution and it is their goal to create a new government!
For this partner reading, you are going to focus on the changes the
National Assembly made to the new French Government.
With a partner, you will each read a different topic about the new
government and the National Assembly
As you read, answer the following questions in your notes.
Once both people are finished reading, you will teach the information to
your partner.
Take good notes! Your partner is depending on you!
You can either write the question OR write in a complete sentence. I am
checking these for points tomorrow!
PARTNER A (PGS. 340-341)
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End of the Old Order (340)
PARTNER B (PGS. 342-344)
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List three decisions the National
Assembly made at the August
1789 meeting.
 Explain the Declaration of the
Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
 How did the King respond to the
Declaration?
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A New France (341)
How was the National Assembly
going to pay off their debts?
 What did the Constitution of 1791
set up? What new rights did it
give French citizens?
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Decline of the French
Monarchy
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What happened to the King
and Queen when they tried to
escape to Austria?
What happened after France
declared war?
A French Republic
What did delegates decide at the
National Convention?
 What new laws were
implemented under France’s first
democratic constitution?
