What caused the French
Revolution?
Louis XIV vs. Louis XVI
(14)
(16)
• “Sun King”
• Ruled until he died at 77
• Imperial wars,
• Married to Marie Antoinette
• Supported lowering the taille!
• Beheaded during the
allied himself
French Revolution
with local leaders
because he symbolized
absolute monarchy.
Bourgeoisie complaints
• In addition to all the social unrest, bourgeoisie were:
• Upset with the old, rigid social order
• Fed up with the French budget (nearly collapsed in 1788)
• Angry at food shortages (bad harvest), rising prices, and
unemployment
Primary Source
“All the country girls and women are without shoes or
stockings; and the plowmen at their work have neither
shoes nor stockings to their feet. This is a poverty that
strikes at the root of national prosperity.”
-an unknown English traveler in France
Estates-General
• Louis XVI called a meeting- 300 each of First and Second Estate
representatives, about 600 Third Estate representatives.
• Third Estate wanted a constitutional government that would make
everyone pay the taille.
• Voting problems- each estate gets one vote (how would this
usually play out?)
National Assembly
• June 17, 1789 – Third Estate declared themselves the “National
Assembly” and will draft a constitution.
• June 20, 1789 – National Assembly goes to meet, finds they are
locked out!
• Moved to a nearby tennis court and made an oath (the Tennis
Court Oath) that they would continue to meet until they drafted a
constitution.
King’s Response?
•How do
you expect
the King to
respond?
Hmph!
Vocab review
1. Who is this?
2. What is the name for the
French main tax?
when
3. The Third Estate called
themselves the _____________
drafting the constitution in the
summer of 1789
Vocab review
4. The French middle class is known as the
______________________
5. What was signed here?:
HINT: