Aim: How did life in France lead to the
“French Revolution”? Day 2
Do Now: Complete the handout on “The Three
Estates of France.” You are to answer questions
#1-3 in full sentences on the handout.
Using the desk map, locate France.
The French Monarchy:
1775 - 1793
Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI
Activity:
• Read the handout, “What Were the
Causes of the French Revolution?”
• Answer questions #1-3 in full sentences in
your notebooks.
Social Causes for the
Revolution:
• Widespread poverty (to be poor) and
hunger caused by high rents charged
by wealthy landowners (2nd Estate)
• People were also poor because they
had to pay taxes to the King and the
Church (1st Estate).
Economic Causes for the
Revolution:
• Expensive Wars
• Bad harvests crops), which caused prices
to become high.
• King, Queen, and Nobles in the 2nd Estate
spent more money than they earned.
• Third Estates paid all the taxes.
Political Causes of the Revolution:
• Absolute Monarchy:
King Louis XVI denied the people basic
rights and the 3rd Estate had no say in
government.
The Queen, Marie Antoinette was
hated by the French because she spent a
lot of money and she was Ausrian.
Enlightenment Ideas:
• Ideas led many French people to question
how the government was being ran.
– Why should the First and Second Estate have
privileges and the Third estate pays for it?
English and American Examples:
1. England’s Glorious Revolution (1689)
showed that authority could be
challenged.
2. American Revolution (1776): fight for
liberty (freedom) and equality from
England.
Convening the Estates General
May, 1789
Last time it was called into session
was 1614!
National Assembly/ Tennis Court Oath, June 20, 1789
• National Assembly/Oath of the Tennis Court,
June 20, 1789
Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789
Y Rioters break open prison and let criminals free to
loot and murder in the streets.
Y 18 died.
Y 73 wounded.
Y 7 guards
killed.
Y It held 7
prisoners
[5 ordinary
criminals & 2
madmen].
Closing Thoughts:
What do you think is going to
happen next?