FRENCH REVOLUTION 
Economic
Social
Political
Social
Political
Long-Term
Autocratic Monarchy
Long-term
Bankcruptcy
Short-Term
Poor Harvest
Intellectual
Short-Term
The Enlightenment
Long-Term
Ancien Regime
Short-Term
The Meeting of The General Estate
For several years, winters have been much colder than normal and the amount of arable land has not been increasing as it should
Thieves were no longer robbing valuables, they stole wagons of wheat
Prices were soaring, and peasants were on the verge of death from starvation.
There was not enough money left for food after paying taxes
France was divided into three classes.
1) Clergy, who lived lavishly, exploited people, and were free from paying taxes
2) Nobility who weren't required to pay taxes, either
3) Sweepers, farmers, and cobblers made up the peasantry's third estate. 98% of France's population belonged in the third Estate
They were the poorest people in France, obliged to pay taxes to support the first and second estate's lavish lifestyles.
The third class carried the financial burden of the whole country, yet they are always hit hardest during an economic contraction.
The French monarchy was on the verge of bankruptcy, partly due to its financial support of the American Revolution
The third class were the only people supporting France’s economy
The King’s financial advisors suggested taxing all three estates so King Louis XVI called for the Meeting of the General Estate to resolve the financial and famine crisis.
Rumours spread that in Versailles, nobles were living it up while the common folk starved, the monarch continued to neglected the dire circumstances
King Louis abused his power and lived in luxury while the peasants lay dying in his country
French society was ruled by an all-powerful king or queen who is thought to have been granted divine authority to rule by God.
The monarchy was indifferent to the suffering of their people. The inept governance of successive monarchs paved the way for the French Revolution.
The French people were outraged by the cost of maintaining his palace and Marie Antoinette's wasteful expenditures
King Louis had free will to do as he wants and no one could question him
On May 5, 1789, the Estates General met for the first time in 140 years to resolve the financial and famine crisis
voting was done “by order”—the first estate voted first, followed by the second estate and then by the third estate.
This meant the that first two estates would work together to outvote the third estate, despite them representing 98% of the population's needs.
The third estate protested this uneven representation and began to rally support for the abolition of the noble veto.
They gathered at an indoor tennis court to take the Tennis Court Oath three days later, vowing to continue fighting until judicial, fiscal, and governmental reform were achieved.
Immanuel Kant pointed out the corruption of absolute power. In his essay “The Only Possible Argument for Demonstrating the Existence of God"
John Locke stated that all men are equal and entitled to life, liberty and property.
This led many to wonder why they should continue to put up with the king's oppressive rule.
History, History.com Editors. "French Revolution". History.com https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-grade-10-topic-3-essay-questions
History, History.com Editors. "France Before the Revolution". History.com https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-grade-10-topic-3-essay-questions
“The French Revolution: Crash Course World History #29.” Youtube, uploaded by CrashCourse, 10 Aug. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTTvKwCylFY&t=175s.
“French Revolution: Mock Trial of Marie Antoinette.” Thehistorycat-World, www.thehistorycat-world.com/causes-of-french-revolution. Accessed 23 Mar. 2022.
Jennifer Llewellyn, Steve Thompson. “The philosophes”. Alpha History. October 20, 2019. https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/philosophes/. Accessed February 15, 2022
Jean-François Millet "Des glaneuses". Wikipedia. 1857. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gleaners.
Llewellyn, Jennifer, and Steve Thompson. "The Third Estate." Alpha History. July 4, 2018. https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/third-estate/. Accessed October 21, 2019
Stefano Bianchetti. "la guerre des farines". History.com 31 December 1899. https://www.history.com/news/bread-french-revolution-marie-antoinette.
Cameron Bradbury. "Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette". Linkedin. September 12, 2019. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/louis-xvi-marie-antionette-tragic-victims-brutal-saga-bradbury
Source: Class PowerPoint - French Revolution, unless cited
Social
Long Term
The Fall of Bastille
the collapse of Bastille became a symbol of the revolutionary spirit and the dying monarchy
The event marked the first time King Louis recognized that there was in fact a Revolutionary unfolding