Old Regime
The social and political system of France in the 1770s.
Estates
three large social classes the people of France were divided into.
First Estate
made up of clergy of Roman Catholic Church, scorned Enlightenment ideas.
Second Estate
made up of rich nobles, held highest offices in government, disagreed about Enlightenment ideas.
Third Estate
included bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and peasant farmers; had no power to influence government; embraced Enlightenment ideas; resented the wealthy First and Second Estates.
Louis XVI
king of France, known as a weak, over indulged, and indecisive king.
Marie Antoinette
queen of France, known for her overspending, indifference of the lower classes, and gambling.
Estates-General
an assembly of representatives from all three estates.
National Assembly
a group proposed by the Third Estate to pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people.
Tennis Court Oath
Third Estate delegates found themselves locked out of their meeting room. They broke down a door to an indoor tennis court, pledging to stay until they had drawn up a new constitution.
Great Fear
A wave of senseless panic. Before long, rebellion spread from Paris into the countryside. From one village to the next, wild rumors circulated that the nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize the peasants.. The peasants soon became outlaws themselves. Arm
What were some of the characteristics of the First Estate (how much land owned how much taxed)?
They owned 10 percent of the land in France. It provided education and relief services to the poor and contributed about 2 percent of its income to the government.
What were some of the characteristics of the Second Estate (how much land owned how much taxed)?
Was made up of rich nobles. Although they accounted for just 2 percent of the population, the nobles owned 20 percent of the land and paid almost no taxes.
Who were the three groups that made up the Third Estate?
Bourgeoisie, the workers, and the peasants.
What were some of the characteristics and beliefs of the Third Estate Bourgeoisie?
Middle class�were bankers, factory owners, merchants, professionals, and skilled artisans. Often, they were well educated and believed strongly in the Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality. Although some of the bourgeoisie were as rich as nobles, t
What were some of the characteristics and beliefs of the Third Estate Workers?
This group formed the second, and poorest, group within the Third Estate. These urban workers included trades people, apprentices, laborers, and domestic servants. Paid low wages and frequently out of work, they often went hungry.
What were some of the characteristics and beliefs of the Third Estate Peasants?
They accounted for more than 80 percent of France's 26 million people. They paid about half their income in dues to nobles, tithes to the Church, and taxes to the king's agents. They even paid taxes on such basic staples as salt. They and the urban poor r
What other factors contributed to the revolutionary mood in France?
New ideas about government, serious economic problems, and weak and indecisive leadership, extravagant spending of Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette, war debt, and high taxes all helped to generate a desire for change.
Why did the Third Estate propose a change in the Estates General's voting rules?
They insisted that all three estates meet together and that each delegate have a vote. This would give the advantage to the Third Estate which had as many delegates as the other two estates combined.
What was the significance of the formation of France's National Assembly?
On June 17, 1789, they voted to establish the National Assembly, in effect proclaiming the end of absolute monarchy and the beginning of representative government. This vote was the first deliberate act of revolution.
How did the women's march mark a turning point in the relationship between the king and the people?
The king and queens exit that was demanded by the rioting French women that they leave Versailles and return to Pairs signaled the change of power and radical reforms about to overtake France.