The French

Revolution 1789

©Teaching to the Middle

Learning outcome:

•Students should be able to

recognize The development of
events that led to the French
Revolution including the Old
Regime.
 the French Revolution
1 background
•1774- King Louis XVI became
the king of France

•Absolute monarch- leader

who is NOT bound by a
constitution- COMPLETE
power
(he believed that was giving to
him by God) ©Teaching to the Middle
2
Debt

King Louis XVI

inherited a lot of
debt from his
predecessors
Financial mismanagement
Increased the debt by
helping the thirteen
American colonies gain their
independence from the
Britain (1775-1783)

France+ American colonies≠

common enemy
Debt+ Financial mismanagement
By 1787, the French government was
BANKRUPT!

Why?
-Wars
-royals spent too much on luxuries
-corrupt tax system
 3 Bad Harvests
*French depended heavily on
agriculture & farming

*1787-1789: Terrible weather:

heavy rain, hard winters, too hot
summers

that led to: Food prices rose

sharply
*Farmers lost their jobs
*Poor starved ©Teaching to the Middle
Solution:
Rise taxes!
The most important question is:

Who Will
Pay the
taxes?
 Estates System
Since the middle ages France
was divided into three estates

©Teaching to the Middle

Read the text below and do the
activities
 THE THREE ESTATES
French society under the king was divided into three different groups called Estates.

THE FIRST ESTATE : 1% OF THE POPULATIOON

Was made up of members of the church from powerful leaders to ordinary priests, monks, and
nuns. Leaders were chosen from powerful noble families and were more interested in
government than religion. The Church owned large amounts of land and forced ordinary people
to pay fees and taxes. Church members had the privilege of being trailed in their own courts and
did not have to pay any taxes.

THE SECOND ESTATE : 2% OF THE POPULATION

Was made up of nobles who owned most of France’s land. These nobles had the right to
demand taxes from peasants in the form of food, money, or work.
They were also paid fees by peasants who wanted to grind their grain, bake bread, or make wine.
Nobles ran their own courts to put peasants on trial and punish them for almost any reason.
They didn’t have to pay taxes.

THE THIRD ESTATE : 97% OF THE POPULATION

Was made up of everyone else from the educated and wealthy middle class (the bourgeoisie) to
poor peasants and workers. Members of the estate had no say in government even though they
paid almost all the taxes. Peasants had to pay tithes tax (to the church) and taille tax (1/10 to be
, paid to the nobility) and indirect taxes on every day consumption (like salt)
Directions:
Who was in the First Estate and what privileges did they Who was in the Second Estate and what privileges did
have? (one privilege) they have? (one privilege)

Who was in the Third Estate, and how were they

discriminated against? (one argument)
Directions: Since the middle ages, French society has been divided by
law into one of three status groups (estates); complete the triangle by
writing down the name of each estate in order, along with their
percentage.
Directions: Put an X on
the correct answer
 Who said it?

The system of taxes in France is criminal. It should

have been changed years ago. I find them difficult
enough to pay and I have some wealth. I can’t
imagine how the others in the Third Estate cope.
What makes it worse is how those nobles and
clergymen get away with it.

clergy
Businessman (bourgeoisie)
Peasant Nobility ©Teaching to the Middle
 Who said it?

We are bleu blood, we haven’t paid taxes

for centuries, why should we pay them
now?

Clergy
Businessman(bourgeoisie)
Peasant Nobility ©Teaching to the Middle
 Who said it?

Our lives are hard enough without

having to work on the local
aristocrat’s land at harvest time for
nothing. France needs to change.

Clergy
Businessman(bourgeoisie)
Peasant Nobility ©Teaching to the Middle
Who was in the First Estate and what privileges did they Who was in the Second Estate and what privileges did
have? they have?

Church leaders/Priests, monks, and nuns . Nobles

Owned lands Owned land.

forced people to pay taxes and fees. Demand taxes and labor from the peasants.
Didn’t have to pay taxes themselves. Ran and had their own courts.
Didn’t pay any taxes.

Who was in the Third Estate and how were they

discriminated against?

Everyone else in France.

Had no say in government.

Paid most of France’s taxes. Paid special
labor taxes if they were peasants.
Directions: Since the middle ages, French society has been divided by law
into one of three status groups (estates); complete the triangle by writing
down the name of each estate in order, along with their percentage.

1st
estate Clergy
1%

2nd estate Nobility

2%

3rd estate
Commoners
97%
 Who said it?

The system of taxes in France is criminal. It should

have been changed years ago. I find them difficult
enough to pay and I have some wealth. I can’t
imagine how the others in the Third Estate cope.
What makes it worse is how those nobles and
clergymen get away with it.

clergy
Businessman (bourgeoisie)
Peasant Nobility ©Teaching to the Middle
 Who said it?

We are bleu blood, we haven’t paid taxes

for centuries, why should we pay them
now?

Clergy
Businessman(bourgeoisie)
Peasant Nobility ©Teaching to the Middle
 Who said it?

Our lives are hard enough without

having to work on the local
aristocrat’s land at harvest time for
nothing. France needs to change.

Clergy
Businessman(bourgeoisie)
Peasant Nobility ©Teaching to the Middle
Did you know that the United Arab Emirates
celebrates the International Day of Social
Justice on February 20th every year?
DISCUSSION
• Are
there social
inequalities like
this in today’s
world? Explain.