French Revolution: Storming of Bastille 14th July 1789

Nota:

• -known for poor financial managerment (Louis&Marie Antoniette)  - expensive lavish lifestyle- $$$ spent on food, clothes,jewellery,  gambling etc. = Spent more than they could afford  -lead to taxes being raised thus Third Estate (90% population-80% which were peasants) to pay taxes since First Estate (The Clergys) and Second Estate (Nobles) had special privellges to avoid paying tax.  -Angered Third Estate as the majority of them were already poor and were now struggling to survive due to the huge taxes they had to pay  - more $$$ L&MA spent= more tax 3rd Estate payed. = angry peasants. thought it was unfair and lead to French Revolution 

1. FIRST ESTATE: Clergys (1%)

Nota:

• -L&MA= spent more than they could afford= poor financial mangerment= debt=France almost bankrupt  

1. L&MA= lavish lifestyle=spent more than afford=poor financial mangerment= debts=France almost bankrupt
   1. Debts by L&MA= more tax payed by Third Estate (97%, 80% peasants) { 1st&2nd Estate avoid tax due to special privellges}
      1. Angered Third Estate since 1st&2nd Estate didn't have to pay tax and L&MA lifestyle. Majority of them were poor already but were now really poor and struggling for survival due to huge taxes they had to pay

1. People in French society belonged to 3 social group- Estates. Were unequal in size and power

   Nota:

   • FIRST ESTATE: Clergys. -1% population  -members of people who work in Churches  -Escaped all taxes and had more power than lords  -least likely to revol due to their power  SECOND ESTATE: Nobles  -2% population  -owned 20% of land  -avoided most tax, had right to hunt, more power and top job in goverment etc.  -very wealthy  -least likely to revol due to their wealth and power THIRD ESTATE- Everyone else. middle class, urban worker, peanstry, landless, labourers  -97% poulation-80% were peasants

1. France was an absolute monarch- run by a monarch who has complete power and does not share power with parliament/any other governing body
   1. Absolute Monarchies were very popular in Europe in 1780s. Monarches claimed to be appointed by God
      1. 1774- Louis inherrited French throne, not interested in state affairs, was very young when made King
         1. Basic duties: *See people have bread, * kingdom successful in battle *produce country with heir
         2. Louis failed duties

1. meeting within 3 Estates to discuss the problems in France
   1. The Assembly of Notables (1st&2nd Estate) called by French Minister Colanne to plan land tax
      1. 1st and 2nd Estate argued it can only be decided by an Estate General meeting with the 3rd Estate
         1. Louis was angry and stopped the Assembly of Notables meeting. Paris Law court (nobles) stated Estates General meeting was needed
            1. Poor harvests= 50% increase in price of bread=riot. King called Estates General meeting on May 1789 in hope to raise money for France
               1. At meeting, some middle class members demanded a constitution. Louis attempted to break up assembly
                  1. Third Estate met at nearby tennis court. Pledged not to go home until France had a constitution. Called themselves the National Assembly, 20th June 1789

1. Estates General meeting was held to discuss problems within the 3 Estates