France+Before+the+Revolution+(Pg.21-25)+JonathanK2013+09.01.2013

=**France Before Revolution (Pg. 21-25)**= =**Page 26**= 1) 2) Most people living in France wanted to change the system because it was unfair. The rich people could buy whatever they wanted but the poor could barley survive. There were 3 estates, the Nobility, the Clergy and Everyone Else. The Nobility and Clergy had lots more privileges over Everybody Else such as not needing to pay certain taxes and Feudal Rights and Dues. The government could also punish anyone without providing physical evidence, this resulted in some people getting punished for being falsely accused (Callas Affair).

3) E, B, G, A, C, I, D, H, F Causes: E,B,G,A,C Consequence: I,D,H,F

4) a) Political: People thought the king and minister had too much power b) Social: People dislike the fact that Marie Antoinette is Austrian c) Economic: Nobles disliked the government's plans for a new tax land because they would lose their privilege of tax exemption Many poor people blamed the government for high prices and unemployment. People disliked Marie Antoinette's extravagant spending

5) The people thought that the King and the ministers had too much power This is main reason because the King gave the Clergy and the Nobility privileges over everyone else. The Clergy and Nobility did not have to pay taxes and could make Everyone else pay a lot of taxes making the difference in wealth very high. The King also abused his power, he made sealed letters which would cause people to get exiled or imprisoned until the King allows them to go. The King abused his power too much.

6) Yes, the Queen was only an addition to what the government did that was bad. There were many other things that made the people of France unhappy. The King abused his power too much and made not just laws and would punish people just by hearing rumors.



The Estates General
**The Voting System**
 * Estate general met whenever the King wanted to consult it (Not often)
 * The Third Estate complained it was unfair; Nobles and Clergy would be able to out-vote the Third Estate two to one.
 * The King doubled the Third Estates vote, hoping that they would vote for the new taxes

**The Food Crisis**
 * In the countryside, **Mass Hunger** was developing
 * Caused by **Freak Weather**
 * On 13th July, 1788, a massive hailstorm destroyed food all over France
 * Followed by a Drought
 * **Result:** Sharp rise in price of bread
 * Families spent all their money on bread and stopped buying things like clothes, shoes, candles and fuels etc.
 * The factories that made these things lost business and many people lost their jobs
 * Unemployment --> Added to Hunger --> Led to Riots --> Strikes in many parts of the country

**The Complaint** **List**
 * List of complaints that people wanted the Estate General to discuss with the King

**The Estates Meet**
 * First meeting took place on 5th May 1789, met at largest hall in Versailles
 * The Three Estates were told to split up and carry on meeting in separate halls
 * Third Estate unhappy with this order, disadvantage for them because they would get out numbered by the Noble and Clergy
 * They would only participate if the Estate General joined them in a single ‘National Assembly’
 * The Clergy and Nobles refused to do so, the Third estate then gave them an ultimatum if at the end of the week, they did not join them they would start the work of the General Estate themselves.
 * Act of defiance against the King, Louis was angry and ordered a Royal Session and warm them to not defy him any further
 * Louis then started loosing control of events at Versailles
 * 19th June, Clergy joined the Third Estate, Clergy arrived in their meeting hall but found the door guard by guards and people preparing for the King’s Royal Session

**The Tennis Court Oath**
 * Feared Louis was going to break their assembly by force
 * It was raining, so they all went to the Tennis Court, in there they took an oath to carry on meeting until they had changed the way France was governme
 * On 23rd June ( **Royal Session** ), the King ordered the deputies to meet in their separate estate
 * 27th June, ordered nobles and clergy to join 3rd state in an assembly, National Assembly (France’s legal parliament).
 * Revolution Begins

The Clergy and Nobility welcomed the idea of voting because they could easily outvote Everyone Else (Third Estate). The Third Estate then asked the King for double votes because it was unfair as the Clergy and Nobility wold always win. The King agreed because by doing this he hopes the Third Estate might vote for the land tax relieving him of the government being bankrupt. At the same time, there was a mass hunger all over France which is caused by flooding and droughts, this caused the prices of bread to increasing making people spend all their money on bread instead of other things like clothes, shoes, etc. This resulted in many factories going bankrupt because no one would by their products such as clothes and shoes. The government then asked the people for a list of complaints about the government, many people complained about taxes and the three estates, how some people were extremely wealthy while others were very poor. The Estates met but the third estate demanded an assembly because if they were to split, it would be an disadvantage to them because of the voting system. The Clergy and Nobility at first refused but in the end the Clergy and the Nobility joined and the King gave in. The King lost his absolute power and the revolution begins.
 * Summary**

Why would the King ask for a list of complaints? Wouldn't it just cause more opposition if their demands were not met? If the King had absolute power, why didn't he use force to control the people? Why couldn't the King cut down on his expenses instead of increasing the taxes?
 * Questions:**