Fun fact: during the French Revo, George Washington became the first President of the USA
- started in 1789 and lasted untill 1799
- In 1700s, France and England were considered the most advanced countries in Europe and the world
- It had a large population and a great foreign trade
- Much of the world didn't know they extreme debt that France had occurred
Old Regime-
- the social and political systems of France was called the old regime
- Under this Regime there were 3 large social classes called estates
First Estate-
- Made up of the Roman Catholic Church (priest, bishop, deacons and clergy)
- Had to pay 2 percent of their earnings to taxes
- Owned 10 percent of the land in France
- Jobs were to provide relgion, ed, and relief to the poor
- Less than 1 percent of French population were in this estate
Second Estate-
- made up rich nobles
- held the highest offices in the government of France
- This estate paid 0 percent of income taxes
- Owned 20 percent of the land in France
Third Estate-
- Included everyoen that wasnt in the first two
- Had no power to influence their government
- Had to pay 50 percent of income and food to taxes
- Resented the first two classes
Enlightenment Ideals
- complex with many influence
- 3rd estate was becoming very tired of Old regime
- They prompted the ideals
Weak leader
- Louis XVI was a very weak leader
- Very indecisive and paid little attention to his advisors
- Marie didnt help much either with expressing her opinion and she was from Austria
- He finally wanted to tax the nobles but they werent happy there either so the Estates General was called
Estates General
- An assembly of rep. from all esates
- Their goal was to approve the new tax
- The meeting was held on May in Versailles
- It was the first time in 175 years
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