Main Ideas:
1789
The majority of France was poor, separated into three estates: the First Estate, the Second Estate, and the Third Estate. The First and Second Estates had many more privileges than the Third Estate did, creating very clear lines between them. The two Estates did not need to pay as many taxes as the Third Estate did, aiding in their cockiness and belief that they were better than the others. The Third Estate hated this set up, resenting the government for making them pay so many taxes.
The people were not capable of switching into different Estates, either: the Estate you were born into, was the one you would die in. This fact made it difficult for their daily survival, incapable of claiming better jobs and wages, they struggled with their money. Overall, the Third Estate was very unhappy.
At this time, the government was spending a huge amount of money, harvests weren't turning out well and the king was trying to solve economic troubles but failed. Each Estate was given one vote, hoping to help out the government. Unfortunately, the First and Second Estate always outvoted the other. The Third Estate decided to make their own National Assembly. This led to the storming of the Bastille. They broke into the fortress, released the 7 prisoners, and headed to the weapons. That was their main motive. They needed weapons to rebel.
The majority of France was poor, separated into three estates: the First Estate, the Second Estate, and the Third Estate. The First and Second Estates had many more privileges than the Third Estate did, creating very clear lines between them. The two Estates did not need to pay as many taxes as the Third Estate did, aiding in their cockiness and belief that they were better than the others. The Third Estate hated this set up, resenting the government for making them pay so many taxes.
The people were not capable of switching into different Estates, either: the Estate you were born into, was the one you would die in. This fact made it difficult for their daily survival, incapable of claiming better jobs and wages, they struggled with their money. Overall, the Third Estate was very unhappy.
At this time, the government was spending a huge amount of money, harvests weren't turning out well and the king was trying to solve economic troubles but failed. Each Estate was given one vote, hoping to help out the government. Unfortunately, the First and Second Estate always outvoted the other. The Third Estate decided to make their own National Assembly. This led to the storming of the Bastille. They broke into the fortress, released the 7 prisoners, and headed to the weapons. That was their main motive. They needed weapons to rebel.
Details:
The Declaration of Rights of Man was written in 1789. It used our Declaration of Independence as a model, taking main ideas like the natural rights of all men and the declaration of the job of the government is to protect the natural rights of the people from John Locke.It proclaimed that all male citizens were equal, people are free to practice any religion, and it promised to tax people according to how much they could afford. It abolished the special privileges of the nobility and announced an end to feudalism. It also took over and sold the church's lands, along with many other laws.
But of course, not everyone was happy with the changes. These people were moderates. Their unhappiness would cause the next four, violent phases of the French Revolution. The Jacobins felt that the changes were enough and wanted to end monarchy completely. The conservatives desired a change back to the way things were. The third and final group were the monarchies, they felt threatened by the "French plague."
But of course, not everyone was happy with the changes. These people were moderates. Their unhappiness would cause the next four, violent phases of the French Revolution. The Jacobins felt that the changes were enough and wanted to end monarchy completely. The conservatives desired a change back to the way things were. The third and final group were the monarchies, they felt threatened by the "French plague."
Skill Set #1: Limiting Government
• Both the French and American Revolutions created Separate Branches.
• The French Revolution and the Glorious Revolution wrote out documents that declared their natural rights and protected them (i.e. the French Declaration of Rights and the English Bill of Rights).
• The French and American Revolutions both agreed that reducing the power of monarchy was the best plan.
• The French Revolution and the Glorious Revolution wrote out documents that declared their natural rights and protected them (i.e. the French Declaration of Rights and the English Bill of Rights).
• The French and American Revolutions both agreed that reducing the power of monarchy was the best plan.
Skill Set #1: Written Constitutions
• Both the French Revolution and the American Revolution were influenced by the Enlightenment Thinker's ideas and values.
• Similar to the Glorious Revolution, the French Revolution recognized the need to document the limitations of power.
• The French Revolution believed in no taxation without representation, as did the American Revolution.
• Similar to the Glorious Revolution, the French Revolution recognized the need to document the limitations of power.
• The French Revolution believed in no taxation without representation, as did the American Revolution.
On the morning of July 14th, 1789, a group formed of craftsmen and salesmen decided to fight back and ran to the Invalides to steal some weapons. The mob stole 28,000 riffles there, however no powder was to be found. The crowd knew that a pile of powder was stocked in the Bastille, a prison that was a symbol of the King's absolute and arbitrary power. So they decided to attack it.
At 4pm, the Marquis de Launay surrendered and let the people enter the Bastille. The guards were violently killed and the Marquis de Launay was beheaded, with his head then put on a stake and carried all over the city as a sign of victory.
There weren't many prisoners in the Bastille at the time of the storming; only 7 people were freed.
At 4pm, the Marquis de Launay surrendered and let the people enter the Bastille. The guards were violently killed and the Marquis de Launay was beheaded, with his head then put on a stake and carried all over the city as a sign of victory.
There weren't many prisoners in the Bastille at the time of the storming; only 7 people were freed.