Background Notes- of the French Revolution
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Background Notes- of the French Revolution “It was the Best of Times it was the Worst of Times”
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Background Notes- of the French Revolution. “ It was the Best of Times it was the Worst of Times”. I. Absolute Monarchy. By the 1600s a system of government called absolute monarchy (monarch had total control of the state) had become dominant in Europe - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Background Notes- of the French Revolution
Background Notes- of the French Revolution
“It was the Best of Times it was the Worst of Times”
I. Absolute Monarchy
• By the 1600s a system of government called absolute monarchy (monarch had total control of the state) had become dominant in Europe
• Following Spain’s decline (revolt in Netherlands); France under King Louis XIV emerged as the leading power.– Louis XIV (1643-1715- 72 years); I am the state! Believed in the
divine right of kings- that God had ordained him and his will was law.
– Palace of Versailles elaborate and burden on French economy.– Personal emblem- the Sun- whose rays symbolized the extent
of his power and influence
King Louis XIV
Palace of Versailles
I. Absolute Monarchy (Cont.)– Under Louis XIV France had a 400,000 man army- most
powerful in Europe– Louis XIV had territorial ambitions- wanted to extend to
Rhine River- alarmed other nations.– Four wars fought between 1667-1713- financial burden,
many lives lost, French exhausted.– Louis XIV dies in 1715 and nobles win back many of the
powers they had lost during his rule– Louis XV- great grandson- 59 years of debt growing….– Louis XVI takes power young, shy, indecisive, marries
Marie-Antoinette from Austria.
King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
II. Tradition of Taxation
• France sold the right to collect the direct tax (tax collectors were called tax farmers)
• Tax farmers paid the government a fixed sum after collecting what they could and keeping any extra.
• Clergy and nobles did not have to pay taxes
III. Social Order
• First Estate- Clergy 1%• Second Estate- Nobles with right to primogeniture (2%)• Third Estate- 97% of population
– Bourgeoisie (middle class: merchants, manufacturers, and professionals/lawyers & doctors) had wealth and education—wanted political power equal to economic strength
– Laborers and artisans – resented “tax farmers” and fact that nobles didn’t pay
– Peasants (owed feudal dues and services); paid 1/10th to church (tithe) – resented work and little pay, all their pay going to the lord and the church.. PLUS nobles didn’t pay!
IV. Enlightenment Ideas
• Ideas of Locke, Montesquieu, and others inspired the French Revolution.
• American Revolution – followed these ideas as the colonists successfully rebelled against Britain’s king.
