5.1 Problems in France

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 3

5.1 Problems in France

Goals for this lesson

At the end of this lesson you...

• Can explain the rising dissatisfaction about class society in France.
• Can name the demands of the third estate.
• Know what role the king and queen played in bankrupting France and creating political unrest.

Map of France (1697-1789)

Map of Lousiana (c. 1789)

Which famous king ruled France during the 17th century? His nickname was 'sun king'

Louis XVI

•  Married to Austrian archduchess Marie Antoinette.
• Marie would be seen as a foreigner by the French.
• Many dislikes her taste for extravagant parties.

What did Louis XVI do to save the economy?

Objects with Van Bruggen

The three estates

• 1st = Clergy (<1%)
• 2nd = Nobility (2%)
• 3rd = Rest of the population (98%). They owned only 65% of the land and payed 100% of all the taxes.

Which estate would this person be in?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third

Which estate would this person be in?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third

Which estate would this person be in?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third

Which estate would this person be in?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third

Third estate

•  Included a group known as the bourgeoisie = well educated and sometimes prosperous people.
• Examples: doctors, authors, lawyers, members of guilds.
• They demanded the same privileges as the 1st and 2nd estates.

River Thames in 1788/1789

Bankrupt?

• To avoid bankruptcy Louis XVI had to ask the 1st and 2nd estates to pay taxes.
• That could not be done without assembling the Estates General. 

1789 Estates-General

1st Estate

303 delegates

1 vote

2nd Estate

282 delegates

1 vote

2nd Estate

578 delegates

1 vote

Why was this system unfair for the third estate?

Goals for this lesson

At the end of this lesson you...

• Can explain the rising dissatisfaction about class society in France.
• Can name the demands of the third estate.
• Know what role the king and queen played in bankrupting France and creating political unrest.