French Revolution: Storming of Bastille 14th July 1789

French Revolution: Storming of Bastille 14th July 1789

1. CAUSES

   • FINANCIAL: Louis XVI in Financial Crisis 1786
     • -known for poor financial managerment (Louis&Marie Antoniette)  - expensive lavish lifestyle- $$$ spent on food, clothes,jewellery,  gambling etc. = Spent more than they could afford  -lead to taxes being raised thus Third Estate (90% population-80% which were peasants) to pay taxes since First Estate (The Clergys) and Second Estate (Nobles) had special privellges to avoid paying tax.  -Angered Third Estate as the majority of them were already poor and were now struggling to survive due to the huge taxes they had to pay  - more $$$ L&MA spent= more tax 3rd Estate payed. = angry peasants. thought it was unfair and lead to French Revolution 
   • SOCIAL: Ancien Regine (Social structure in Pre-Revolutionary France )
     • FIRST ESTATE: Clergys (1%)

2. CAUSES

   • FINANCIAL: Louis in financial run-1786
     • -L&MA= spent more than they could afford= poor financial mangerment= debt=France almost bankrupt  
     • L&MA= lavish lifestyle=spent more than afford=poor financial mangerment= debts=France almost bankrupt
       • Debts by L&MA= more tax payed by Third Estate (97%, 80% peasants) { 1st&2nd Estate avoid tax due to special privellges}
         • Angered Third Estate since 1st&2nd Estate didn't have to pay tax and L&MA lifestyle. Majority of them were poor already but were now really poor and struggling for survival due to huge taxes they had to pay
   • SOCIAL: Ancien Regine (Social Structure in Pre-Revolutionary in France
     • People in French society belonged to 3 social group- Estates. Were unequal in size and power
       • FIRST ESTATE: Clergys. -1% population  -members of people who work in Churches  -Escaped all taxes and had more power than lords  -least likely to revol due to their power  SECOND ESTATE: Nobles  -2% population  -owned 20% of land  -avoided most tax, had right to hunt, more power and top job in goverment etc.  -very wealthy  -least likely to revol due to their wealth and power THIRD ESTATE- Everyone else. middle class, urban worker, peanstry, landless, labourers  -97% poulation-80% were peasants
   • POLITICAL: Absolute Monarchy and state of affairs in Europe 1780s
     • France was an absolute monarch- run by a monarch who has complete power and does not share power with parliament/any other governing body
       • Absolute Monarchies were very popular in Europe in 1780s. Monarches claimed to be appointed by God
         • 1774- Louis inherrited French throne, not interested in state affairs, was very young when made King
           • Basic duties: *See people have bread, * kingdom successful in battle *produce country with heir
           • Louis failed duties
   • IMMEDIATE: The Estate General&Tennis Court Oath
     • meeting within 3 Estates to discuss the problems in France
       • The Assembly of Notables (1st&2nd Estate) called by French Minister Colanne to plan land tax
         • 1st and 2nd Estate argued it can only be decided by an Estate General meeting with the 3rd Estate
           • Louis was angry and stopped the Assembly of Notables meeting. Paris Law court (nobles) stated Estates General meeting was needed
             • Poor harvests= 50% increase in price of bread=riot. King called Estates General meeting on May 1789 in hope to raise money for France
               • At meeting, some middle class members demanded a constitution. Louis attempted to break up assembly
                 • Third Estate met at nearby tennis court. Pledged not to go home until France had a constitution. Called themselves the National Assembly, 20th June 1789

3. CONSEQUENCES

   • IMMEDIATE: The Collapse of the Ancien Regime/1791 Constitution
     • Estates General meeting was held to discuss problems within the 3 Estates