The Estates System and the French Revolution

First Estate

Clergy; paid no taxes and had a lot of power.

Second Estate

Nobility; also paid no taxes and were wealthy and influential.

Third Estate

Everyone else (97% of the population); heavily taxed and had no power.

Bourgeoisie

Middle class within the Third Estate, including lawyers and merchants.

Rural peasants

Farmers within the Third Estate, NOT slaves.

Urban workers

The poorest group within the Third Estate, worked long hours for little pay.

Estates General

Legislative body that had 1 vote per estate, leading to the 1st and 2nd Estates always beating the 3rd.

Jacques Necker

Finance minister who suggested taxing the 1st and 2nd estates and was subsequently fired.

National Assembly

The Third Estate that broke away and swore to create a new constitution.

Tennis Court Oath

An oath taken by the National Assembly to create a new constitution after being locked out.

Storming of the Bastille

On July 14, 1789, Parisians stormed a fortress/prison for weapons, marking the start of the revolution.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

August 1789 document with goals to reduce the power of the Church, sell Church land, and put the Church under government control.

March on Versailles

Led by women demanding the King and Queen see the poverty people were living in, targeting Marie Antoinette.

King and Queen Executed

In 1791, after trying to escape and being caught, they were executed.

Declaration of Pillnitz

Austria and Prussia warned France to restore the monarchy.

Jacobins

Middle class radicals in government led by Robespierre who wanted no monarchy.

San-Culottes

Urban poor not in government who had street power and pushed for radical voting.

Reign of Terror

1793-1794 period led by Robespierre where thousands were jailed or executed for not supporting the revolution.

Rise of Napoleon

In 1799, he overthrew the Directory, set up the Consulate, and declared himself Emperor.

Napoleon's Fall

Failed Continental System, disastrous invasion of Russia, and final defeat at Waterloo leading to exile.