French revolution notes

French Revolution Notes

Estates

Class system (triangle) ranked by how close to god
King/sovereign (outside triangle)
1st (1-2%) Clergy (church)
2nd (1-2%) Nobility
3rd (97%) all others/commoners
Each estate has 300 representatives in the estates general
Unfair voting
Each estate only gets one vote
3rd wants a double vote
Locked 3rd estate out of the estates general and does the tennis court. Starts calling themselves the national assembly.
King(Sovereign) isn’t in an estate because he is closest to god and is above estates
The king is the state and will call himself France
Church has a big advantage
Take tithe
Doesn’t have to pay taxes on their land
Controls the school system
Nobles
Have a lot of power
Are judicial system
Run parliament so the king can’t tax them without their permission
Commoners who are middle class -bourgeoisie
Leaders in enlightenment ideals because they are always getting behind even though they have the potential to make money

Constitution

Voltaire - free thinker
Enlightenment
Free speech prevents oppressions
Nation is the source of sovereignty.
King is a part of the body instead of being the body
Public guard instead of just king's guard
Everyone pays taxes
Montesquieu
Enlightenment thinker
Separations of powers in government
3 branches of government - check each other to prevent authoritarianism and oppression
Executive - king
Legislative branch - makes laws and rep the people
Judicial branch - makes sure the laws make sense and enforce them

Values