FIRST ESTATE: CLERGY

SECOND ESTATE: NOBLES

THIRD ESTATE: EVERYONE ELSE

We are the poorest, but we work the hardest and pay the most taxes!!

pre- revolution

Who are the Players?

France was split into three estates, first, second, and third. The first Estate was the clergy. The second estate was the rich nobles. The third estate was everyone else in France. France was ruled by King Louis XVI. He was a very powerful ruler, and he wanted a strong empire. Even though he was a powerful ruler, he was blamed for moth of France's problems

???

I am such a great king, but I and my kingdom are broke. hmm..... I will just make the people pay taxes. But only the 3rd estate!

pre- revolution

Since Louis wanted to have a strong empire, he would spend all his money on luxury items and war for land. To be able to pay for all of the expenses he would tax the estates(especially the 3rd estate). The 3rd estate was the poorest. The people were not always able to pay the taxes for the king. This would cause the 3rd estate to riot against the king.

We are tired of paying taxes for the king! We are already broke enough. Why can't the first or second estate pay for it?

pre- revolution

The riots started to get worse. The 3rd estate was mad that the other estates did not have to pay these taxes. These riots would soon lead to the French Revolution. 

estates general

head vote

no, order vote

Fine, we will just become our own national assembly

After hearing all of the complaints from the 3rd estate, King Louis XVI called the Estates General. There was two debating on the voting process. Each estate only got one vote. This was called the voting by order. Even though third estate had more people, this was the way the other estates wanted it. The 3rd estate wanted to where each person got one vote. This was called the Voting by Head. The 3rd Estae was ignored. They decided to form their own assembly.

Chapter 1

This will work. We are now our own National Assembly!

We need to make the Tennis Court Oath.

The Assembly they formed was called the National Assembly. After they got locked out of their new meeting place, they realized they had no where else to go but a tennis court. After they gathered here, they made an oath called the Tennis Court Oath. They told eachother that would not leave until France changed their rules up a bit. 

FREEDOM!!

LIBERTY!!

On July 14, 1789, some of France's citizens became angry. They stormed the Bastille, which is a prison that showed the king's power. Soon, people started marching through France. They shouted, "Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!" A little bit later, there was another riot.

Chapter 2

Give us more bread!!

Bread riot

Thousands of woman stormed the Palace of Versialles to demand more bread. They stormed the courts and protested against Marie Antoinette. The Queen was hording wheat in the Palace. These riots soon lead to her execution.

Great Fear

Another riot that the people had was call the Great Fear. the peasants of the 3rd estate stormed the houses of the nobles. They feared that the nobles were going to try and stop the Revolution. 

We have a new constitution

I do not want to lose my power!