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Financial Troubles
Many things were soaking up money from the French treasury. The Seven Year's War and the American Revolution were great costs. They also borrowed a lot of money. Then half of the money they got from raised income went towards the interest on their debt. -
The Estate General is Called
France was on the verge of complete bankruptcy. Bread riots came very often, and nobles were fearful of taxes. The Third Estate decalred that they wanted an even voting system depending on the amount of heads.The three Estates then took a famous oath called The Tennis Court Oath, swearing never to seperate until they established a sound and just constitution. -
The Storming of Bastille
More than 800 Parisians assmebled at the Bastille on hearing the rumor of royal troops coming to occupy the capital. They thought the Bastille was filled with weapons and gunpowder. The Parisians conquered the Bastille (a symbol of years of abuse by monarchy) which then posed a threat to Louis XVI since this was no short lived riot. -
French Society Divided
On the eve of the revolution, the ancien régime or old order was divided into the First Estate (clergy/religion), Second Estate (nobility), Third Estate (majority of the population/bourgeoisie or the educated). The Third Estate was trying to speak up, wanting more privileges, and have the other two estates pay their share of taxes. -
The National Assembly Acts
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Political Crisis Leads to Revolt
It came along with the worst famine in memory. People had to spend as much as 80% of their income. Rumors of government troops stealing peasants crops made the peasants unleash their fury on royals. Lafayette lead the National Guard , a middle-class militia and were the first to don the tricolor badge that then became the national flag of France.
