Name Class Date

The French Revolution and Napoleon

Section 1

The French Revolution Begins

Terms and Names
Old Regime System of feudalism
estate Social class of people
Louis XVI Weak king who came to French throne in 1774
Marie Antoinette Unpopular queen; wife of Louis XVI
Estates-General Assembly of representatives from all three estates
National Assembly French congress established by representatives of the Third Estate
Tennis Court Oath Promise made by Third Estate representatives to draw up a new
constitution
Great Fear Wave of panic

Before You Read

In the last chapter, you read about the Enlightenment and the American
Revolution.
In this section, you will learn about the beginning of the French
Revolution.

As You Read
Use a chart to take notes on the causes and effects of the early stages of
the French Revolution.
THE OLD ORDER (Pages 651–652) bourgeoisie—merchants and skilled
How was French society unequal? workers—city workers, and peasants.
In the 1700s, France was the leading Members of the Third Estate were
country of Europe. It was the center of the angry. They had few rights. They paid up
new ideas of the Enlightenment. However, to half of their income in taxes, while the
beneath the surface there were major rich paid almost none.
problems. Soon the nation would be torn 1. What were the three classes of French
by a violent revolution. society?
One problem was that people were not
treated equally in French society. A the 1st estate (church clergy), 2nd
political and social system called the Old estate(nobles) and 3rd estate (regular
Regime remained in place. The French people).
were divided into three classes, or estates.
The First Estate consisted of the Roman
Catholic clergy. The Second Estate was
made up of nobles. Only about 2 percent THE FORCES OF CHANGE
of the people belonged to these two (Pages 652–653)
estates. Yet they owned 20 percent of the Why were the French ready for the
land. They had easy lives. revolution?
Everybody else belonged to the Third Three factors led to revolution. First,
Estate. This huge group included the the Enlightenment spread the idea that
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250 Guided Reading Workbook

Name Class Date
Section # continued

everyone should be equal. The powerless At one point, the members of the Third
people in the Third Estate liked that. Estate found themselves locked out of
Second, the French economy was failing. their meeting. They broke down a door
High taxes kept profits low, and food leading to a tennis court. Then they
supplies were short. The government promised to stay there until they made a
owed money. Third, King Louis XVI was new constitution. This promise was called
a weak leader. His wife, Marie the Tennis Court Oath.
Antoinette, was unpopular. She was from Louis tried to make peace. He ordered
Austria, France’s long-time enemy, and the clergy and nobles to join the National
was noted for her extravagant spending. Assembly. However, trouble erupted.
In the 1780s, France was deep in debt. Rumors flew that foreign soldiers were
Louis tried to tax the nobles. Instead, they going to attack French citizens. On July
forced the king to call a meeting of the 14, an angry crowd captured the Bastille, a
Estates-General, an assembly of Paris prison. The mob wanted to get
delegates of the three estates. gunpowder for their weapons in order to
2. What three factors led to revolution? defend the city.
High taxes, short good supplies and 3. Why did the National Assembly form?
the enlightenment ideas
because the general public was
unhappy with their situation
DAWN OF THE REVOLUTION
(Pages 654–655) A GREAT FEAR SWEEPS FRANCE
How did the Revolution begin? (Page 655)
The meeting of the Estates-General What was the Great Fear?
began in May 1789 with arguments over A wave of violence called the Great
how to count votes. In the past, each estate Fear swept the country. Peasants broke
had cast one vote. The Third Estate now into and burned nobles’ houses. They tore
wanted each delegate to have a vote. The up documents that had forced them to pay
king and the other estates did not agree to fees to the nobles. Late in 1789, a mob of
the plan because the Third Estate was women marched from Paris to the king’s
larger and would have more votes. palace at Versailles. They were angry
The Third Estate then broke with the about high bread prices and demanded that
others and met separately. In June 1789, the king come to Paris. They hoped he
its delegates voted to rename themselves would end hunger in the city. The king
the National Assembly. They claimed to and queen left Versailles, never to return.
represent all the people. This was the 4. What happened during the Great Fear?
beginning of representative government There was a violent insurrection
for France.
As you read about the dawn of revolution in France, write notes to answer
questions about the causes of the French Revolution.
How did each of the following contribute to the revolutionary mood in France?
1. The three estates 2. Enlightenment ideas

An unfair system set up by the french

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Section # continued

3. Economic crisis 4. Weak leadership

How did each of the following events lead to the French Revolution?
5. Meeting of the Estates-General 6. Establishment of the National Assembly

7. Tennis Court Oath 8. Storming of the Bastille

Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor .

252 Guided Reading Workbook