Author: Tom Richey
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http://www.tomrichey.net/euro This is the first part of my lecture series on the French Revolution, providing an introduction to the background and the causes of the chain of events that led to the Revolution. Before the French Revolution, France operated under the Old (Ancien) Regime in which the people were organized into three Estates: the First (Clergy), the Second (Nobility), and the Third (Everyone Else). The clergy and the nobility had several privileges, including exemption from paying taxes. The extravagant spending of the French monarchy combined with its inability to tax the first two estates created a financial crisis in the late 18th century. France's decision to assist the United States in the American Revolution pushed the French monarchy's finances to the breaking point, prompting King Louis XVI to call an "Assembly of Notables" in 1787 to investigate options for raising more revenue. The Assembly of Notables ended in failure, with the clergy and the nobility refusing to consent to taxation. Louis was left with no choice but to call the Estates General, where I will continue in the second lecture. This lecture is intended for AP European History and Western Civilization students, but is appropriate for high school audiences and lifelong learners, as well.