1. American Revolution
1.1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights.
1.1.1. This says that all men are created equal with rights that cannot be taken away. This is seen in the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
1.2. [I]f arrested… all harshness not essential to the securing of the prisoner's person shall be severely repressed by law.
1.2.1. The 8th amendment in the U.S. Bill of Rights states that bails, fines, and punishments that are not worth the crime - like paying more money than needed - are not allowed.
1.3. Every citizen may… speak, write, and print with freedom
1.3.1. The 1st amendment in the U.S. Bill of Rights protects the freedom of speech, religion, press, and the right to peaceful protest and petition the government.
2. French Economy + DEBT
2.1. Debt is an obligation or something owed like money, a service, or an item of property.
2.2. French economy was buried in debt. They spent most of their money on wars between other great power and lavish things for the upper classes. Taxes were constantly being increased because of the lack of leadership.
3. Poor Leadership
3.1. Louis XVI
3.1.1. he faced enormous amounts of debt on the economy. he was very indecisive and paid little attention to the details in his government. most of his money was spent on wars and aiding the Americans for their independence. He put off dealing with emergencies until he had no money left. This led him to impose taxes on nobility.
3.1.1.1. Meeting of the Estates-General
3.1.1.1.1. after Louis XVI imposed taxes on nobility, The Second Estate forced him to call a meeting of the Estates-General to approve the new tax. This meeting was an assembly of representatives from all three estates. This meeting was the first meeting in 175 years held on May 5, 1789, at Versailles.
3.2. Marie Antoinette
3.2.1. Marie Antoinette was Louis XVI's wife at the time. She only added to Louis XVI's problems. She gave him very poor advice on government. She spent their money on things like gambling, jewelry, and clothing. Marie Antoinette was then known as "Madame Deficit."
4. The Estate System
4.1. The First Estate
4.1.1. Clergy of Roman Catholic Church
4.1.2. 10% of land in France
4.1.3. 2% of taxes
4.1.4. less than 1% of population in France
4.1.5. rejected enlightenment ideas
4.2. The Second Estate
4.2.1. Rich nobles
4.2.2. held highest offices in government
4.2.3. 20% of land in France
4.2.4. 0% of taxes
4.2.5. 2% of the population in France
4.2.6. disagreed with enlightenment ideas
4.3. The Third Estate
4.3.1. included bourgeoisies, urban lower class/workers, and peasant farmers
4.3.1.1. bourgeoisies were the middle class of the third estate, workers were the poorest group of the third estate, and the peasants were the largest group with more than 80% of France's 26 million people
4.3.2. no power to influence government
4.3.3. envied the wealth of the first and second estates
4.3.4. 50% of taxes
4.3.5. 97% of population in France
4.3.6. embraced enlightenment ideas