Immediate+Causes


 * Immediate Causes of the French Revolution **


 * ====the Old Regime left a legacy of unfair treatment and heavy taxation for members of the third estate[[image:http://www.xtimeline.com/__UserPic_Large/31443/evt090614105200021.gif width="200" height="248" align="right"]] ====


 * ====scarcity of bread, famine and unemployment plagued the masses ====


 * ====costly wars and frivolous spending of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette created more discontent ====

====**2. Rise of the bourgeoisie **====

France was economically unstable prior to the French Revolution
//(http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-facts/france-history/causes-of-the-french-revolution.htm#American)//
 * ==== An unmanageable national debt, both caused by and exacerbating the burden of a grossly inequitable system of taxation. ====
 * Food scarcity in the years immediately before the revolution.
 * Taxation
 * Debt
 * Food Scarcity

What is the Estates General meeting?
====The Estates General stemmed from a meeting that reunited an equal number of representatives from each Estate to solve this serious political crisis. ====

(// [] // )
 * **The First estate** represented the Roman Catholic clergy.
 * **The Second estate** represented the nobility, with its main governor, King Louis XVI and his "court".
 * **The Third estate** represented the rest of the population, the poorest and largest group of people.

The Estate General meeting was a great opportunity for the **third estate** that has less power become heard to the King.



:Focus on The National Assembly (1789 – 91)


= =

====The National Assembly declared rights of men that reflected the goals that the revolutionists later wanted to achieve during the French Revolution. ====


 * equality before the law
 * due process (art 7)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 1.5;">natural rights - liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression (art 2)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 1.5;">sovereignty resides in the Nation (art 3)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 1.5;">law is an expression of the General Will (art.6)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 1.5;">freedom of religion (art 10) [Jews as well, for 1st time)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 1.5;">free speech (art 11)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 1.5;">separation of powers (art 16)