HIST 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Maximilien Robespierre, Olympe De Gouges, Jacobin
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Louis xvi, however, was a really weak leader b. ii. Wife: marie antoinette, from austria (which made her unpopular, since france and austria were enemies). Predisposition to dislike the king and queen, and then the economy would fail: 27 million people: three groups in society/three estates c. i. 1st estate: members of the clergy of the catholic church (130k). Local rulers until the 1600s, when they kind of became paid agents of the king. Very wealthy, dominate top positions in government, military, etc. Special privileges: also exempt from some taxes. c. ii. 1. Nonetheless, discontent with absolutism: want to go back to the days when they had power. c. ii. 2. Lafayette: enlightened, wanted to replace absolutism with something more logical limited monarchy c. iii. Various subsections: largest is the peasants (farmers); around of the population. Restrictions: had to do what nobles told them. c. iii. 1. Used to be moderately well off, but taxes start to rise faster than their wages c. iii. 2.
