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Harvest Failures
During this time, France experienced terrible harvests of grain, and had a huge cattle famine. Plus, they had a huge increase in population. This food shortage caused high prices of food, which were controlled mostly by Second and Third Estate. It was hard for the Third Estate to get food because of the such high prices. -
Bread Riots
In late April and early May, there were food shortages and flour shortages. These riots led to the Fall of the Bastille because it showed the Third Estate that the higher Estates were privileged and it was unfair. Supposedly, the Queen of France said that the Third Estate should just eat cake, which was impossible because they could not afford it. -
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American Revolution
This was a time when the French aided the American colonies, sending people, ammunition, weapons, and naval support across the ocean. This eventually led to the French Revolution because for one, it inspired the French people to revolt against the monarchy. And second, this brought them to near bankruptcy. -
General Estates Meeting
The General Estates meeting was a meeting of all the Estates. They were to come to a conclusion that something in their government was to change. However, each Estate only had 1 vote, even though the Third Estate outpopulated the other 2 estates by millions. The Third Estate was outvoted and was kicked out of the meeting, enraging them. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was made by the Third Estate after being kicked out of the Estates General Meeting. This lead up to the Fall of the Bastille because it made the Third Estate mad. -
King Louis XVI Sending Troops to Paris
Shortly after the Estates General meeting, the King sent troops to France because he thought that the French guards were being to sympathetic towards the assembly. There were rumors that the King did this to suppress the Third Estate, which made them mad. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a prison that was raided by the Third Estate. The raid confirmed that the Third Estate wanted change and were willing to wage war for it.