The French Revolution is a watershed moment not just in the history of France, but for all of humanity. Old ideas of class, hierarchy, and the divine right of kings are being challenged. For the first time since the classical era, an urban proletariat is starting to demand its own voice in politics. But the Revolution doesn’t start that way.

What begins as a financial crisis for the French government requires a legislative body to sign off on new taxes. This body, the Estates General, calls for additional reforms, which provokes a reactionary response from the conservative faction of the government, led by Louis XVI’s Austrian wife, Marie Antoinette. The public backlash goes beyond the Estates General, culminating in a series of street riots that end in one of history’s most iconic moments: the Storming of the Bastille. Dan’s interview with Ben Kitchings of The History Voyager podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/07xhGEgKsxnCdziyitLWBQ

What is the Third Estate? (Complete text): https://pages.uoregon.edu/dluebke/301ModernEurope/Sieyes3dEstate.pdf

SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE!

Relevant History Patreon: https://bit.ly/3vLeSpF

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/38bzOvo

Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q

Subscribe on Google Music: https://bit.ly/30hUTRD

Relevant History on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3eRhdtk

Relevant History on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Qk05mm

Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTx_oaOfhi7aZmALI_W1Sy-d_sPnveEGE6zmtHEbLuDWRYb3pS5LCX7x7sKUHQFlNp9IuFaUSW94HFP/pub