On April 28, 1789, a disturbance occurred at a Paris wallpaper factory. A rumor had spread that the factory owner was planning to cut wages. 

Did you hear that the factory owner is planning to cut wages?

Enraged workers vandalized the owner’s home. They knew that France faced a severe economic crisis but thought financial reforms would ease the problem. The nobles were wrong.

By July, the hungry, unemployed, and poorly paid people of Paris had taken up arms. 

During the Middle Ages, the Church had exerted great influence throughout Christian Europe.

In 1789, France still used an outdated social system. Under old order, everyone in France was divided into one of three social classes.

1st Estate

2nd Estate

3rd Estate

The First Estate was made up of the clergy

The Second Estate was made up of the nobility

The Third Estate was made up of the vast majority of the population

In 1789, the French clergy still enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege.

The Church owned about 10 percent of the land.