The French Revolution

Symbols of the French Revolution Flag = Tri-color Anthem = La Marseillaise Slogan = Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Clothing = Bonnet Rouge, No Short Pants (Sans Culottes) “The Nation’s Razor” = The Guillotine

The Estates of the Realm 1st Estate = The Clergy 2nd Estate = The Nobility 3rd Estate = Everyone Else (including bourgeoisie) Assembly of Estates to advice King = Estates-General Last time it met before 1789 = 1614 Stages of The French Revolution Pre-Revolution France = “The Old Regime” 1st Stage = Moderate = 1789-1792 2nd Stage = Radical = 1792-1795 (Reign of Terror) 3rd Stage = Reactionary – 1795-1804

Forms of Government during Revolution 1680’s – 1789 = Absolute Monarchy 1789 – 1792 = Constitutional Monarchy 1792 – 1804 = Republic 1804 – 1815 = Empire (under Napoleon) Important Political “Parties” Jacobin = more a club than a party (1st Radical org.) The Mountain Party = Robespierre / sat in balcony Sans-culottes = peasant allies of Mountain Party

Set Up of the French Legislative Chamber Left Middle Moderate Right Conservative Liberals

How is the Fr.Rev. different than the Am.Rev.? More Radical More Complex More Influential (to the world) More Controversial More Loved and Hated More Violent

Long Term Causes of the French Revolution Influence of the Enlightenment Experience of the American Revolution Financial Problems of the Government: Spending by King and Queen Supporting the Am. Rev. Tax-exempt status of Nobility Injustice of the Estates System Unfair privileges of the nobility (no taxes, feudal rights) Rising price of Bread (food instability)

Immediate Cause of the Revolution: Calling of the Estates-General in 1789 to try and fix the financial problems of the country.