The French Revolution 1789-1804 Life, Liberty, Fraternity

Causes of the French Revolution

What is a revolution? A sweeping or dramatic change The French Revolution was a political revolution. The French people attempted to change their government in a dramatic way.

What caused the French Revolution? Am. Rev. & ideas of the Enlightenment Unfair Social Divisions (3 Social Classes) Unequal Taxes and gov’mnt representation Gov’mnt Debt Caused by the King Now let us explore each cause…

How was French society divided? Divided into 3 Estates- similar to lower class, middle class, upper class France’s Social Classes were called estates.

What were the Estates? First Estate Clergy (church officials) = 1% of the population & 10% of land ownership Second Estate Aristocracy or Nobles = 2% of population & 25% of land ownership ($$$$$$$) Third Estate Everyone else = 97% of population & 60% of land ownership. wealthy bourgeoisie (Middle Class - merchants, lawyers, doctors, etc.) & poor peasants

What does bourgeoisie mean? Pronounced: bor-zwa-zee Middle class They were the top of the French third estate (not nobles, but still wealthy)

First Estate Clergy Second Estate Nobility Third Estate 97% Draw this! First Estate Clergy 1% Second Estate Nobility 2% Third Estate 97% Everyone Else

How were the French represented in government? Each Estate got 1 vote for the government. Maximum 3 votes 1st and 2nd Estate always voted together. (2-1 majority) The third estate was always unrepresented (even though there were more of them)

How were the French taxed? 3rd Estate paid a majority of the taxes in France yet had no voice in their government. They paid tithing's to the Church They paid rent to landlords They paid taxes to the king (Sound familiar? “NO taxation without representation!” was the rally cry for the American Revolution)

What was the king spending all the tax money on? 1- Wars = debt 7 Years War American Rev. 2- Fancy lifestyles = debt

How did the King help cause Revolution? King Louis XVI (16), was a weak leader and big spender in a time of crisis. Commoners were starving The 3rd Estate was already over taxed and banks didn’t have money. He called on the Estates-General to try to get more money.

What is the Estates-General? An assembly made up of representatives from all 3 estates. France’s version of Parliament or Congress. Each estate receives one vote.

What happened at the meeting of the Estates-General? The Third Estate (most people/least power) wanted a new power structure. Every male citizen should have a vote, NOT one vote per Estate. They wanted more representation in the government. The First & Second Estates said NO.

Revolution Begins

How did the 3rd Estate react? The 3rd Estate seceded (broke away) and formed the National Assembly What was the National Assembly? It was what the 3rd Estate’s challenge to the existing government. At the next Estates-General meeting the 3rd Estate was not allowed to meet. The members of the 3rd Estate representatives were worried that punishment was coming.

What is the Tennis Court Oath? After the National Assembly was locked out of the Estates-General meeting they needed somewhere to meet. They decided to meet on a tennis court. This event was known as the Tennis Court Oath. On June 17, 1789 567 out of 577 members pledged the oath in which they agreed to: "not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established". The creation of the National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath was the first time French citizens stood against the king.

How did the people react? They went crazy! The Storming of the Bastille Word of the National Assembly and Tennis Court Oath spread quickly around Paris. On July 14, 1789, mobs of angry peasants stormed the Bastille The Bastille was a prison and armory (where weapons are held). The peasants got the weapons out and tore the Bastille down It was a symbol of the King’s power. This event represented the beginning of the revolution, and July 14, or Bastille Day, is a national holiday in France.

What happened after the Bastille fell? Riots broke out across France Peasants raided the homes of nobles, killing and looting. Why? b/c they were angry about the unfair Estate System, high taxes, and their increased poverty.

In 1791, a constitutional monarchy was established On 26 August 1789, the Assembly published the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. It was a statement of principles not a constitution. The Declaration was directly influenced by Thomas Jefferson working with General LaFayette, who introduced it. In 1791, a constitutional monarchy was established It weakened the power of the king and gave more power to the people in the form of the Legislative Assembly. The revolution continued but became more radical.

How did France’s Revolution become so radical? A few very radical and militant groups rose to power by supporting the right of all men to vote and by punishing the revolution’s enemies with the guillotine. In late 1791, the Constitution was set aside, as the king was imprisoned, and the legislature became the National Convention. The Convention declared France a republic. Many of the Convention were members of the radical revolutionary group, the Jacobins.

How did surrounding nations react to France’s government change? Surrounding European monarchies worried that France’s revolution would encourage revolution in their countries. They began preparing their militaries to attack France to reinstate the Monarchy. To protect the revolution, The National Convention of France: Started a military draft to raise an army to defend against surrounding European monarchs Instituted the guillotine as a way of protecting the revolution from “enemies” within France.

What is the Reign of Terror? Jacobin, Maximilien Robespierre became the Chairman of Public Safety in mid-1793. It was his job to organize punishments to those who challenged the revolution. Robespierre eventually became dictator and began the Reign of Terror in France. During the Reign of Terror (15 months), 25,000-40,000 citizens deemed “enemies of the Revolution” were executed by guillotine. Queen (Marie Antoinette), church officials, and many nobles were executed. Robespierre became too radical for even the members of the National Convention and was executed himself July of 1794.

What happened after the Reign of Terror? After the execution of Robespierre, things calmed down and the revolution took a more conservative turn. From 1795-1799, France was ruled by five moderate men known as the Directory. Eventually the Directory lost favor in France. Enter…..NAPOLEON!