France divided France divided into 3 classes or estates First estate-clergy Enjoyed wealth and privilege Condemned enlightenment thinkers Second estate-nobility Competed for appointments at Versailles Many lived far from center of power, little financial income Third estate-rest of population Top-Bourgeoisie (merchants, lawyers, doctors) Poorest- urban workers (apprentices, journey men)

Financial troubles Louis XIV left France in massive debt Bad harvests sent food price soaring Solution: increase taxes, decrease spending

Economic reform fails Louis XV created more debt Louis XVI week and indecisive Jacques Neckar- financial expert and advisor Reduce extravagant court spending, reform gov’t, abolish international trade tariffs Proposed taxing First and Second Estates Louis XVI decides to call the Estates-General Representatives of all 3 estates

Estates prepare grievance notebooks All 3 estates prepared cahiers Notebooks listing their grievances Most wanted fairer taxes, freedom of press, and regular meetings of Estates-General

Tennis Court Oath Third Estates wanted estates to meet and votes counted by head Claiming to represent people of France declared themselves National Assembly Meeting hall locked and guarded Fearful king would dismiss them moved to indoor tennis court Swore “never to separate and to meet wherever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution”

Parisians storm the Bastille July 14, 1789 Over 800 Parisians assembled outside Bastille Symbol to people of France representing abuse by monarchy Medieval fortress used as prison Crowd believed weapons and gunpowder stored Commander refused to open, opened fire on crowd Mob broke through defenses, found no weapons “Wake up call”

French Revolution 4 Separate phases Phase 1 (1789-1791) Moderate- National assembly France became a constitutional monarchy Phase 2 (1792-1794) Radical- escalating violence, end of monarchy Reign of Terror Phase 3 (1795-1799) Reaction against extremism Directory  Phase 4 (1799-1815) Age of Napoleon

Phase 1-National Assembly Nobles and Clergy forced to “accept” ideas of revolution Estates system is ended 1st Constitution- Declaration of Rights of Man (ideas of natural rights; liberty, fraternity, equality) Olympe de Gouge- Dec of Rights of Women

Louis VXI reaction Louis XVI refuses to accept political Moves to Versailles in protest Bread March (Oct. 1789)  Louis attempts to escape to Austria to raise army and return to power  Caught and returned to Paris

War with Austria Austria opposed revolution and supported Louis XVI France declares war on Austria  Prussia joins Austria France loses first battles; wins war

Phase 2-Reign of Terror National Convention takes over gov't Controlled by radicals, abolishes monarchy Louis XVI found guilty of treason and beheaded Marie Antoinette beheaded later

National convention Two main political groups Jacobins (radical) and Girondists (moderates) Jacobins gain control and declare war on all monarchies in Europe Those opposed to Jacobins are arrested

Reign of Terror "Reign of Terror" against all opposition to Jacobins 17,000 people executed in Paris, 40,000 total Watch committees hunt down traitors About 85% killed that are innocent Maximillian Robespierre Leader of Committee of Public Safety Danton (leader of Jacobins) thought "Reign of Terror" should end-killed for treason Jacobins eventually turn on Robespierre have him executed

Guillotine Dr. Joseph Guillotin Proposed a gentler method of execution Created French guillotine Heavy blade sliding vertically in grooves Used for beheading Used heavily during “Reign of Terror”

Phase 3- Directory New constitution created with 2 house legislature and 5 person executive Another ineffective form of gov't Riots and food shortages common French want stronger gov't Politicians began to turn to Napoleon Bonaparte