Revolutions: The French Revolution Enlightenment thought led to revolutions around the world. One of the earliest and biggest Enlightenment-inspired revolutions was in France when revolutionaries replaced the long-established monarchy with a new democratic government. 1790s – Revolutionaries in France overthrew the French Monarchy to establish a democratic republic

Revolutions: The French Revolution By the time Louis XVI took the throne, many citizens of France had been influenced by French Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau. These philosophers argued for freedom of religion, separation of powers in government and a social contract between the people and the government. Louis XV was seen as a symbol of tyranny & the ‘ancient regime’ (old order). During the French Revolution, he was arrested, put on trial and executed in 1793 after only 15 years in power. Louis XVI

Revolutions: The French Revolution An Austrian-born duchess, Marie Antoinette was married to Louis XVI in her teens, becoming Queen of France. She was eventually despised by most of the French population, seen as wasteful, too-rich-to-care, and promiscuous. She was also executed during the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette

Revolutions: The French Revolution THE FORCES OF CHANGE There were many forces at work that led to changes and revolution in France. First, Enlightenment ideas led to more people questioning the government. Second, there were economic troubles stemming from colonial wars with England. Third, the population was expanding, the cost of living was on the rise as France sank further into debt. Fourth, bad weather was effecting crops and the population was going hungry. Finally, France had a leader that many believed to be too weak, too quick to borrow money from other countries, who was married to a wasteful woman, and who wasn’t kind to his people. LOUIS XVI

Revolutions: The French Revolution 1st Estate – CATHOLIC CLERGY Less than 1% of the population Owned 10% of the land provided education & relief to the poor 2% of their income went to taxes Believed the Enlightenment was too radical 2nd Estate – NOBLES Less than 2% of the population Owned 25% of the land Paid little to no taxes 3rd Estate – THE PEOPLE – 98% of the People (in 3 distinct groups) Owned 65% of the land Believed in Enlightenment ideas High taxes to nobles, clergy, & govt. (+/- 50%) Lacked Privileges

Revolutions: The French Revolution THE GREAT FEAR: 1789 Rumors spread that Nobles hired outlaws to terrorize peasants Panic spread, peasants revolted with pitchforks & torches 6,000 women peasants rioted over the cost of bread Peasants raided and burned nobles’ homes Palace of Versailles invaded by women Louis XVI permanently fled to Paris

Revolutions: The French Revolution Revolution begins!!! 1789 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: A meeting of 3rd ESTATE representatives met and agreed that their goal was to end the monarchy TENNIS COURT OATH: They broke into an indoor tennis court, Pledged to stay until the other estates agreed to a new constitution STORMING THE BASTILLE: rumors spread that foreign soldiers were coming to kill French citizens. Angry citizens invaded a French prison looking for ammunition to revolt against the King TENNIS COURT OATH STORMING THE BASTILLE

FRENCH DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN: 1789 Revolutions: The French Revolution FRENCH DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN: 1789 The French Declaration of the Rights of Man was a document produced during the French Revolution reflecting independence and Enlightenment ideals, “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

Revolutions: The French Revolution 1792: Third Estate leads an angry mob through Paris King Louis XVI was reduced to a prisoner Louis XVI was caught fleeing to Austria King was found guilty for being unfair to people Sentenced to death (a living ex-monarch was too dangerous) 1793: King beheaded by the guillotine.

Revolutions: The French Revolution One of the main leaders of the French Revolution was Maximillian Robespierre. Robespierre is known for his so-called “Reign of Terror”, which sought to find enemies of the French Revolution and eliminate them. This led to at least 20,000 beheadings. He tried to build a new France, but the beheadings continued. It was said of Robespierre that he governed like a dictator and he, “tried in the morning & put to death in the afternoon”. In the end, Robespierre himself was beheaded as France temporarily adopted a Republic. Robespierre

Revolutions: The French Revolution Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte soon emerged as Emperor of France after a political coup after Robespierre’s Reign of Terror. Ironically, this gave France a single authoritarian leader, much like the kings that used to rule the country. Napoleon brought France back to dominance by conquering other European powers. Napoleon lost popularity with a failed invasion of Russia and he was exiled from France.

Revolutions: The French Revolution A coalition of Austria, Sweden, Russia, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal defeated Napoleon in 1813 and banished him to the island of Elba. Napoleon escaped and marched triumphantly into Paris, but lost to the British in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo. He was exiled to the Island of Saint Helena, never to return again.

Revolutions: The French Revolution The ‘Bourbon Restoration’ meant that the royal family once again ruled France (Louis XVIII then Charles X). But by 1830, the Second French Revolution established a constitutional monarchy. By 1848, another revolution ended the monarchy entirely and established the French Second Republic. Louis XVIII Second French Revolution

Revolutions: The French Revolution This Second Republic lasted only three years until Napoleon III (the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte) staged another coup and proclaimed the Second French Empire in 1851. In 1870, a Third French Republic was created, lasting until the World War II Nazi takeover in 1940. Today, France is still a republic.

Revolutions: The French Revolution American Revolution (1776) Venn Diagram American Revolution (1776) Similarities French Revolution (1789) Both were Revolutions Both changed the govt. Influenced by Voltaire Influenced by Montesquieu Influenced By Rousseau Influenced by the Enlightenment Emphasized Freedom of Religion Neither had to answer to A King Both had a republic Happens in North America George Washington, Thomas Jefferson Ben Franklin, John Adams Declared Independence from England Fought a war against England Started a New Country Wrote a Constitution with a Bill of Rights Happens in France Louis XVI beheaded Marie Antoinette Beheaded Napoleon took over Tried to conquer Europe Beheaded 20,000 people Had a ‘reign of Terror’ They went Broke