Stop and Ponder! During the last 20 years in America some believe that the gap between the rich and the poor has widened. Do you believe that this is a true statement? Explain with examples.

The French Revolution 1789 Unit 3

France 1789

The 3 Estates Late 18th Century, French Society divided into 3 Estates (classes) 1st Estate Church (owned 10% of the land) paid no taxes 2nd Estate Nobles (owned 20% of the Land) paid no taxes 3rd Estate Everybody Else paid all taxes

The 3 Estates (con’t) 3rd Estate Everybody Else Mostly Peasants 1st Estate Clergy 1% of French Society 2nd Estate Wealthy Nobles 2% of French Society 3rd Estate Everybody Else Mostly Peasants 97% of French Society Paid all taxes

Breakdown of the 3rd Estate Bourgeoisie (merchants and artisans): They were well-educated believed strongly in the ideas of Enlightenment philosophers Wage laborers (cooks, servants etc.): paid low wages and often out of work Peasants (formed 80% of France’s population): they paid half of their incomes in dues to nobles, tithes to the church, and taxes to the king

Who’s Above All the Estates? King Louis XVI (16th)

King Louis XVI 1780’s French King was Louis XVI, great grandson of King Louis XIV “Sun King” Lived in the Palace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles

Forces of Change in French Society Enlightenment Ideas Economic Problems Weak Leadership

Enlightenment Ideas New views about the nature of political power and the role of government people began to see government role to help the people be Happy and harmonious, not oppressive people began to see themselves as the source of governments’ power, not God (reject Divine Right)

Enlightenment Ideas (con’t) Economic Problems France population was expanding rapidly in the late 1700’s heavy taxes made it impossible for people to make any profits King Louis XVI kept taxing the people to pay for his debts and elaborate lifestyle

Enlightenment Ideas (con’t) Weak Leadership King Louis XVI allowed problems to linger: He paid no attention to his advisors Louis put off dealing with France’s economic problems until France became bankrupt

Queen Marie Antoinette

Queen Marie Antoinette (con’t) Louis’ wife Marie Antoinette was hated by the French people: because she was Austrian (France’s enemy at the time) because she spent so much money on jewels and gifts

Estates General Not until it was too late did Louis finally do something May 5, 1789 King Louis XVI called for the Estates General a meeting of representatives from all three estates to discuss tax reform and getting France out of debt This was the first such meeting in France in over 175 years!

Stop and Ponder! Turn to page 192 1. How could such a situation develop in one of the most advanced countries in the world? 2. What could make people angry enough to behead others and carry their heads on poles? 3. How successful could a revolution of peasants be?

Estates General (con’t)

The National Assembly On June 17, 1789 members of the third estate voted to establish the National Assembly (like Parliament) Estates General meeting the first two estates sided with the King: tried to silence members of the third estate (the majority of French society) This vote was the first step of revolution against King Louis XVI and the first two estates

Tennis Court Oath

Tennis Court Oath (con’t)

Tennis Court Oath (con’t) June 20, 1789: third estate representatives were locked out of their meeting room at the Estates General: they broke down the door to an in-door tennis court They pledged to stay there until they drew up a new constitution for France This pledge is called the Tennis Court Oath

Stop and Ponder! Is it ever justifiable to participate in armed revolution against your government? Why or why not? Provide examples.

Declaration of the Rights of Man August 27, 1798 the National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man Guaranteed equal justice, freedom of religion and speech Influenced by English Bill of Rights Next step in the French Revolution

Stop and Ponder! Page 195 Bottom Responding to fine art. Answer the Comparing and contrasting question (bottom-center).

Declaration of the Rights of Man

The Great Fear 1789 Peasants in the countryside Peasants became angry and decided to strike first Revolution spreads From Paris into French countryside Peasants in the countryside heard that nobles hired bandits to terrorize them in the countryside broke into nobles’ mansions, stole things, burned records of their debts, burned mansions

Bread Riots

Bread Riots 1789 They then marched on the palace of Versailles and killed two guards October 1789 6,000 women in Paris rioted over the price of bread They demanded the King and Queen leave their palace of Versailles and return to Paris (13 miles) This signaled the change of power from the King to the people

The Legislative Assembly The National Assembly created a limited Constitutional Monarchy The National Assembly handed its power over to the newly formed Legislative Assembly. September 1791 the National Assembly completed a new constitution new constitution stripped the King of his power: gave Legislative Assembly power to create laws The Legislative Assembly had the Legislative Assembly had power to approve/disapprove of any wars the King declared on other nations

Legislative Assembly Divided into 3 groups Radicals: opposed the King, wanted sweeping changes (Left Wing) Moderates: wanted some changes in society, not as many as radicals (Center) Conservatives: wanted limited monarchy, wanted few changes in society (Right Wing)

The Emigres Nobles and clergymen who fled France during the peasant uprisings. They hoped to undo the Revolution and restore the old regime

The Sans-Culottes wage laborers and small shop-keepers from Paris They wanted a greater voice in government, lower food prices, and an end to food shortages Did not get a voice in government but they found a way to exert their will in government: by influencing a political party that later seized control of France (the Jacobins)

The Jacobins Formed an alliance with the Sans-Culottes Jacobins: extreme radical revolutionaries, wanted to end the monarchy and establish representative democracy (The people vote for elected officials to establish laws) They eventually do take over the Legislative Assembly and the whole government

The Reign of Terror The Guillotine Page 201

Maximilien Robespierre Maniac leader of the Committee of Public Safety: responsible for tens of thousands of deaths

Stop and Ponder! 1. Who led the Committee of Public Safety? 2. Who were the Sans-Culottes? 3. What year did the Bread Riots occur?

Committee of Public Safety

The Reign of Terror July 1793-July 1794 Led By Maximilien Robespierre A Group of 15 Jacobins take over the French Government: The Committee of Public Safety Led By Maximilien Robespierre Publicly Executed anyone they deemed an enemy of the revolution (no trials)

Reign of Terror (con’t) Impact Over 40,000 people killed in one year 75%+ of those killed from 3rd Estate! (The Revolution was supposed to be for them!

Reign of Terror (con’t) Death of King Louis XVI January 21, 1793 Louis publicly executed by the Jacobins; Marie Antoinette executed 10/16/1793

Death of Robespierre Eventually the public withdrew support of Robespierre: too many senseless killings Other members of the Committee of Public Safety wanted to kill him before he killed them July 28, 1794 Robespierre publicly executed in Paris His death signals the end of the Reign of Terror

The Directory After the Reign of Terror a new group of 5 Moderates take over the government: The Directory The people wanted new less violent leadership The Directory rules France from November 1795-November 1799 The Directory was ineffective and corrupt: allowed for ________to eventually take over……

Napoleon Bonaparte