The French Revolution Origins Vive la revolution! The French Revolution Origins

Phases of the French Revolution Not official – just to help understanding Phase I: Overthrow of the monarchy – Constitutional Monarchy Phase II: Republic – radicalization and terror Phase III: Napoleon – empire

Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité A New Republic is Born in Blood Program covers Phases I & II Notes on chart or on your own & transfer later Note dates-timeline Helpful spelling: Maximilien Robespierre, L’ami du peuple: Jean- Paul Marat, Sans-Culotte, Jacobins, Girondins, Georges Danton

Thesis The extreme decadence coupled with the physical and psychological remoteness of the monarchy caused civil unrest in late 18th-century France. Combined with the recent, successful, Enlightenment based revolution in the United States, this spurned the French people into revolting on their own after the catalyst incident: The Fall of the Bastille.

America & France Why does the section reading start off the the American Revolution? American Revolution and French Revolution very deeply connected French ideals influenced American rebels American rebels influenced French radicals who were unhappy with the monarchy Rich/poor divide in France was at its worst

Short & Long Term Causes? Absolute government & government system The Three Estates The Enlightenment Louis XV & Louis XVI + Marie Antoinette Food Unemployment Bankruptcy

Questions to consider… Why absolutism is a problem in France? How does the government structure contribute to the FR? What were the three Estates and why do they become important at this time? How does the Enlightenment influence the FR? What happens when you have bad harvests, high unemployment and a bad government?

The Old Regime (absolutism & government structure) Ancien Regime (Old Regime) – the social and political system of France before the revolution French society divided up into three estates or three classes – since the Middle Ages - battle each other Basic problem – system is built on inequity Rigid, not flexible-too much power in one person Other problems: Intendants corrupt Inefficient tax system War is important and expensive

Estates First Estate – Roman Catholic Church 1% of the population of France Owned 10% of the land in France Provided education and help to the poor Donated 2% of its income to the government Second Estate – Rich nobles Owned 70% of the land in France Paid no taxes Only 2% of the population of France

Third Estate Everyone else – 97% of population Three main groups Bourgeoisie (middle class) – 8% urban lower class – 14% Peasants – 75% Bourgeoisie (middle class): Traders, merchants, artisans Sometimes wealthy but paid high taxes No access to power like the 1st and 2nd estates had

Third Estate Urban lower class: Peasants: Workers who lived in cities Apprentices, laborers, servants, maids Paid little, would often riot if food not available Peasants: 80% of the population 50% of their income paid in taxes to government and tithes to the church Very bitter and resentful toward nobility (2nd estate)

Why did revolution break out? (Enlightenment) Enlightenment ideals led to both aristocrats (nobles) and bourgeoisie (middle class) feeling frustrated with the system Everything based on monarchs having excessive privilege Class structure rigid – could not move from one to another

Bad Government Louis XV Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette Really likes it, but bad at it Lose colonies in Canada, Caribbean, etc. Help other colonies – like America Drains the budget – which is already not good… Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette Really doesn’t like it, and is bad at it Marie Antoinette - call her “Madame Deficit” Diamond Necklace Affair Role-playing, not so good

The Hamlet

Revolution Despite France’s wealth, the monarchy could not cope with change and crisis Bad harvests in 1787 resulted in drop in economic growth Food shortages (bread example) Inflation Mass unemployment (50% of Paris unemployed) All while Marie-Antoinette was playing “shepherd” at Petit Trianon

Louis XVI has to act Estates-General (remember this?) Had not met since 1614 Louis XVI forced to call it into session to figure out how to deal with this economic mess (he wanted to raise taxes) Each of the three social groups was allowed to have equal representation of 300 delegates each Why is this a problem?

Estates-General Government decides that the Third Estate, since it represents 97% of the population could have double the number of delegates (600 instead of 300) Each delegate had one vote, so the Third Estate now had as much power as the First and Second combined King and nobles very unhappy with this

Estates-General June 1789 - Third Estate declares itself a “National Assembly” which could pass laws for the nation They find themselves locked out of the meeting, decide to meet at a nearby indoor tennis court Vow to remain there until they had written a constitution for France Several members of the First and Second Estates join them in sympathy Louis XVI calls out his mercenary troops to guard Versailles

Bastille Old fortress in central Paris Rumors fly that Louis XVI is going to use army to shut down National Assembly People start to stockpile weapons in Paris July 14, 1789 - Mob attacks the Bastille looking for gunpowder and weapons Seize control of the building, murder the prison guards and parade their heads on the end of pikes around Paris Bastille Day (like the Fourth of July)

Great Fear France is now in full-blown chaos and terror Peasants start to attack manor houses looking for food but also to destroy the houses October 1789 – Women rioting over price of bread attack Versailles, killing some of the guards This forces Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to leave Versailles and return to Paris to face the revolution

The French Revolution Documents What are the themes you see in all three documents? What does this align with in the program we just watched? What does NOT align with what we just watched?