The French Revolution

Key Terms Old Order Tennis Court Oath Bastille

The Old Order 1st Estate 2nd Estate 3rd Estate Roman Catholic Church clergy Scorned Enlightenment ideas 2nd Estate Rich nobles Held highest offices of gov’t Disagreed about Enlightenment ideas 3rd Estate Bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and peasant farmers Had no influence on gov’t Paid the most taxes Embraced Enlightenment ideas

Population of France, 1787

% of Income Paid in Taxes

Forces of Change Enlightened Ideas Economic Troubles Weak Leadership The 3rd Estate began to demand equality, liberty, and democracy (fraternity). Economic Troubles Heavy taxes on members of the 3rd estate. Cost of living was rising. Severe shortage of grain. Gov’t deeply into debt. Weak Leadership Marie Antoinette Spent money on gowns, jewels, and gambling. Louis XVI had practically no money left. Wanted to impose taxes on the nobility.

Dawn of the Revolution Estates-General was called together. 1st and 2nd Estate would always be able to out vote the 3rd estate. 3rd Estate created the National Assembly. End of absolute monarchy and the beginning of representative gov’t. 3rd Estate found themselves locked out. Tennis Court Oath- would not leave until a constitution was created. Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) People began to gather weapons and went into the Bastille looking for guns. Killed the guards and paraded their heads around town.

The Great Fear Rebellion spread Peasants destroy legal dues, steal grain, and burn down manor houses. Women rioted over the rising price of bread. The women march on Versailles. They demanded that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette return to Paris to do something about the rising costs. King will be a prisoner for the next 3 years.

The Assembly Reforms France Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Stated that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” These rights included “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” Guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Women are denied such freedoms. Took over Church lands and declared that Church officials were to be elected and paid as state officials. Peasants opposed this and no longer support the revolution. Louis and his family tried to escape but are discovered and taken back to Paris.

Divisions Develop Created a constitutional monarchy Radicals (left) The Legislative Assembly created laws, collected taxes, and declared war. Allowed to vote if you are a landowning, male, 25 or older. Radicals (left) Wanted radical changes in the gov’t Sans-culottes and Jacobins Moderates (center) Wanted some changes, but not as many as the radicals. Conservatives (right) Wanted few changes in gov’t.

War and Execution War begins. The French imprisoned the royal family. Fearful citizens raided the prisons and murdered prisoners. The Constitution of 1791 was thrown out. When the National Convention took office, it abolished the monarchy and declared France a Republic. The Jacobins had the royal family beheaded by the guillotine. France begins to draft soldiers.

Reign of Terror Jacobins had thousands of enemies. Maximilien Robespierre gained power as a dictator. The Committee of Public Safety’s protected France from its enemies. The “enemies” were radicals who challenged Robespierre’s leadership. Their only crime was that they were less radical than him. 40,000 were executed 85% were peasants and the middle class.

End of the Terror The National Convention turned on Robespierre. They demanded his arrest and execution. Drafted a 3rd new plan of gov’t called the Directory. Placed power in the hands of the upper middle class.