France: Still an Absolute Monarchy Louis XV and his son Louis XVI not enlightened despots Louis XVI crowned 1774 Weak and indecisive Lent money to American Revolution France bankrupt People out of work, out of food Marie Antoinette (Austrian wife) Needs to fix financial problems Calls Estates-General together

The Estates-General Legislative assembly, 3 groups: 1st Estate: The Clergy 1% of the population 2nd Estate: The Nobility 2% of the population 3rd Estate: 3 groups 97% Bourgeoisie: Middle class, merchants, some rich but lack benefits of the nobles, paid high taxes Workers: cooks, servants, low wages, out of work Peasants: largest group, poorest, half their incomes go to nobles, church, king Each group given 1 vote… fair?

The Tennis Court Oath June 1789 – Third Estate locked out of assembly Angrily set up own makeshift assembly Tennis Court Oath Form “National Assembly” Promise to not give up until a constitution of France is made

Storm the Bastille! Weaponry held in the Bastille in Paris July 14th – Crowds form and storm the Bastille – take control and burn it down

“Let Them Eat Cake” August 4th – Assembly calling for end of the Old Regime Thousands march to Versailles Louis and Marie unprepared The famous line that was never said Kill guards, storm Palace Take Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette hostage and force them to return to Paris Held in guarded castle

Moderate Phase of Revolution (Aug 1789 – Sept 1791) August 1789 – Assembly creates “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen” Will be preamble to Constitution “inalienable rights” to liberty, property, security, resistance to oppression Freedom of speech, press, religion Constitution of 1791 – created a limited monarchy Single house legislature Local government on three levels Independent, elected judiciary King could be removed

Radical Phase (Sept 1791 – June 1793) Unrest and mobocracy in France Assembly split on many decisions Conservatives sat on the right Moderates sat in the middle (Girondists) Liberals/radicals sat on left (Jacobins) Demagogues rise Danton Marat Robespierre

Radical Phase (Sept 1791 – June 1793) Louis, Marie try and fail to escape Austria, Prussia threaten to intervene Want no harm done to royal family France declares war (1791) Jacobins oppose war – hinders revolution France loses many battles at first Jacobins organize September Massacres (1792) Murdered hundreds of prisoners (political prisoners, priests, etc) Assembly losing power… Jacobins form “National Convention” and take over

Reign of Terror (1793-1794) Jacobins in power (Convention) Marat murdered by Charlotte Corday (Girondist) Robespierre starts to rise to power Committee of Public Safety formed Reign of Terror Led by Robespierre 25,000 “Enemies of Revolution” executed by guillotine Even some own Jacobins (Danton) Enforced new styles, calendar, religion

Thermidorian Reaction (July 1794) It becomes obvious that Robespierre has no plan to end the terror The moderates in the Convention organize a conspiracy against him July 28, 1794 Robespierre guillotined Led by members of the middle class who supported the original, liberal, and somewhat sane revolution of 1789

The Directory 1795-1799 New Constitution…again! Executive Council of 5 members (directors) with a two house legislature Antidemocratic AND antiroyalist Relied on the military VERY ineffective!!

Review: The Four Phases of the Revolution Phase I: Moderate 1789-1791 National Assembly, Tennis Court Oath, Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Phase II: Radical (2 phases in one) 1791-1794 Legislative Assembly, Reign of Terror, Robespierre, Committee of Public Safety, National Convention Phase III: Toned Down 1795-1799 Thermidorian Reaction, The Directory Phase IV: Return to Order 1799-1814 Who’s going to rise to power?