French Revolution A Society in Conflict

Background Information Louis XIV Spent over $100 million to build the Versailles Palace Spent millions on foreign wars French commoners pay most of the taxes on these

Background Information Old Regime: Traditional French society of 17th – 18th c. Ruled by Absolute Monarch King rules by “divine right” King makes laws, levies taxes, controls courts, is highly involved with foreign affairs (ex – wars)

French Society Estates: First Estate: Clergy: Roman Catholic (does not pay taxes) Second Estate: Nobles (does not pay taxes) Third Estate: Pays all of the taxes

French Society Third Estate: Middle Class Merchants, doctors, lawyers Artists Bankers Commoners Farmers, peasants, poor These people pay taxes

Causes of the French Revolution Unfair legal system that doesn’t allow for grievances Third estate burdened by heavy taxes and unfair treatment by the court system Middle class controlled large sums of money but have no political power

Causes of the French Revolution Enlightenment ideas embraced by many Voltaire Call for reform of ancient political systems Call for equality

Causes of the French Revolution American Revolution shows the way to deal with “tyranny” France in debt due to the increased spending of the King for a lavish lifestyle France in debt due to the numerous wars American Revolution

Causes of the French Revolution Refusal of the First and Second Estates to pay their fair share of taxes or to decrease their privileges May 5, 1789: Finally King Louis XVI summons the Estates General (governing body) to approve new taxes!!

Path to the Revolution! Estates General meet 1st estate – 300 members 2nd estate – 300 members 3rd estate – 600 members Yet each group only has one vote ! The 3rd estate wants one vote per member The king rejects this idea June 17, 1789: The 3rd estate withdraws and forms the National Assembly in order to write a new constitution

Path to Revolution Meanwhile…food shortages increase The king calls in his military troops in case a riot breaks out Mobs start to form in the cities Rumors spread about the King dissolving the National Assembly by force

Path to Revolution July 14, 1789: This results in the storming of the Bastille A major turning point in French history Demonstrates the power of the 3rd estate Show the weakness of the monarchy Eventually: the King recognizes the National Assembly as the new governing body\ But…mass hysteria sweeps France in the form of the Great Fear as peasants destroy nobles’ estates… The French Revolution begins!!!

The Great Fear: Peasant revolt July 20, 1789

Progress of the Revolution August 4, 1789: National Assembly and the August Decrees: Abolishes feudalism Makes nobles pay taxes Allows any qualified person to work in the government Adopt a constitution Wanted a limited constitutional monarch

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: August 27, 1789 Establishes: Freedoms Freedom of speech and the press Equality Included an end to exemptions from taxation for the nobles Limited monarchy Voting rights (for men with property)

Progress of the Revolution Jacobins: A large network of political groups throughout France The Mountain: were very radical Wanted Louis put to death Led by Robespierre Want a republic Girondins – less radical and want to keep Louis alive

Progress of the Revolution Mobs riot again Don’t think the King supports them King tries to escape Monarchy abolished Louis XVI beheaded – January 21, 1793 Marie Antoinette beheaded Foreign countries invade

Progress of the Revolution Committees of Public Safety Group that wants to ensure the goals of the revolution occur and no one stops them Reign of Terror: September 1793 – July 1794 Guillotine anyone suspected of treason 20,000 – 40,000 die

Final days of the Revolution Eventually the Reign of Terror turns on Robespierre and he is guillotined on July 28, 1794 Finally the terror ends…

SiX gOVERNMENT bodies Louis XVI and the Estates – General August 23, 1754 – January 21, 1793 National Assembly – June17, 1789 – July 9, 1789 Formed by the 3rd Estate Declared the Tennis Court Oath National Convention (Nat’l Constituent Assembly) July 9, 1789 – September 30, 1791 August Decrees Write a constitution

Six government Bodies Legislative Assembly: October1, 1791 – Sept 1792 Make new laws The Paris Commune: 1789 – 1795 Side government in Paris Dominated by Jacobins The Directory: 1795 – 1799 Legislative branch Time of corruption Can not solve the political or economic problems

Overview of the Revolution Impossible demands made of government which, if granted, would mean its end. Unsuccessful government attempts to suppress revolutionaries. Revolutionaries gain power and seem united. Once in power, revolutionaries begin to quarrel among themselves, and unity begins to dissolve. The moderates gain the leadership but fail to satisfy those who insist on further changes.

Overview of the revolution Power is gained by progressively more radical groups until finally a lunatic fringe gains almost complete control. A strong man emerges and assumes great power. The extremists try to create a “heaven-on-earth” by introducing their whole program and by punishing all of their opponents. A period of terror [extreme violence] occurs. Moderate groups regain power. THE REVOLUTION IS OVER!

Results of the French Revolution End of debt slavery Abolished debt imprisonment Abolished primogeniture Introduced the draft Stimulated “nationalism” and increase in French patriotism Yet, no true leader emerges until Napoleon Bonaparte arrives…