The French Revolution (1789-99)

Unit Objectives Understanding the impact of the French Revolution Assessing the reasons for executing King Louis XVI

Impact of the Revolution on the Catholic Church Church land: TAKEN OVER BY THE GOVERNMENT AND SOLD FOR PROFIT Church officials and priests: FORCED TO BE ELECTED AND PAID AS STATE OFFICIALS   

Why the Assembly did it:   TO RAISE MONEY TO PAY DOWN DEBT WITH   How the French people responded: MANY WERE ANGRY BECAUSE THEY WERE CATHOLIC AND DIDN’T LIKE CHANGES MADE TO CHURCH AND OPPOSED LATER REFORMS

National Assembly passed several reforms that ended feudalism and Estate privileges and created a limited constitutional monarchy similar to Britain Several problems (food shortages, debt) caused deep divisions—some supported the constitutional monarchy, some wanted a few changes, and some wanted to get rid of the monarchy completely Louis XVI began to fear for his life and fled France, but he and his family were captured before reaching the border

What did neighboring monarchies think of the Revolution? What did they try to do about it? TRIED TO CONVINCE FRENCH TO RESTORE LOUIS TO THE THRONE, SOME CONSPIRED BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN How did France respond? FRANCE DECLARED WAR ON ANY COUNTRY IT THOUGHT HAD CONSPIRED AGAINST IT

Problems in Paris led to chaos Assembly set aside the Constitution, dissolved Assembly, and called for new elections National Convention:   ABOLISHED THE MONARCHY AND ESTABLISHED FRANCE AS A REPUBLIC Republic: POWER IS IN THE HANDS OF ELECTED REPS

Jacobins RADICALS WHO WANTED TO TRY AND EXECUTE KING LOUIS

Girondins MODERATES WHO THOUGHT THE REVOLUTION HAD GONE FAR ENOUGH THEY OPPOSED PUTTING LOUIS ON TRIAL FAVORED EXILE TO EXECUTION

UNDECIDED MAJORITY OF FRENCH CITIZENS—EVENTUALLY The Plain: UNDECIDED MAJORITY OF FRENCH CITIZENS—EVENTUALLY MOST JOINED THE JACOBINS AND KING LOUIS WAS PUT ON TRIAL, CONVICTED OF TREASON, AND EXECUTED

The Reign of Terror (1793-94) Led by Robespierre and the Jacobins THE JACOBINS ELIMINATED ALL CHALLENGERS OFTEN BY BEHEADING THEM WITH THE GUILLOTINE

The Reign of Terror Many of those who were killed were from the Third Estate, the very people the Revolution was supposed to help The Terror ended when the Jacobins turned on Robespierre and he was executed—the people were tired of the chaos he was leading