Major Causes of Revolutions: First, the rejection of absolute power of the monarchy and church Second, emphasis on freedom of religion, speech, press Third, growing interest in the laws that governed nature and society

The French Revolution 1700s – France was the center of the Enlightenment Voltaire wrote about freedom of speech and freedom of religion Montesquieu wrote about the separation of powers in government Rousseau wrote that government should be run by the wishes of the people

Absolute Monarchy in France Louis XIV “Sun King” Louis XV Louis XVI Ruled France for 72 years Great Grandson of Louis XIV Grandson of Louis XV Left France with heavy debt Doubled the debt of France while King

French Social Classes The 1st Estate The 2nd Estate The 3rd Estate Who: Government power: Feelings about the enlightenment: % of population Made up of Catholic clergy. Power was with the church. Influential Hated it Less than 1% of population. Made up of rich nobles. Held high government offices. Disagreed with Enlightenment ideas Less than 2% of population. Basically everybody else: workers, peasants, etc. Had no power to influence government. Embraced Enlightenment ideas. 97% of population.

French Social Classes Can you identify the first, second, and third estates in the cartoon shown here? Which estate do you think the author of this cartoon belonged to?

The Lives of the 3rd Estate Peasants were forced to pay nearly half of their income to nobles, the church, and the king. Bad weather led to crop failures. Wheat was in short supply. The price of bread doubled and led to famine

Causes of the French Revolution Read the “The Forces of Change” pages 652 – 653 Work with a partner close to you to come up with a list of potential causes of the French Revolution. Give an example from the reading for each cause on your list.

June 17, 1789 Members of the third estate were tired of having no say in government. They formed a National Assembly that would pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people. This was the beginning of representative government in France. Tension created by the third estate caused Louis XVI to surround his palace with the army. A mob of angry citizens searching for gunpowder and arms attacked the Bastille, a French prison. They massacred several people inside and paraded around the streets of Paris with heads on spikes. The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man, guaranteeing all French citizens equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Their slogan became “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” July 14, 1789 August, 1789

October, 1789 A wave of violence known as the Great Fear spread throughout France. Peasants attacked nobles and burned their homes to the ground. The palace of the king and queen was attacked. Louis and his family tried to escape France, but were caught and returned to Paris under guard. France created a new Constitution with a Legislative Assembly. This assembly represented the people and had the power to create laws. A new governing body called the National Convention abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic. The Committee of Public Safety takes power of the convention. An era known as the Reign of Terror begins. Nearly 20,000 people suspected of supporting the king are executed. June, 1791 September, 1791 September, 1792

The Guillotine

Reign of Terror Directory replaces the National Convention 1792 Robespierre 1795 Directory replaces the National Convention 1799 Napoleon takes over the government

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte Seized control of an unstable French government in 1799, marking the end of the French Revolution

Background Entered military school at age 9 Entered French army at age 16 Promoted because of military skill & political connections Other European powers viewed conflict in France as an opportunity to conquer it. Napoleon participated in defending France from these attacks.

The Napoleonic Era 1799-1815 1799, coup d’etat (overthrew the French Directory) Took dictator powers; made himself emperor in 1804 Reforms: Restructured government & dismissed corrupt officials National bank to stabilize economy Set up government-run public schools Code Napoleon (law system) Abolished feudalism Religious freedom Equal treatment for all under the law Set up limits to freedom of speech & press

Napoleonic Wars

Napoleon’s Exile Defeated while retreating from Russia in 1814 – captured and exiled to Elba Escaped & returned to France in 1815 to make one last bid for power Hundred Days Defeated & exiled to St. Helena; died in 1821 Second Exile First Exile

Napoleon’s Downfall Battle of Waterloo, 1815 Napoleon’s army is defeated by Anglo-Prussian forces Invaded Russia, caught in winter, 500,000 troops froze or starved Made his brother King of Spain – This caused a Spanish rebellion

Congress of Vienna 1814-1815 5 big powers Russia Prussia Austria Great Britain France Try to contain France by strengthening surrounding countries