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Louis XIV Louis XIII The French Monarchy and Divine Right

The French Revolution

Louis XVI Meeting of the Estates General (Feb 1789) Estates General organized into three estates – clergy, nobility, and the rest of France Had not meet since Agreed to hold new elections in May

The National Assembly - Tennis Court Oath, June 10, 1789 Following the election, members of the Third Estate broke with the Estates General, forming their own National Assembly. When the king ordered the state assembly closed, the discussion was moved to a nearby tennis court. Pledged to write a new constitution for France.

Storming of the Bastille July Fearing that the King would move against the new Assembly, insurgents stormed the Bastille, gathering weapons, and took control of Paris in a violent uprising.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Aug 26, 1789 Constitution of 1791 France becomes a Constitutional Monarchy Abolition of Feudalism Power vested in Legislative Assembly Radicalization of the National Assembly

August 10, Paris Commune storms the Tuileries Palace capturing the King and Queen. France declares war on Austria and Prussia

National Convention proclaimed France a Republic (The First Republic) on September 20, 1792, radical members convinced the Convention to try and execute the King on Jan 17, 1793.

The Reign of Terror Committee of Public SafetyMaximilien Robespierre Himself a victim in the Thermidorian Reaction 1794

Edmund Burke Reflections on the Revolution in France

Coup of 18 Brumaire Year VIII (November 9, 1799) 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte stages military coup overthrowing weak government.

First Empire In 1804 Napoleon declared himself emperor of France (1st Empire).

Napoleonic Wars He then set off on a series of campaigns against Italy, Spain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. He was finally defeated by the last remaining monarchy (the British) at Waterloo in 1814.

Restoration of the Monarchy Louis XVIII Charles X The monarchy was restored in 1815 under Louis XVIII -brother of Louis XVI. Louis XVIII agreed to share power with the National Assembly, but his successor Charles X sought to return to absolute monarchy.

Louis-Phillipe The July Monarchy Charles X was deposed in 1830 and replaced by Louis-Philippe (The July Monarchy) who also agree to share power with the Assembly. The July Monarchy ended in 1848 when Louis-Philippe was forced out by worker uprisings.

The Second Republic ( ) and Second Empire ( ) Napoleon III The Second Republic proved as brief as the first, when Louis-Napoleon III (a cousin of Napoleon) seized power in a coup in The Second Empire as it came to be known lasted until Napoleon’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of

Franco-Prussian War

The Third Republic ( ) Prime Minister George Clemenceau , The Third Republic would last from the end of the war in 1870 until the German invasion of France in The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles advocated by French Prime Minister George Clemenceau gave rise to the Nazis and the ultimate demise of the Third Republic.

Marshal Philippe Petain Chief of State of Vichy France Vichy France During German occupation, a Nazi-puppet French State was established with a capital in Vichy under the authority of former WWI French commander Marshal Petain.

The Fourth Republic Gen. Charles De Gaulle Leader of French Resistance Gen. Charles De Gaulle would be instrumental in transitioning France from an occupied power to a Fourth Republic in 1946.

Algerian War French Indochina War in Vietnam De Gaulle would also be called back when the Fourth Republic collapsed as a result of crisis in Indochina and Algeria. Collapse of the Fourth Republic 1958

Pres. Charles De Gaulle UDR, The Fifth Republic 1958-pres. As President of the 5th (and perhaps final) Republic, De Gaulle is credited with what has now become known as Gaullism Guallism - a firm commitment to French independence and French nationalism in international and domestic politics. His legacy can be found in the success of many Neo-Gaullist politicians still today.

The Resurgence of the Left May 1968 Student Revolts François Mitterrand Socialist Party

The working class The Socialist and Communist movements in France have always enjoyed a great deal of strength. Workers and trade unions remain powerful in French politics (often through demonstrations, protests, and strikes).

In 1986, the neo-Gaullist party and its allies won control of the National Assembly. President Mitterrand was forced to appoint Jacques Chirac as prime minister. The Fifth Republic’s first case of cohabitation (president and prime minister of different party)

Recent Presidents of France Nicolas Sarkozy Union for a Popular Movement Francois Hollande Socialist Party

Elections to the French National Assembly

Local government and decentralization France divided into 26 regions Regions struggle against Paris for political control seeking greater decentralization of decision-making.

Political Parties of the Right Chirac’s Rally for the Republic RPR Sarkozy’s Union for a Popular Movement 2002-present Rally for the French People Union of the New Republic Union of Democrats for the Republic, UDR Union for French Democracy, UDF National Front 1972-present

Political Parties of the Left Parti Socialiste 1969-present French Communist Party 1921-present French Green Party present

The Francophone World

Immigration from the Francophone World

Minorities in France Les francais de souche (French stock) vs. immigrant communities. Secularism (Laicite – separation of church and state since 1905) vs. Roman Catholic Church and Muslim groups Head scarf controversy when Chirac banned head scarves in public schools saying “secularism is not negotiable”