Throne Clergy Controller-General Manor Teacher Desk

Background Information Who was King Louis XIV? When did he reign over France? What was the Palace of Versailles? How did Louis XIV use the palace to increase his power?

Palace of Versailles

King Louis XVI

Background Information Who was King Louis XVI? When did he reign over France? Who was the Queen of France during Louis XVI’s reign?? Where was she from?

Pre-Revolutionary France Financial Crisis End of 18th cent. France spent more $ than it made. Took out Loans to pay for: war w/ England gov’t operations % annual budget to pay loan interest 25% of annual budget to pay for military 6% of annual budget for king’s lifestyle and court at Versailles 19% of annual budget to run country Taxes King has no option but to raises taxes to cover costs Tax burden goes to peasants Clergy & Nobles mostly exempt from taxes Poor harvest hits as taxes increase caused price of bread to soar Meeting of Estates General Medieval representative body: hasn’t met since orders/Estates: Clergy, Nobility, Commoners King calls meeting to solve Financial Crisis

The Estates General

1st Estate Throne Controller-General 2nd Estate 3rd Estate (Peasants) (Clergy) (Nobles)

Step One The King assembles the Estates General for advice. Please kneel in reverence for your King

Step Two The 3 Estates prepare to meet 1) Decide to vote by head or by order 2) Draft proposal to solve financial crisis 3) Choose spokesperson to speak to King & Queen 4) Create banner with symbol to represent your Estate

Step 3 Propose Plans Spokesperson approach throne, Kneel, and present proposal

Step 4 Kings Proposal Listen silently and respectfully to your King

Step 5 Vote on King’s plan Discuss King’s proposal and decide on a vote for or against the proposal Cast vote by order

News Flash!! A severe famine has occurred. Bread price have doubled. Commoners are having extreme difficulty in obtaining food.

The Revolution has Begun! “I swear an oath to God and nation never to be separated until we have formed a solid and equitable Constitution as our constituents have asked us to.”

The Tennis Court Oath

Start of the French Revolution Tennis Court OathEstates were not allowed to vote by head 3rd Estate declares itself to be National Assembly June 19, 1789 clergy joins Nat’l Assembly Nat’l Assembly established Constitutional Monarchy AND seized all church lands to solve financial crisis

Storming of the Bastille

Start of the French Revolution Tennis Court Oath Storming the Bastille Estates were not allowed to vote by head 3rd Estate declares itself to be National Assembly June 19, 1789 clergy joins Nat’l Assembly Nat’l Assembly established Constitutional Monarchy AND seized all church lands to help solve $ crisis July % of people unemployed Bread $ is high, so not much food Rumors spread of King’s troops coming to crush the National Assembly July ’s of people storm Bastille (Prison & Fort) to get gunpowder to defend against troops Guards fire on crowd, kill 98 Marks start of Revolution

The March on Versailles

(Notes Continued) The March on Versailles Unemployment and hunger continue to increase following the Bastille October 5, ,000 desperate women marched 12 miles to Versailles to demand bread Women invade Palace & kill Guards & some Nobles Women clear out King’s storehouse of flour King Louis XVI & Family forced to escort women back to Paris Women carried head of 2 nobles on pikes King & family never returned to Versailles

The French Revolution Stage 3

Throne Controller-General National Assembly

Step One: King Louis XVI Recognizes the National Assembly Listen to your King in respectful silence

Step Two: Controller-General Describes Financial Crisis Listen carefully and quietly

Step 3: National Assembly Discusses & Proposes Solutions Discuss ways to raise money to save France Present proposals to the king & queen National Assembly votes on proposal King approves/vetoes proposal

Step Four: New Proposal Listen carefully to the new proposal

Step five: National Assembly Puts King on Trial Who will speak on King’s behalf? Cast your vote

Step Six: The Republic of Virtue Work to write a new constitution to save France from ruin

The Reign of Terror Ends Robespierre and his followers led this stage of the revolution for almost two years. During that time, France successfully defended itself against invading European armies. However, approximately 40,000 French men and women were executed for “treason”. Treasonous acts included saying, “Down with the Republic” and possessing a book with the king’s seal on it. Given these facts, what do you want to do to Robespierre?

The Reign of Terror Execution of King Louis XVI June 21, 1791 Royal family was caught trying to escape France - forced to return to Paris King signed new constitution, but vetoed all revolutionary decrees

The Reign of Terror Continued Terror Sept a more radical gov’t elected - The National Convention November-Royal Documents found incriminating King of treason January King Louis convicted of treason & sentenced to death Marks beginning of Reign of Terror led by Maximilien Robespierre & Committee of Public Safety

The Reign of Terror Continued War with Europe French fighting “war of people against kings” with Euro armies 1794 French patriotic armies wipe out the Euro armies on all fronts

The Reign of Terror Continued National Convention Any French citizen deemed “not virtuous” enough for the Republic was in danger of execution By July 1794 over 40,000 men & women were executed on the Guillotine Finally, Robespierre himself was executed. The terror came to an end

The Reign of Terror Continued Napoleon Bonaparte After the end of the terror, a 5 man executive, called the Directory, ruled badly for 5 years Napoleon became First Consul & then Emperor of France ( ) Turned France into police-state - freedoms were violated He abolished feudal system & encouraged social movement Created French Empire before abdicating (quitting) in 1814