The French Revolution

Absolute monarchs didn’t share power with a counsel or parliament “Divine Right of Kings” Absolutism King James I of England

Ruled from 1643–1715 Reduced the power of the nobility Fought four wars Greatly increased France’s national debt The Sun King Louis XIV

Louis XV War fought in Europe, India, North America France ends up losing some of its colonial possessions Increases French national debt- paid for by peasents The Seven Years’ War Louis XV French and English troops fight at the battle of Fort St. Philip on the island of Minorca

First Estate: clergy Second Estate: nobility Third Estate: the rest of society made up of the: –Bourgeoisie (middle class) –Urban workers –peasants The Three Estates Cartoon depicting the three Estates

The Enlightenment –New ideas about society and government –The social contract The American Revolution –The French fought with the Americans –Embraced new ideas of freedom Influences of the Revolution John Locke

Heavy Tax on property Crop failures –Increases the price of bread Calling of the Estates General Financial Crisis Finance Minister Jacques Necker

One vote per estate Clergy and nobility usually joined together to outvote the Third Estate Met in Versailles in May 1789 Voting controversy The Estates General A meeting of the Estates General

The Third Estate took action and established its own government On June 17, 1789, the National Assembly was formed –Proclaimed end of monarchy –Set up representative government The National Assembly

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette “Let them eat cake”

Louis XVI ordered the Third Estate locked out of the National Assembly’s meeting hall The Tennis Court Oath The king reverses his position Artist Jacques Louis David’s depiction of the Tennis Court Oath Confrontation With the King

Rioting in Paris in early July July 14th: a mob storms and takes the Bastille—a Paris prison Signaled the beginning of the French Revolution Storming of the Bastille

Rebellion spreads Peasants destroy the countryside End of feudal privileges The Great Fear

Adopted by National Assembly on August 27th Enlightenment ideals and influenced by the US Declaration of Independence Outlined basic freedoms held by all Asserted the sovereignty of the people “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

Lower classes still unsatisfied Thousands of starving women and peasants march on Versailles to demand the lowering of bread prices Louis forced to return to Paris The March of Women

Financial crisis National Assembly confiscates and sells off church lands to pay off debt Church also secularized, reorganized= should be elected and paid by the state Clergy oath of loyalty Offends many devout Catholic peasants Civil Constitution of the Clergy Cartoon depicting the confiscation of Church lands

Émigrés- nobles and others who had fled France Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee France They were arrested at Varennes Flight of the King The capture of Louis XVI at Varennes

Other monarchs feared the spread of the Revolution Possible foreign intervention Called for Louis XVI to be returned to the throne France declares war on Prussia and Austria Reaction from Other Countries Illustration depicting Prussian King Frederick William III, Austrian Emperor Leopold II, and the Comte d’Artois, Louis XVI’s brother

New Constitution It took 2 years for the national assembly to write a new constitution Created a limited constitutional monarchy New Legislative Assembly Factions form over how the government should handle problems Sans-culottes Painting depicting the 1791 constitution

Paris mob stormed Tuileries Louis and family seek aid of Legislative Assembly Arrested and deposed Constitution is set aside The Radicals Take Over Paris crowds storm the Tuileries

First met on September 21, 1792 Revolutionary Calendar Monarchy abolished; France officially becomes a republic A radical political group: Jacobins seize control The National Convention A Jacobin club

Jean-Paul Marat Georges Danton Leaders in the National Convention

Lawyer Radical Jacobin Most controversial figure of the French Revolution Becomes leader of Committee of Public safety  Created to cease an internal rebellion in 1793 Rules France as virtually a dictator = Reign of terror Robespierre

The Guillotine Dr. Joseph Guillotin Intended as a more humane method of execution Thousands guillotined during the French Revolution

On January 17, 1793, Louis XVI was convicted of treason He went to the guillotine four days later on January 21, 1793 Execution of the King

July 1793–July 1794 ~ 40,000 Executions 85% were peasants or members of the 3 rd estate Execution of Robespierre The Reign of Terror The execution of Marie Antoinette

Robespierre overthrown on July 27, 1794 (9 Thermidor) Committee of Public Safety dismantled New constitution adopted in August 1795 Executive branch known as the Directory More moderate The Thermidorean Reaction 9 Thermidor meeting of the National Convention

Promoted middle class interests Financial crisis Food shortages Riots in Paris Rise of Napoleon The Directory Cartoon depicting the errors and bad judgment of the Directory

General in French army Popularity rises after victories over the Austrians 1799 Coup d'état Napoleon Bonaparte

Set up new tax system and a national banking system Set up lycees- government-run public schools Napoleonic code

1804: Napoleon crowns himself emperor Napoleon losses power –Haiti The planters in Saint Dominque (now Haiti) wanted to also have the rights of the French people after the Revolution The enslaved Africans began demanding freedom The rebellion was headed by Toussaint L’Ouverture Rebels proved to be fierce Napoleon cuts his losses and sell his land in the Americas Napoleon Becomes Emperor

Napoleon's decline Continental system –Tried to set up blockade around Europe –Great Britain set up their own blockade  better

Peninsular War –Tried to get to Portugal by invading through Spain –Spanish denounced his actions –Overthrew king –Spanish peasants joined together as guerillas –Saw the rise of nationalism

Napoleon's decline continued Invasion of Russia –Scorched earth policy –Starts with 420,000 men ends with 10,000 Exile –Prussia and Russia push into Paris –Napoleon is deposed and exiled to Elba

100 Days –Napoleon's last bid for power –Returns from exile Battle of waterloo –Defeated by the British –Exiled to St. Helena islandExiled to St. Helena island

Congress of Vienna Led by Austrian prince Klemens von Metternich The goal was to establish stability and security to the European continent Three main goals 1.Prevent future French aggression by establishing strong nations around France 2.Balance of Power Nations knew not to leave France powerless Have it to where one country cant overpower another 3.Legitimacy Restore those that Napoleon took out of power back to their throne

Legacies of the French Revolution French Revolution End of absolutism Power of nobles ended Peasants became landowners Nationalism Enlightenment ideals Peace lasts after Congress of Vienna for 40 years