A New France

What Were France’s 3 Estates? First Estate: Clergy (Church). 5% of the people Owned 10% of the land Collected tithes; paid no taxes Second Estate: Nobles 1.5% of the people Owned 20% of the land Held top jobs; paid no taxes Third Estate: Everyone Else 98% of people broken into two groups: 10% = bourgeoisie (middle class); wealthy landowners 90% = rural peasant farmers / urban laborers Few rights; paid high taxes

Louis XVI was like his grandfather: spoiled, self- centered, disconnected from his people. With his wife, Marie Antoinette, he spent $ frivolously, and built up huge national debt. Louis XVI Weak & Indecisive Marie Antoinette “Madame Deficit” The Monarchy in 18 th Century France 1. During the 1780s, France had widespread crop failures. The price of bread doubled in France’s debt rises 2X when Louis supports colonial rebels in the American Revolution. Bankers refuse to loan him any more money.

Economic Crisis! Louis attempts to raise state revenue by taxing the 2 nd estate (nobility). This action forces the first gathering of the Estates- General (all 3 estates) for the first time in 175 years! Each estate was meant to have one vote, regardless of membership. The 3 rd Estate insisted that all estates meet together & each member have a vote.

Tennis Court Oath June 17th The 3 rd Estate rename themselves the National Assembly & choose to vote for a representative government, where their voices will be heard. Louis locked the 3 rd estate out of the meeting of the Estates General, and so they met on an indoor tennis court where they vowed to remain until a Constitution was written! Louis, of course, refuses to hear the demands of the 3 rd estate, so…

July 14 th Parisians storm the Bastille (prison) to seize weapons to defend themselves against the King’s Swiss Guard.

Panic! Paris in Arms Center of revolution. Hungry, poor citizens unite in a fight for their natural rights. Great Fear Rumors of the King attacking peasants, so the peasants attacked the nobles first. Feudalism ends in August as peasants burn manor houses & feudal documents.

Women’s March - October, hungry women riot over the price of bread. They marched to Versailles to bring King Louis XVI back to Paris to answer for his crimes.

Changes Declaration of the Rights of Man (inspired by U.S. Declaration of Independence) End of Feudal Privilege Freedom of religion & speech are guaranteed. Liberty, Equality & Fraternity “the aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural... rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.” This becomes the slogan of the French Revolution!

France’s New Government Constitution of 1791 Adopted by the National Assembly Limited Monarchy (must follow law) Legislature gained power to make laws, collect taxes, and discuss war/peace. King Louis XVI & Queen Marie Antoinette are executed by guillotine. The royal family tries to escape France, but they are captured & imprisoned by a mob.

Reign of Terror A period of paranoia & fear that swept through the revolution in In France, the Committee of Public Safety found & executed 40,000 anti-revolutionaries (guillotine). Robespierre was a lawyer for the 3 rd estate, but he became more radical over time. He is credited with starting the Reign of Terror, and his own execution ended it in Head of the Committee of Public Safety, Maximilien Robespierre

A French Republic! Internal Divisions People demanded a republic, where citizens elect representatives to speak for them. Jacobins strongly favored a republic. War on Tyranny Radicals gained control of legislature. Declared war on Austria, Prussia, Britain, and other states (1792 – 1815).

Enter Napoleon After the Reign of Terror, the Republic is dissolved. In 1795, a new constitution is drafted, giving power to the Directory (5 men). In 1799, army general Napoleon Bonaparte pulls off a coup d’etat and takes control of France. In 1804, Napoleon crowns himself emperor. His military victories help to establish a French empire.

Napoleonic Code Under Napoleon, France saw many changes to existing laws (both good & bad): ● Equal Taxation + Stable Economy ● Public Education ● Religious tolerance ● Government control of church lands & appointments ● Women lose right to sell property ● Restriction of free speech & press ● Restore slavery in French colonies

Congress of Vienna 1815 After Napoleon’s final capture & exile, leaders gathered to decide the future of Europe: 1. It was decided that France must be surrounded by strong countries. 2. In Europe, there would always be a balance of power, so that no single country could pose a threat. 3. Royal families were restored to power. PEACE REIGNS IN EUROPE FOR ALMOST HALF A CENTURY!