The French Revolution and Napoleon, Revolution Threatens the French King

The Old Regime France was still using a feudal system during the 1700s Feudal system = Old Regime Broken into three social classes or estates –First two estates had privileges – lots of $ and land. Made up of nobility and Catholic Church –Third Estate = 98% of France’s population

The Third Estate People in the 3 rd Estate had different financial issues. –First group = Bourgeoisie (artisans and merchants; well educated – liked Enlightenment ideas) – felt they deserved more privileges etc. –Workers – cooks and servants – weren’t paid well and often went hungry when bread prices rose –Peasants = 80% of France’s population!

The Fall of the Bastille Peasants paid half of their income to nobles, the church and the government Peasants = very resentful of the clergy, the government and the nobility

The King and Queen of France Marie AntoinetteLouis XVI

Forces of Change Enlightenment ideas – equality, liberty and democracy Rousseau’s friend put it simply, “The Third Estate is the People and the People is the foundation of the State. It is in fact the State itself…” Economic Woes = bad crops, higher cost of living, major debt from helping the Americans out during the Revolution etc.

Forces of Change continued… Weak leadership – Louis XVI was indecisive and let small matters turn big Also ignored his advisors Married Marie Antoinette who people hated b/c she was Austrian and spent too much $ Sent France into bankruptcy

Revolution Dawns The Tennis Court Assembly – The Third Estate broke into a tennis court until they’d drafted a constitution! When the Estates- General met to deal with the bankruptcy, the Third Estate demanded more power Third Estate formed the National Assembly and wanted to write laws and reforms for the French People Wanted a representative government

Storming the Bastille Louis XVI wanted to make peace with the 3 rd Estate, but was also freaked out and assembled an army of Swiss guards The 3 rd Estate found out about the Swiss guards, got mad and stormed the Bastille (a Paris prison). The 3 rd Estate mob stole gun powder and took over the prison. This was a big deal (ha!)

The Great Fear Sweeps France The storming of the Bastille Great Fear = Peasants, women and people in the Third Estate just went nuts and killed a lot of nobles The mob of rioters eventually drove the king and queen out of Paris