1. WORLD HISTORY II French Revolution

2. Background to the French Revolution Seen as a major turning point in European history An attempt to reform the political and social order of France Caused by both short- term and long-term problems

3. Organization of the French Government First Estate (clergy – church officials) – 100 - 150 Second Estate (nobility; many of them inherited their titles; so not all of them are rich) – 100 - 150 Third Estate (peasants; merchants and everyone else) - 300

4. Challenges Facing France Bad harvests (1787 and 1788)  Food shortages  Rising prices for food Slowing of the French economy Increasing number of poor  Some estimates are as high as 1/3 of the population

5. Challenges Facing France Financial collapse  Enormous sums spent on costly wars  Court luxuries  Assisting the American colonists

6. The Estates-General Meeting is called in 1789  Purpose is to address the financial crisis that France is facing  Negotiations break down over voting procedures  June 17, 1789 – Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly  Tennis Court Oath

7. Storming of the Bastille Louis XVI prepared to take action against the Third Estate Common people supported the Third Estate – stormed the Bastille on July 14, 1789

8. The Great Fear Revolutions broke out in cities and throughout the countryside Hatred of landholders  Resentment of fees and obligation Panic and fear of invasion led to the formation of militias

9. National Assembly Destroyed the remaining relics of feudalism  Abolished the rights of landlords  No fiscal privileges for nobles and clergy Adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen  “…the natural…rights of man to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression…”

10. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Freedom and equal rights for all men Access to public office based on talent End to exemptions to taxation Freedom of speech and press No arbitrary arrests

11. Olympe de Gouges Author of the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen  Women should have the same rights as men  Demands are ignored by the National Assembly de Gouges will be executed via guillotine. Ironically, the official charge: opposition to the death penalty!

12. The King and Queen Return to Paris Women marched to Versailles and demanded the king and queen return to Paris  King is forced to sign the Declaration of the Rights of Man  Bring flour from the palace supplies Escorted to Paris by women armed with pikes  Pikes are carrying the heads of the kings guards

13. Changes Made by the National Assembly Civil Constitution of the Clergy  Lands of the church were seized  Bishops and priests were elected by the people  Paid by the state  Catholic Church is controlled by the state  Response: many Catholics are enemies (secretly?) of the Revolution

14. Changes Made by the National Assembly The Constitution of 1791 Established a limited monarchy King is still in power Legislative Assembly makes the laws  745 elected representatives  Only the most affluent members of French society could be elected

15. Challenges Facing the Legislative Assembly Opposition to the new order  Catholic priests  Nobles  Lower classes who were impacted by rise in the cost of living  Radicals who wanted a more drastic solution (no king, for example) Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee France in June 1791

16. Foreign Involvement Other European powers were concerned that revolution would spread Austria and Prussia threatened to use force to restore Louis XVI to the throne 1792 – In response, the Legislative Assembly in France declared war on Austria  Declaration of Pillnitz