1. Causes of the French Revolution Kirchner

2. Economic Problems Many causes that led to the French Revolution
Extreme debt-French wars against Great Britain and other countries
Economic aid to America in the American Revolution (Lafayette and Baron von Steuben)
Meeting was called to address economic problems (the Estates-General)
Economic Problems

3. France’s Estates in the 18th century
Population
Land Ownership
Taxation
First: Clergy
Less than 1%
About 10%
Second: Nobility
Less than 2%
About 25%
Third: Commoners
More than 97%
About 65%
More than 98%
France’s Estates in the 18th century

4. The Revolution Begins Early days of the Revolution were exciting
Lafayette wanted to establish a constitutional monarchy
Storming of the Bastille-July (French Independence Day)
Peasants rose up against nobles-burned manor houses
King was forced to accept a new government with the National Assembly in charge

5. Permanent Changes in France
Abolition of feudalism
Adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man
Civil Constitution of the Clergy-abolished special
privileges of the Catholic church
Church was now under state control
Church opposed the Revolution
Constitutional MonarchyFirst French Republic
Permanent Changes in France

6. The Reign of Terror
Louis XVI-first to die (executed by guillotine) 1793
Maximilien Robespierre- wanted to stop opposition by imposing the death penalty on opponents (Committee of Public Safety)
Levee en masse-mass male conscription into military service

7. Conservative Reaction
Moderates regained control of the French government
Robespierre was beheaded which ended the Reign of the Terror
Nationalism increased in France