1. Revolutions: The French Revolution
Enlightenment thought led to revolutions around the world. One of the earliest and biggest Enlightenment-inspired revolutions was in France when revolutionaries replaced the long-established monarchy with a new democratic government.
1790s –
Revolutionaries in France overthrew the French Monarchy to establish a democratic republic

2. Revolutions: The French Revolution
By the time Louis XVI took the throne, many citizens of France had been influenced by French Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau. These philosophers argued for freedom of religion, separation of powers in government and a social contract between the people and the government. Louis XV was seen as a symbol of tyranny & the ‘ancient regime’ (old order). During the French Revolution, he was arrested, put on trial and executed in 1793 after only 15 years in power.
Louis XVI

3. Revolutions: The French Revolution
An Austrian-born duchess, Marie Antoinette was married to Louis XVI in her teens, becoming Queen of France. She was eventually despised by most of the French population, seen as wasteful, too-rich-to-care, and promiscuous. She was also executed during the French Revolution.
Marie Antoinette

4. Revolutions: The French Revolution
THE FORCES OF CHANGE
There were many forces at work that led to changes and revolution in France. First, Enlightenment ideas led to more people questioning the government. Second, there were economic troubles stemming from colonial wars with England. Third, the population was expanding, the cost of living was on the rise as France sank further into debt. Fourth, bad weather was effecting crops and the population was going hungry. Finally, France had a leader that many believed to be too weak, too quick to borrow money from other countries, who was married to a wasteful woman, and who wasn’t kind to his people.
LOUIS XVI

5. Revolutions: The French Revolution
1st Estate – CATHOLIC CLERGY
Less than 1% of the population
Owned 10% of the land
provided education & relief to the poor
2% of their income went to taxes
Believed the Enlightenment was too radical
2nd Estate – NOBLES
Less than 2% of the population
Owned 25% of the land
Paid little to no taxes
3rd Estate – THE PEOPLE –
98% of the People (in 3 distinct groups)
Owned 65% of the land
Believed in Enlightenment ideas
High taxes to nobles, clergy, & govt. (+/- 50%)
Lacked Privileges

6. Revolutions: The French Revolution
THE GREAT FEAR: 1789
Rumors spread that Nobles hired outlaws to terrorize peasants
Panic spread, peasants revolted with pitchforks & torches
6,000 women peasants rioted over the cost of bread
Peasants raided and burned nobles’ homes
Palace of Versailles invaded by women
Louis XVI permanently fled to Paris

7. Revolutions: The French Revolution
Revolution begins!!! 1789
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: A meeting of 3rd ESTATE representatives met and agreed that their goal was to end the monarchy
TENNIS COURT OATH: They broke into an indoor tennis court, Pledged to stay until the other estates agreed to a new constitution
STORMING THE BASTILLE: rumors spread that foreign soldiers were coming to kill French citizens. Angry citizens invaded a French prison looking for ammunition to revolt against the King
TENNIS COURT OATH
STORMING THE BASTILLE

8. FRENCH DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN: 1789
Revolutions: The French Revolution
FRENCH DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN: 1789
The French Declaration of the Rights of Man was a document produced during the French Revolution reflecting independence and Enlightenment ideals, “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.”
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

9. Revolutions: The French Revolution
1792: Third Estate leads an angry mob through Paris
King Louis XVI was reduced to a prisoner
Louis XVI was caught fleeing to Austria
King was found guilty for being unfair to people
Sentenced to death (a living ex-monarch was too dangerous)
1793: King beheaded by the guillotine.

10. Revolutions: The French Revolution
One of the main leaders of the French Revolution was Maximillian Robespierre. Robespierre is known for his so-called “Reign of Terror”, which sought to find enemies of the French Revolution and eliminate them. This led to at least 20,000 beheadings. He tried to build a new France, but the beheadings continued. It was said of Robespierre that he governed like a dictator and he, “tried in the morning & put to death in the afternoon”. In the end, Robespierre himself was beheaded as France temporarily adopted a Republic.
Robespierre

11. Revolutions: The French Revolution
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte soon emerged as Emperor of France after a political coup after Robespierre’s Reign of Terror. Ironically, this gave France a single authoritarian leader, much like the kings that used to rule the country. Napoleon brought France back to dominance by conquering other European powers. Napoleon lost popularity with a failed invasion of Russia and he was exiled from France.

12. Revolutions: The French Revolution
A coalition of Austria, Sweden, Russia, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal defeated Napoleon in 1813 and banished him to the island of Elba. Napoleon escaped and marched triumphantly into Paris, but lost to the British in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo. He was exiled to the Island of Saint Helena, never to return again.

13. Revolutions: The French Revolution
The ‘Bourbon Restoration’ meant that the royal family once again ruled France (Louis XVIII then Charles X). But by 1830, the Second French Revolution established a constitutional monarchy. By 1848, another revolution ended the monarchy entirely and established the French Second Republic.
Louis XVIII
Second French Revolution

14. Revolutions: The French Revolution
This Second Republic lasted only three years until Napoleon III (the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte) staged another coup and proclaimed the Second French Empire in In 1870, a Third French Republic was created, lasting until the World War II Nazi takeover in Today, France is still a republic.

15. Revolutions: The French Revolution American Revolution (1776)
Venn Diagram
American Revolution (1776)
Similarities
French Revolution (1789)
Both were Revolutions
Both changed the govt.
Influenced by Voltaire
Influenced by Montesquieu
Influenced By Rousseau
Influenced by the Enlightenment
Emphasized Freedom of Religion
Neither had to answer to A King
Both had a republic
Happens in North America
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson
Ben Franklin, John Adams
Declared Independence from England
Fought a war against England
Started a New Country
Wrote a Constitution with a Bill of Rights
Happens in France
Louis XVI beheaded
Marie Antoinette Beheaded
Napoleon took over
Tried to conquer Europe
Beheaded 20,000 people
Had a ‘reign of Terror’
They went Broke