1. The French Revolution
-Key Concepts-

2. -Ideological Foundation for Political Liberalism-
Revolutionary Ideas
-Ideological Foundation for Political Liberalism-

3. Roots of Liberalism Enlightenment Foundation
Locke’s Notion of the Rights of Englishmen
Rousseau’s Social Contract
Voltaire’s Freedom of Speech

4. Liberty The notion of individual human rights
A new type of government in which the people are sovereign
The importance of a representative assembly
The importance of a written constitution

5. Equality Equality of rights and civil liberties
Equality before the law
No special privileges for the rich
Equality of opportunity

6. British North America “All Men are Created Equal”
The significance of the American Declaration of Independence
The influence of the American Revolution

7. The Events of the French Revolution

8. Origins
France bankrupt due to expensive wars, aiding the Americans, expenses of the court.
Only solution = tax reform and a direct tax on all property

9. The Estates-General
The Estates General had to be called by law in order to pass a new tax.
An old feudal assembly that had not met since 1614
Three Estates: Clergy, Nobility, All Others
Each Estate had one vote, regardless of the number of people they represented

10. The Third Estate Who were they?
Third Estate was dominated by the middle class
Revolutionary goals of the middle class

11. An Agenda of Classical Liberalism
Estates-General became the National Assembly in June of 1789 with the power to frame a constitution
--Tennis Court Oath

12. “Revolutionaries in the Streets”
Who were they?
“Sans-culottes” (without knee britches)
Picked up the ideas and slogans of the Revolution from the more educated leadership of lawyers and journalists

13. What were the Motivations of these Revolutionaries?
Poverty and Hunger
Low wages and fear of unemployment
Strong dislike for and distrust of the wealthy
Heightened expectations and the exposure to a political perspective

14. A Case Study: Storming the Bastille
Reasons for the attack on the Bastille
Celebrations on the night of July 14th
Sparks tremendous popular revolution all over France

15. Declaration of the Rights of Man—August 27, 1789

16. The Court Returns to Paris
Mounting unemployment and hunger in Paris in the fall of 1789
“October Days”
-- “The point is that we want bread!”
Women nearly killed the Queen
The Royal Family removed from Versailles to Paris

17. CONSTITUTION OF 1791
Created a limited monarchy with a representative body

18. Growing Radicalism Reasons: --Unsatisfied Expectations
--Outbreak of War with Austria over returning the King to power
Results:
--Increasing Violence
--Change in Political Leadership to Jacobins

19. END OF THE KING Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee France
Captured and placed under arrest
Louis and Marie Antoinette were executed by guillotine
Constitution of 1791 was thrown out

20. Robespierre’s Reign of Terror
The Committee of Public Safety
Charged with keeping France “safe” from counter-revolutionaries until a new government could be agreed upon.

21. The Reign of Terror (cont)
Execution of 40,000 “Enemies of the Nation”
Stress on radical definition of equality
Wanted a legal maximum on personal wealth
End of Robespierre’s dictatorship on July 28, 1794

22. 1794-1799 The Directory was established
This form of government had a 5 man executive branch which had to agree before any actions could be taken
This proved to be a disaster!