1. French Revolution
A Society in Conflict

2. Background Information
Louis XIV
Spent over $100 million to build the Versailles Palace
Spent millions on foreign wars
French commoners pay most of the taxes on these

3. Background Information
Old Regime:
Traditional French society of 17th – 18th c.
Ruled by Absolute Monarch
King rules by “divine right”
King makes laws, levies taxes, controls courts, is highly involved with foreign affairs (ex – wars)

4. French Society Estates: First Estate:
Clergy: Roman Catholic (does not pay taxes)
Second Estate:
Nobles (does not pay taxes)
Third Estate:
Pays all of the taxes

5. French Society Third Estate: Middle Class Merchants, doctors, lawyers
Artists
Bankers
Commoners
Farmers, peasants, poor
These people pay taxes

6. Causes of the French Revolution
Unfair legal system that doesn’t allow for grievances
Third estate burdened by heavy taxes and unfair treatment by the court system
Middle class controlled large sums of money but have no political power

7. Causes of the French Revolution
Enlightenment ideas embraced by many
Voltaire
Call for reform of ancient political systems
Call for equality

8. Causes of the French Revolution
American Revolution shows the way to deal with “tyranny”
France in debt due to the increased spending of the King for a lavish lifestyle
France in debt due to the numerous wars
American Revolution

9. Causes of the French Revolution
Refusal of the First and Second Estates to pay their fair share of taxes or to decrease their privileges
May 5, 1789: Finally King Louis XVI summons the Estates General (governing body) to approve new taxes!!

10. Path to the Revolution! Estates General meet 1st estate – 300 members
2nd estate – 300 members
3rd estate – 600 members
Yet each group only has one vote !
The 3rd estate wants one vote per member
The king rejects this idea
June 17, 1789: The 3rd estate withdraws and forms the National Assembly in order to write a new constitution

11. Path to Revolution Meanwhile…food shortages increase
The king calls in his military troops in case a riot breaks out
Mobs start to form in the cities
Rumors spread about the King dissolving the National Assembly by force

12. Path to Revolution
July 14, 1789: This results in the storming of the Bastille
A major turning point in French history
Demonstrates the power of the 3rd estate
Show the weakness of the monarchy
Eventually: the King recognizes the National Assembly as the new governing body\
But…mass hysteria sweeps France in the form of the Great Fear as peasants destroy nobles’ estates…
The French Revolution begins!!!

13. The Great Fear: Peasant revolt July 20, 1789

14. Progress of the Revolution
August 4, 1789: National Assembly and the August Decrees:
Abolishes feudalism
Makes nobles pay taxes
Allows any qualified person to work in the government
Adopt a constitution
Wanted a limited constitutional monarch

15. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: August 27, 1789
Establishes:
Freedoms
Freedom of speech and the press
Equality
Included an end to exemptions from taxation for the nobles
Limited monarchy
Voting rights (for men with property)

16. Progress of the Revolution
Jacobins: A large network of political groups throughout France
The Mountain: were very radical
Wanted Louis put to death
Led by Robespierre
Want a republic
Girondins – less radical and want to keep Louis alive

17. Progress of the Revolution
Mobs riot again
Don’t think the King supports them
King tries to escape
Monarchy abolished
Louis XVI beheaded – January 21, 1793
Marie Antoinette beheaded
Foreign countries invade

18. Progress of the Revolution
Committees of Public Safety
Group that wants to ensure the goals of the revolution occur and no one stops them
Reign of Terror: September 1793 – July 1794
Guillotine anyone suspected of treason
20,000 – 40,000 die

19. Final days of the Revolution
Eventually the Reign of Terror turns on Robespierre and he is guillotined on July 28, 1794
Finally the terror ends…

20. SiX gOVERNMENT bodies Louis XVI and the Estates – General
August 23, 1754 – January 21, 1793
National Assembly – June17, 1789 – July 9, 1789
Formed by the 3rd Estate
Declared the Tennis Court Oath
National Convention (Nat’l Constituent Assembly)
July 9, 1789 – September 30, 1791
August Decrees
Write a constitution

21. Six government Bodies Legislative Assembly: October1, 1791 – Sept 1792
Make new laws
The Paris Commune: 1789 – 1795
Side government in Paris
Dominated by Jacobins
The Directory: 1795 – 1799
Legislative branch
Time of corruption
Can not solve the political or economic problems

22. Overview of the Revolution
Impossible demands made of government which, if granted, would mean its end.
Unsuccessful government attempts to suppress revolutionaries.
Revolutionaries gain power and seem united.
Once in power, revolutionaries begin to quarrel among themselves, and unity begins to dissolve.
The moderates gain the leadership but fail to satisfy those who insist on further changes.

23. Overview of the revolution
Power is gained by progressively more radical groups until finally a lunatic fringe gains almost complete control.
A strong man emerges and assumes great power.
The extremists try to create a “heaven-on-earth” by introducing their whole program and by punishing all of their opponents.
A period of terror [extreme violence] occurs.
Moderate groups regain power. THE REVOLUTION IS OVER!

24. Results of the French Revolution
End of debt slavery
Abolished debt imprisonment
Abolished primogeniture
Introduced the draft
Stimulated “nationalism” and increase in French patriotism
Yet, no true leader emerges until Napoleon Bonaparte arrives…