1. Stages of the French Revolution

2. Recap of the causes Absolute Monarchy
Under absolutism most people in France were denied basics rights and any say in government

3. Social Inequality
In France, everyone belonged to one of three social classes (Estates)
1st: Clergy
2nd: Nobles
3rd: Bourgeoisie, City Workers, Peasants
The 3rd Estate grew increasingly discontent with its heavy tax burden and lack of rights

4. Economic Injustices
The French Government, with its lavish court and expensive wars, spent more money than it earned (Deficit Spending)
This led to an increase of taxes on the 3rd estate, furthering their discontent
Bad harvests in 1789 caused food prices to rise
Peasants and city dwellers often did not have enough to eat and began to riot, demanding bread

5. The Enlightenment
Enlightenment thinkers were critical of France’s absolute monarchy and called for democratic reforms
Enlightenment ideas led many French to question the traditional way of ordering society
Giving the 1st and 2nd Estates privileges at the expense of the 3rd was unreasonable

6. English and American Examples
England’s Glorious Revolution provided an example of how existing authority could be challenged
Many French were inspired by American Colonists’ successful fight for liberty and equality in the American Revolution

7. Sans-culottes (“Without knee-breeches”) was a term created by the French aristocracy to describe the poorer members of the 3rd Estate. Their distinctive costume featured the pantalon (long-trousers), carmagnole (short-skirted coat), red cap of liberty and sabots (clogs)

9. The Revolution Begins
As conditions grew worse in France, demands for reform increased
In 1789, King Louis XVI finally called the Estates General
A body made up of all three estates, each with one vote
After this, change came swiftly

10. Meeting of the Estates General, May 5, 1789

11. 3rd Estate = National Assembly
The 3rd Estate was the only elected group in the Estates General
They soon declared themselves the National Assembly
Formed after a deadlock in the Estates General
Vowed to write a new constitution for France

12. The representatives swore not to depart until they had given France a new constitution.

13. Seizure of the Bastille
Working-class people, already rioting over the price of bread, stormed a prison called the Bastille on July 14, 1789.
Goal was to gain weapons
Fighting broke out, peasants attacked nobles and destroyed homes
Succeeded and the rebellion took control of Paris

15. July 14th is known as Bastille Day in France, which the French consider the beginning of their freedom from tyranny.
Similar to our 4th of July celebration

16. The Tennis Court Oath
When trying to meet on July 20, 1789 the National Assembly found their chamber doors were locked and guarded by Royal Soldiers sent by Louis XVI
The Assembly chose to meet in a nearby tennis court instead
Vowed “never to separate” and to meet wherever necessary until a French constitution is established

17. “We swear never to separate ourselves from the National Assembly, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the realm is drawn up and fixed upon solid foundations”

18. Significance of Tennis Court Oath
The Oath signified the first time French citizens formally stood in opposition to Louis XVI
Forced the king to make concessions
Declared that the National Assembly were acting as the supreme power of France’s government

19. Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
National Assembly abolished the privileges of the 1st and 2nd Estates
Adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
Based on the Declaration of Independence
Contained many Enlightenment ideas

20. Declaration of the Rights of Man:
Revolutionary patriotism borrows familiar iconography of the Ten Commandments

21. A Limited Monarchy
By 1791 the National Assembly had written a French constitution
Set up a limited monarchy and a representative assembly
Declared that people had natural rights
Government’s job was to protect those natural rights
Put the Church under state control

22. Reaction throughout Europe
Many European rulers and nobles feared that revolutionary ideas would spread to their own countries
Threatened to intervene to save the French monarchy
To fight tyranny and spread the revolution, France declared war on Austria, Prussia and Britain