1. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. 1789-1799

2. There were three classes or estates in France:
1st Estate - Clergymen no taxes
2nd Estate - Nobles no taxes
3rd Estate - Everyone else taxes

3. THE BURDEN OF THE POOR:
The middle and lower classes carried the tax burden.
The peasants were starving.
Each estate voted as a block. Three estates = three votes.
The 3rd wanted reform… Did the 1st and 2nd estates want tax reform? WHY? WHY NOT?

4. Crisis ! Government of France is in serious economic crisis
Money is needed
An attempt to tax the nobility fails
Louis VI calls the Estates General

5. Estates General A form of parliament 3 estates meet together
Each vote as a bloc (1 vote each)
Issues:
Tax reform?(Louis wants more money) Does not want to give up power
Reform government? Many want more democratic system

6. The third estate could do nothing unless one of the other two voted for the change…
Louis XVI refused to agree to reform

7. May 5, 1789
Representatives of the Third Estate wanted the Three Estates to meet together.
Perhaps the Third Estate could influence one of the other two.
Louis XVI insisted the Estates meet separately.

8. June 17, 1789
Representatives of the Third Estate called themselves the National Assembly.
A constitution must be written!
Louis XVI removed them from their meeting hall.

9. TENNIS COURT OATH
The National Assembly swears not to disband until a constitution has been composed.
First step to the French Revolution.

10. Economic problems not solved
Poverty and starvation were not addressed
Riots break out
Louis’ mistake: he sends in mercenary troops to restore the peace
Fear spreads among the population

11. July 14, 1789
People of Paris stormed the Bastille and freed eight political prisoners.
The governor of the prison is killed.
Bastille was the symbol of the Old Regime’s injustices. It had been expected to be full of prisoners.

13. Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
Passed by the National Assembly
Ideas from the United States Declaration of Independence and the philosophies
Natural Rights: Inalienable and sacred rights of men: Life, Liberty, Property

14. Equality for all? August 26, 1789
Excluded: those without property, those under 25, women, slaves, non-Catholics…

15. July to August 1789 The Great Fear swept the countryside.
Peasants heard of robbers raiding villages.
Peasants arm themselves but the robbers never come.
Peasants attack landowners.

16. October 1789
The royal palace at Versailles was attacked by rioters upset at raising food costs and suspicions that Louis XVI was plotting against the people’s government. (National Assembly)
Royal family transported to Paris where they can be more closely watched.

17. Constitution of 1791
France became a limited monarchy.
The constitution guaranteed equality under the law.

18. Noble titles obsolete
Control of church by government
“citizen”

19. Many nobles begin to flee France. (emigres)

20. June 1791
King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee the country.
They were recognized, captured and forced to accept the new constitution.
Could they be trusted?

21. Government fails
Radicals – Republic!
Moderates – Constitutional Monarchy
Monarchists – restore the King’s power

22. Girondists Wanted changes to government
More moderate than the Jacobins

23. Jacobins Radical political club
Gained more power and also became more extreme
Marat
Danton
Robespierre

24. Sans-Culottes -“without culottes”
the breeches worn by gentlemen
The poor in the cities
Disliked the bourgeoisie
Wanted Louis to be executed

25. April 1792
France went to war against Prussia and Austria. (Urged by French emigres)
Both countries were worried that the revolutionary spirit would spread to their countries.
Initially the war went poorly for France.

26. November 1792
National Convention proved that Louis XVI was plotting against the revolution.
Louis XVI condemned to death.

27. January 21, 1793
The last words of Louis XVI before he was guillotined:
“People, I die innocent…”

28. July 1793 - July 1794 THE REIGN OF TERROR
National Committee shelved the constitution.
Committee of Public Safety created under the leadership of Robespierre.

29. Dictatorship! The moderate Girondists are arrested and imprisoned
No one dare speak out.

30. COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Its job was to uncover traitors to the revolution.
20, ,000 victims were sent to Madame Guillotine.

31. The French “Razor”

32. Robespierre goes too Far
Argues with others in the committee
He is openly challenged
To preserve his control and the revolution he orders even more executions

33. July 1794 The National Convention ordered Robespierre arrested.
He’d gone too far.
The thud of his head ended the reign of terror.

34. 1795 - 1799 France ruled by The Directory.
It had an elected legislature and executive branch.
Had five directors.
It was inefficient and favoured the rich.

35. 1798 Napoleon invaded Egypt. Kind of successful…
French did well on the land but British Admiral Nelson sank the French fleet trapping them.
Napoleon abandoned his troops and returned to Paris.

36. 1799 Napoleon discovered dissatisfaction with the Directory.
The news of Napoleon’s disaster in Egypt had not yet become public.
Napoleon, 30, seized the government and became dicator of France.

37. What had happened to the ideals of the revolution
What had happened to the ideals of the revolution? (liberty, equality, fraternity)

38. THE END
Remember the Percentage of Successful Revolution Attempts vs. Those That Fail