1. The French Revolution

2. Objectives You will be able to…
Summarize the causes of the French Revolution.
Summarize the major events of the French Revolution.
Objectives

3. Recap The state of French society pre revolution: First Estate
Second Estate
Third Estate
France’s economy is in trouble. France has a lot of debt due to deficit spending.
King Louis summon the Estates General to solve the debt crisis.
Recap

4. The Estates General

5. The King asks each of the three estates to present a cahier listing the grievances of the three estates.
In the cahier, the estates were to address how they wanted to vote (by head or by order) and how to fix the economy.
King Louis XVI comes to the conclusion things should stay the way they are. He does nothing.
Estates General

6. Creation of the National Assembly
The 3rd estate decided that they would do nothing until the king would agree to fuse the three estates.
Few members of the other estates begin to join the 3rd estate.
June 17, The 3rd estate votes to call itself the National Assembly. They urged the privileged orders to join.
Creation of the National Assembly

7. Tennis Court Oath

8. June 20th, 1789- The National Assembly hall was locked.
The angry delegates, thinking that the Estates-General was about to be dissolved and sent home, gathered in a nearby covered tennis court.
They swore an oath to remain in session- against the king’s will- until France had a constitution.
Tennis Court Oath

10. Storming of the Bastille
Citizens of Paris began to believe that the aristos were plotting to take the city.
Ordinary citizens take action for the first time, rampaging through the city to find weapons to defend themselves.
Storming of the Bastille(July 17)- Rioters wound up at a fortress-prison and demand access to the supplies there. Many of the officials there were killed
This is the symbolic beginning of the French Revolution.
Storming of the Bastille

11. So what caused the revolution..?
1. Enlightenment
The ideas of John Locke and others
2. The American revolution
Provided an example of how people could free themselves.
3. The Rise of the Middle Class
Bourgeoisie of the 3rd estate were becoming more wealthy and influential, but did not get any privileges.
4. Economic Troubles
Unequal taxation, deficit spending, mismanagement of money
King Louis XVI was not spending money wisely.
So what caused the revolution..?

12. First steps towards constitution

13. Declaration of the Rights of Man
Modeled after the Declaration of Independence.
All men are “born and remain free and equal in rights.”
Enlightenment ideas
Enjoyed natural rights to “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.”
Issued on August 27, 1789
Declared the end of feudalism. Ended the special privileges of the elite classes.
Declaration of the Rights of Man

14. Women's March on Versailles
October 5, Thousands of women streamed down from Paris to Versailles screaming from bread.
Marie Antoinette- Had been known for being extravagant and wasting money.
In response to the cries of the people, Marie Antoinette supposedly said if there is no bread “Let them eat cake.”
The women refused to leave until the King returned to Paris.
The King returned, and for the next three years was a virtual prisoner.
Women's March on Versailles

15. Women’s March

16. Set up a limited monarch in place of the absolute monarchy.
The legislative assembly had the power to make laws, collect taxes, and decide on issues of war.
The King vetoed any legislation the assembly made.
Constitution of 1791

17. The Trial and Execution
Maximilien Robespierre- Claimed that the king was a traitor.
Louis XVI and his family try to flee to Austria and get caught.
Louis XVI- arrested on August 13, 1792
He is convicted of treason by the National assembly and is executed on January 21, 1793.
The Trial and Execution

18. Execution of Louis XVI

19. Reign of Terror July 1793- July 1794
Robespierre led the “Committee on Public Safety”
Had any “unvirtuous” enemy of the republic killed
Guillotine was the leading instrument of the executions.
Coup, Botched suicide, guillotine
The end of the Terror.
Reign of Terror