1. French Revolution Timeline

2. Background to Revolution
Social inequality & economic problems contributed to the French Revolution
This struggle for rights has shaped the modern world

3. Background to Revolution
Main idea: 1. The Third Estate, made up the majority of the French people, were heavily taxed and unhappy

4. Background to Revolution
Long & immediate problems caused the French Revolution.
Long term: French society based on inequality (like feudalism)
France was divided into 3 orders (estates)
First, Second and Third

5. Background to Revolution
B. First Estate – clergy
exempted from the taille
C. Second Estate- nobility
held leading positions, had privileges
wanted to increase power

6. Background to Revolution
D. Third Estate- commoners
98% of population
divided by (occupation, edu., wealth)
peasants % total population
other part of estate- artisans, shopkeepers
hurt economically (rise in prices, no increase in wages)

7. Background to Revolution
E. The bourgeoisie- other part of the Third Estate
owned about 20-25% of the land
merchants, teachers, other professional people
unhappy w/ privileges given to nobles

9. Background to Revolution
F. Immediate cause for French Rev. – collapse of gov’ts finances
French economy suffered crises for 50 yrs
bad harvest 1787 & 1788
slowdown in manufacturing- food shortages, food prices rise, unemployment
1/3 population was poor

10. Background to Revolution
G. French gov’t continued to spend lavishly on wars and luxuries
Marie Antoinette, known for extravagance
King Louis XVI was forced to call a meeting
Estates-General

11. Learning Goals:
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary source (Grievances of the 3rd Estate)
Be able to summarize correctly the complaints the Third Estate made to King Louis XVI before the meeting of the Estates General.
What strategies can you use to translate difficult text?

12. Learning goals: Understand the complaints of the 3rd Estate
Understand the events that led to the local revolts throughout France

13. Estates-General to National Assembly
Main idea: By meeting as a separate assembly, the Third Estate claimed the right to have their votes count as much as those of the clergy and nobles

14. Estates-General to National Assembly
Each order of French society had the Estates- General.
goal: to fix France’s economic situation
Third Estate- constitutional gov’t, get rid of tax exemptions of clergy and nobles
wanted system where each member votes- king held one vote per estate
reaction: 3rd Estate called itself a National Assembly & decided to draft a constitution

15. Estates-General to National Assembly
Locked out of meeting place
moved to nearby tennis court
swore to draft a constitution
known as the Tennis Court Oath

16. Estates-General to National Assembly
B. King Louis XVI threatens to use force against 3rd Estate
commoners saved them w/ the storming of the Bastille
king’s authority collapsed
local revolutions broke out

17. Estates-General to National Assembly
C. Peasant Rebellions part of the Great Fear
panic hit France 1789
people formed militias

18. Learning goals:
Understand how the revolts destroyed and changed the old government in France

19. Learning goals:
Understand what caused some people to turn to radicalism in the French Revolution
Understand the goals of the French Revolution
Be able to identify major events over the course of the revolution

20. Changes in France from the Revolution
Destruction of feudalism
Destruction of aristocratic privileges
Declaration of Rights of Man
claimed freedom & equal rights for all men
access to public office based on talent
end of taxation exemptions
freedom of speech & press
all citizens have right to law making

21. 4. Changes to the Church
bishops and priests now elected by the people
controlled by French gov’t
Catholics become enemies of Revolution
church lands taken away

22. 5. New Constitution 1791
limited monarchy
had a king & legislative assembly (w/ power to make laws)

23. 6. Power went to the Paris Commune
members – sans culottes
working people & the poor
merchants & artisans

24. After Robespierre’s death:
New Constitution 1795
legislative assembly w/ 2 chambers
The period of the Directory ( )
gov’t corruption
couldn’t solve country’s economic problems
Relied on military to stay in power

25. 1799 – sudden overthrow of the gov’t
led by Napoleon Bonaparte
overthrew the directory
Napoleon took power

26. Learning goals: Identify how Napoleon rose to power in France
Understand Napoleon’s domestic policies
Identify how Napoleon lost power
Analyze whether Napoleon kept or destroyed the ideas of the Revolution