1. The French Revolution (1789-1815)

2. WHAT DOES REVOLUTION MEAN?

3. REVOLUTION
That self-conscious decisions by human beings can reorganize society (think renaissance)

4. Look at these words used today:
The isms are created during the French Rev. because there has to be a program as to why
Ideology -invented in 1795 in the French Revolution
1813, after the Revolution, liberalism is first used
Edmund burke in 1790 conservatism is first used
Nationalism in the 1790s
Socialism invented in the 1810s
Communism in the 1840s

5. So what does this tell us about the French Revolution?
Why do we call them political right and political left?
They come from the deputies who sat to the left and the right in the national assembly or 1789/1790

6. https://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/browse/songs/#

7. TIMELINE FOR THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Call of the Estates Generals
(May 5, 1789) King Louis XVI calls forth the Estates General together for the first time in a long time. Featuring the clergy, the noblemen, and the rest of France together.
Tennis Court Oath
(June 17, 1789) After being removed from the Estates General, the Third Estate forms the National Assembly. They then swear to the Tennis Court saying that they will not leave
Storming of the Bastille
(July 14, 1789) Angry revolutionaries storm the Bastille. By doing this, not only does it serve to make a statement against the monarchy but the mob also attained weapons and gunpowder that were kept in the prison.
Declaration of the Rights of Man
(August 26, 1789) August 26, 1789 The Declaration of the Rights of Man is written and states that all men are equal under law. Women and children were not affected by this document.
March on Versailles
(October 5, 1789) October 5, 1789 Parisian market women lead a march on Versailles to protest about scarcity and high price of bread.
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
(July 12, 1790) The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is published allowing the French government control of the Church. Due to badly needed money, the government starts to sell church land.

8. TIMELINE FOR THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Royal Family attempts to flee
(June 20, 1791) King Louis XVI and his family attempt to flee from France but are caught at Verannes. They are sent back to Paris where the King is forced to go on trial.
Execution of the King
(January 21, 1793) After being put on trial the king is sentenced to death. He is executed by the guillotine on January 21, 1793.
Reign of Terror
(September July 1794) Thousands of people are sentenced to death by execution that is caused by conflict between two political parties the Jacobins, and the Girondins. The leader of the Jacobins, Maximilien arises as a new leader of the Revolution.
Execution of Robespierre
(July ) Maximilien Robespierre, leader of the Jacobins, is executed and the power of the Jacobins fall with him. The Girondins gain more power as a result.

9. Reasons for such a Revolution?
1. International: French spends money on helping who? AMERICA
2. Political conflict: conflict between the Monarchy and the nobility over the “reform” of the tax system led to paralysis and bankruptcy.
3. The Enlightenment: impulse for reform intensifies political conflicts
4. Ineffective ruler: Louis XVI
5. Economic hardship, especially the agrarian crisis of generates popular discontent and disorders caused by food shortages.

10. French Society Compromised of 3 “estates” = legal orders
Estate 1 = the clergy = 1% of the population
Estate 2 = the nobility = 1% of the population
Estate 3 = the commoners = 98% of the population
King of France at this time = King Louis XVI
His wife = Marie Antoinette

11. King Louis XVI
Marie Antoinette

12. The State of France On the brink of bankruptcy and government in debt
Commoners upset with higher prices of goods and an increased cost of living
Wealthy upper/middle class (bourgeoisie) = wanted more political power

13. The poor and the wealthy

14. Robespierre (Architect of the Revolution)

15. Opening of the Estates General at Versailles -- May 5, 1789
The State of France
King Louis XVI wanted to reform the tax system to make it more equal and efficient
At the time = clergy, nobility, and government officials = exempt from paying taxes
He called into session the Estates General = an ancient representative body (last time met early 1600s)
Consisted of representatives from the 3 estates
Each estate gets 1 vote
Opening of the Estates General at Versailles -- May 5, 1789

16. Meeting of the Estates General in 1789
The State of France
The 1st and 2nd estates could easily outvote the 3rd estate and voted against these tax reforms
3rd estate thought this was unfair  wanted to reform government so that votes were based on each representative, not on each estate
King refused because he didn’t want the lowest class to control everything
Result = 3rd estate broke away and formed its own organization = the National Assembly
Meeting of the Estates General in 1789

17. Painting of the National Assembly convening at an indoor tennis court
Met at indoor tennis court & swore the “Tennis Court Oath” = promised they wouldn’t disband until they had written a new constitution for France
Painting of the National Assembly convening at an indoor tennis court

18. The National Assembly
Drafted the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen”
Influenced by the Declaration of Independence
Said all people were created equal
Guaranteed freedoms of speech, press, and religion

19. The Gathering of French Troops
Revolution in the Air
King Louis XVI sensed trouble and called for more troops to protect Versailles and Paris
Spirit of rebellion was everywhere – from the meetings of the National Assembly to the streets of Paris
The Gathering of French Troops

20. The Fall of the Bastille
Bastille was a prison in Paris
Symbolized the injustices of the monarchy
Mob stormed the Bastille on July 14, 1789
The prison fell and prisoners were freed

21. The Great Terror More violence followed = called the Great Terror
Peasants armed themselves and prepared for a revolution
Peasants attacked the castles of their lords
Fields and crops burned
Documents of dues and payments burned
Buildings attacked and destroyed

22. End of the Old Order In an effort to end the violence:
Nobles gave up their aristocratic privileges
Nobles gave up their tax exemption
Feudalism abolished
Agreement that all male citizens could hold offices in the government, army, or church

23. Cartoon Representation of the Confiscation of Church Lands
End of the Old Order
Church lands = sold to raise revenue and pay government debts
National Assembly passed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy = put French Church under government control; weakened the Catholic Church
Cartoon Representation of the Confiscation of Church Lands

24. March on Versailles
Despite these changes, King Louis XVI sill refused to accept the Declaration of Rights and recognize the National Assembly
March on Versailles led by women who were upset with harsh economic conditions and bread shortages
Marched to the King’s palace and demanded he move the court to Paris  wanted him to show support for the new Assembly

25. Women's March on Versailles: What is interesting about this picture?

26. March on Versailles Huge mob joined with pitchforks and torches
Guards couldn’t fight off the thousands of people
King Louis XVI agreed to move to Paris

27. French Constitution of 1791
Kept the monarchy but limited its power
Set up a unicameral legislature
One-house assembly
Members chosen by the voters
New constitution led to more unrest  some thought it went too far, others thought it didn’t go far enough
Violence continued throughout the countryside
Fear of breakdown of law and order

28. Decline of the Monarchy
In 1791 = King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette tried to escape Paris and go to Austria
Feared more violence
Were arrested before they got very far
Forced to return to Paris
Escape Attempt of the Royal Family in June of 1791

29. “Lady Liberty” Leading the People
The French Republic (1792)
France attempted to create a whole new society
Created a new government = a republic
Wrote a democratic constitution
Passed universal male suffrage = every man could vote
New calendar with “Year 1” in = marking a new start for France
“Lady Liberty” Leading the People

30. Austria and France
By 1792, European Monarchs were eyeing France with suspicion. They had seen the overthrow of Louis XVI, by the French people, and worried that revolutionary fervor would spread
While elsewhere in Europe caution was being displayed, in France the public opinion was for war.
On April 20, 1792, the Legislative Assembly (France's governing body, formed in 1791) declared war on Austria.

31. This painting commemorates The Battle of Valmy, which was a turning

32. The French Republic
The new Republic had to decide the fate of King Louis XVI
Tried and convicted him of treason and conspiring against the nation
Beheaded on the guillotine in 1793
Crowds celebrated his death

33. Marie Antoinette met the same fate years later

34. The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) Began after the execution of Louis XVI
Led by Maximilien Robespierre and his Committee of Public Safety
Traitors and enemies of the revolution = executed with the guillotine
An estimated 40,000 people were killed in this 1 year

35. Execution of Maximilien Robespierre
The Reign of Terror ( )
Robespierre was soon arrested himself
Accused of leading France into tyranny and dictatorship
Executed with the guillotine
Execution of Maximilien Robespierre

36. Spreading the Revolution
Other European leaders feared the French Revolution would spread to their countries
These countries united against the new French government
Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, Spain, and the Netherlands
In response = France issued a conscription order = a draft
Men between 18 and 45 had to serve in the military