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A Review of The French Revolution
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Estate System Who makes up the 3 estates in France? 1 st Estate: Clergy 2 nd Estate: Nobles 3 rd Estate: Majority of the population –Paid all of the taxes Bourgeoisie Peasants Urban Workers
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Primary Causes of the French Revolution Inequalities between the Estates –3 rd Estate has the entire tax burden and lacks political power Economic Issues –Deficit Spending – King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were spending outrageously while the French people were starving – Debt from the Seven Years’ War and U.S. Revolution Enlightenment Ideals –For the first time, people question the legitimacy of the Monarch and the Church –Instead they embrace equality, liberty, and religious tolerance
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How did it happen? Because of the Crisis, the King called for the Estates General Here, the three estates prepared cahiers, or notebooks listing their grievances Finally, to avoid being outvoted, the 3 rd Estate (and some reform minded clergy/nobles) declared themselves the National Assembly
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Tennis Court Oath A few days later, when the new National Assembly were attempting to meet, they found that the King had ordered their meeting place locked and guarded Instead, they moved to a nearby indoor tennis court and swore “never to separate”
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Storming of the Bastille After rumors spread of the King wishing to dissolve the National Assembly, Parisians stormed the Bastille What was the significance of this? The citizens proved that they were empowered by destroying a symbol of the monarchy
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What does the National Assembly do? (Moderate Phase) Abolish Feudalism, a system of privileges, even for themselves Wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which, like the American Declaration of Independence, called for equality. It also called for freedom of religion and a new tax system Women’s March on Versailles Place Church under State control Create a constitutional monarchy
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The Radicals gain power (Radical Phase) The Legislative Assembly continues to see Radical- minded people get elected What changes do they hope to bring? A republic, which has popular sovereignty International Change –Declared war on Austria, Prussia, and Britain
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First… the King
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Then, the Queen
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Committee of Public Safety Soon, the Radicals, led by Maximilien Robespierre, form the Committee of Public Safety to “defend the republic” from tyranny They lead a campaign where tens of thousands lose their head to the guillotine This became known as the “Reign of Terror”
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But soon, the people tired of the Committee, and executed its radical members
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Directory Moderates wrote a new constitution, setting up a five-man Directory in power But, when bread prices rose and they failed to stop the wars with Austria and Britain, they turned to Napoleon Bonaparte
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Napoleonic Era Napoleon used Nationalism, which was spreading around France, to push for reform and empire
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Napoleon’s Reforms Controlled Economy Made peace with the Church and promoted religious tolerance Napoleonic Code – set of laws that embodied the Enlightenment, which included liberty and equality Took away women’s rights
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Building an Empire He took over the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany He also abolished the Holy Roman Empire
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Napoleon Fails to take Britain He could not match Britain’s naval strength at Trafalgar
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He suffered a massive defeat in Russia, losing most of his troops to the winter
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While he abdicated briefly, he would soon return to power However, it lasted for only 100 days before his final loss at Waterloo
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Napoleon left power for good in 1815, and the Congress of Vienna redrew the map of Europe and restored order However, nationalism was growing and would soon create more European problems
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Study Guide The 3 estates Causes of the French Revolution The beginnings of the revolution Characteristics of the 4 phases People and vocabulary
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