1. The French Revolution

2. Timeline 1745: The Enlightenment led to criticism of the Monarchy
1756: Seven Years’ War cripples French navy, Britain becomes a world power
Rousseau and Voltaire

3. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
1774: Coronation of Louis XVI

4. American Colonists: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
1776: American Revolution
1778: France declares war on Britain in support of American colonies

5. Increasing Troubles for France
1783: Treaty of Paris ends American War—success of colonists fuels French citizens
1787: A time of financial troubles for Louis XVI

6. Estates-General 1st Estate: Clergy/Church
2nd Estate: Royalty/Aristocrats—born into wealth
3rd Estate (97% of population): Commoners (70%), Bourgeoisie (28%)—middle class, educated, working class

7. 1789
Estates-General convenes for the first time since 1614 to raise taxes
Third Estate (commons) locked out of voting on constitution

8. 1789 July 14: Storming of the Bastille—ammunition cache
August 27: Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

9. Versailles
October 5-6: Paris mob storms Versailles

10. The Hall of Mirrors

11. Queen’s and King’s Bed Chamber

12. The Chapel and Garden

13. The Guillotine
September 2-5, 1792: September Massacres; 1200, prisoners, including over 200 clergy, killed in fear they were siding with Prussians
About 40,000 died by guillotine during the Revolution—80% + were commoners

14. The Reign of Terror Period of violence from 27 Jun 1793-27 July 1793
Committee of Public Safety established—led by Robespierre
Robespierre: A leader of the Revolution; extreme left-wing bourgeoisie; called for king’s execution; instrumental in Reign of Terror
Marat: Helped launch Reign of Terror
Danton: Helped launch Reign of Terror

15. 1790-1799 January 21, 1793: Louis XVI executed
February 1: War declared on Britain, Holland, and Spain
October 16: Marie Antoinette executed
1799: Napoleonic Era begins

16. Causes of the Revolution
Increasing, enormous debt
Government lavish spending
Archaic taxation system in which the Third Estate had greatest burden and least representation
American Revolution
High unemployment
Scarcity of food

17. 9 Thermidor
9 Thermidor Year II: The end of the Reign of Terror. 27 July 1794 Robespierre and Public Safety Committee convicted as outlaws. All were guillotined the following day.

18. The Scarlet Pimpernel