French Revolution

French Revolution 7-3.2

Standard and Objective • 7-3.1 Explain the causes, key events, and outcomes of The French Revolution, including the storming of Bastille, the Reign of Terror, and Napoleon’s rise to power. • Objective: Identify the influences of the French Revolution.

Let’s Recall • What are some ideas and people we remember about the Enlightenment?

American Revolution, right?

American Revolution • What do you remember from elementary school?

Notes : There were two main influences of the French Revolution: 1. Enlightenment: presented new ideas about authority, role of the individual in government, and John Locke (who said you should rebel if a government fails to protect rights). 2. American Revolution: drew upon ideas of John Locke in Declaration of Independence. The ideals of freedom and equality and its success became a model for the French.

Activity: Model • What are two things that influenced Mrs. Ganes to become a teacher?

Exit Question • How did the Enlightenment and American Revolution influence the French Revolution? A. They encouraged rebellion against a government that wasn’t working B. They inspired the king to kill all the unruly peasants C. They empowered William and Mary to sign the English Bill of Rights.

Causes • Explain the causes, key ideas, and effects of the French Revolution. • Objective: Identify the causes of the French Revolution

The French Revolution was caused by a series of events that changed the organization of political power, the nature of society, and the exercise of individual freedoms. • In part, the revolution was caused by the social imbalance of the Old Regime. Under this system, France was divided into 3 social classes. • The 3 classes were: The First, Second and Third Estates.

Old Regime • 1. Inequality of the social classes of the Old Regime.

Taxes • 2. Unequal tax burdens: 3rd Estate paid all the taxes and many people were poor and struggled to make a living with little or no education. The nobles and clergy had great wealth and privilege and lived tax-free.

Debts • 3. Debts: The king spent too much money on wars (including the American Revolution) and royal luxuries. He was a weak and extravagant leader in a time of crisis. The banks refused to loan him any more money. This forced him to call together the Estates-General, the French legislative body.

King and Queen: • Louis XVI was slow to accept accept the new reforms the 3rd Estate were proposing.

Louis XVI was another cause of the French Revolution. He incurred great debts caused by war and his own spending. His people were already heavily taxed, and banks refused to loan him anymore money. This required him to call together the Estates-General, the French legislative body. • After the calling of the Estates-General, the Third Estate insisted on a power structure that would allow every male citizen one vote instead of each Estate collectively having one vote each. (This reform was later made into law, meeting a key Enlightenment goal- the equality of all citizens before the law.

When this request was denied, the National Assembly was formed symbolizing an end to absolute monarchy and the start of representative government in France. • When France was shut out of the proceedings of the Estates General a few days later, they gathered on the king’s tennis courts to write a new constitution for the government called the Tennis Court Oath.

Inflation • 4. Financial Crisis: The French population was growing and a famine was starting to break out because the harvests were poor. Demand for goods and food caused prices to rise, even though wages stayed the same.

Even with all of the problems facing the 3rd estate, the nobles continued to enjoy gala and banquets while people were starving So anger and tensions began to rise again…..

Simulation • Mrs. Ganes will select at random who belongs in what estate. • Let’s vote on the following issues: • Should the first two estates have to do their homework due tomorrow? • Should the first two estates have access to Mrs. Ganes candy? • Should the first two estates have their own box of markers to use for the graphic organizer on causes? • Should the first two estates be the only students who can use the restroom?

Simulation Discussion: How did it feel to have some students treated differently than others? How does this relate to what was going on in France during the Old Regime? Why do you think this inequality helped cause the French Revolution?

Exit Question Which of the following is NOT one of the causes of the French Revolution? A. Social imbalance of the three estates B. Napoleon steps down as emperor C. The weak leadership of King Louis XVI.

Bastille • Explain the causes, key ideas, and effects of the French Revolution. • Objective: Identify the significance of the storming of the Bastille in the French Revolution.

Estates-General -After calling together the Estates-General, the Third Estate insisted on a new power structure that would allow one-man, one-vote. This would give them greater representation in the Estates-General: it was denied. - In response, the Third Estate created the National Assembly, which symbolized an end to the absolute monarchy and the start of the representative government in France.

Tennis Court Oath - The other estates shut out the Third Estate from the rest of the proceedings of the Estates General, so they left and gathered on the king’s tennis courts. They wrote a new constitution for the new government and called it the Tennis Court Oath.

Pair-Share: Why are the people in the picture so emotional for the Tennis Court Oath?

Storming the Bastille -On July 14, 1789, a mob of peasants stormed the Bastille, a prison and armory (place to store weapons). Riots broke out across the countryside, symbolizing the full onset of the French Revolution. -In 1791, a constitutional monarchy was established, significantly weakening the power of the king and granting power to the people with the Legislative Assembly. _The peasants got weapons from the Bastille and they tore down the Bastille because it was a symbol of the King’s power. _ This event represented the beginning of the revolution, and July 14th, or Bastille Day, is a national holiday in France.

Constitution of 1791: • Set up limited monarchy replacing absolute monarchy • New legislative assembly had power to -make laws -collect taxes -decide on issues of war and peace • Created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen:

Riots broke out across the countryside as peasants began raiding the homes of nobles, killing and looting in response to their anger at the unfair Estate System and their increased poverty.

Pair-Share: What caused the fire and destruction of the Bastille?

Model: Back in the Day (Glorious Revolution) “I remember when I was young and the country was very upset with James II being Catholic. And then he had a son. My brothers immediately joined William III’s army to get rid of the king. Luckily, the king was a coward and fled. I’ll never forget the day my brothers came home disappointed they didn’t get to fight, but I was so happy it turned out bloodless.”

Guided Practice: Bastille How could we begin the story of the Storming of the Bastille?

Independent Practice: • Imagine you lived through the Storming of the Bastille and now in your old age you like to retell the significance of the event. • Use a half-sheet of paper to describe: the events, how you felt being there, the environment (ie. Burning buildings). Most importantly, explain the significance of the Bastille in the revolution

Exit Question • Why is the storming of the Bastille significant to the French Revolution? A. It symbolized the start of the French Revolution B. It ruined the people’s faith in the king C. It proved that the people were wrong about the weakness of King Louis XVI

Reign of Terror • Explain the causes, key ideas, and effects of the French Revolution. • Objective: identify the significance of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution.

Remember the angry mobs? • Women March on • Versailles Thousands of women marched from Paris to Versailles shouting, “Bread!” (They also did not like Mary Antoinette)

And the Riots?

Dangerously Radical - A Constitutional Monarchy was established which weakened the power of the king and granted power to the people in the form of the Legislative Assembly. • The revolution became increasingly radical (or extreme) in nature. In late 1791, the constitution was set aside and the king imprisoned. The National Convention was formed and declared France a republic based on universal male suffrage (all males could vote). • The Convention initiated a military draft to raise an army to protect the revolution from the armies of other European monarchs and instituted the guillotine as a way of protecting the revolution from “enemies” within France. • Maximilien Robespierre gained power until he became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety in mid-1793. With this power, Robespierre became a dictator because he failed to obey a country’s constitution and was responsible for beginning The Reign of Terror in France.

Not the guillotine!!! - The National Convention: a) Started a military draft (men have to enter the army) to protect the revolution from the armies of other European monarchy, b) Instituted the guillotine as a way of protecting the revolution from ‘enemies’ within France.

Fun Facts! • Total weight of the Guillotine was about 1,278 Ibs • The blade weighted over 88Ibs • Height of the side posts were just over 14 ft.

Robespierre -Many members of the Convention were Jacobins, a radical revolutionary group. Maximilien Robespierre was a leader of the Jacobins who became in charge of the Committee of Public Safety in the mid 1793’s.

Let the terror begin! • -Robespierre began the Reign of Terror in France by guillotining 25,000-40,000 ‘enemies of the Revolution. Most of the executed were nobles including the king and queen.

And off her head goes!

Oops our bad! -Other members of the National Convention realized afterward that Robespierre was too radical(they feared for their own lives) and executed him in July 1794, ending the Reign of Terror.

After the execution of Robespierre, the revolution took a more conservative turn. From 1795-1799, France was ruled by 5 men known as the Directory

Exit Question Why is the Reign of Terror the most memorable event in the French Revolution? A. The French people pardoned the king B. Thousands were killed violently on the guillotine. C. It was bloodless.

Rise of Napoleon • 7-3 Explain the causes, key ideas, and effects of the French Revolution. • Objective: TSWBAT explain why Napoleon was able to rise to power.

Group Share • Based on the picture, how do outsiders view the French Revolution?

French Revolution