The French Revolution and Napoleon (1789-1815)

1. The French Revolution and Napoleon (1789-1815) Chapter 7

2. The French Revolution Begins Section 1

3. Key Idea • Economic and social inequalities in the “Old Regime” helped cause the French Revolution

4. The Old Order in France • Old Order: • Social and political system in France • 3 Estates (social classes): • First Estate • Second Estate • Third Estate

5. First Estate • Small percentage of Population • Owned 10 Percent of land in France! • Mostly members of Roman Catholic Church

6. Second Estate • Two percent of population • Owned 20 Percent of land in France • Paid almost nothing in taxes • Mostly rich nobles

7. Third Estate • 97 Percent of Population! • Three Groups: • Bourgeoisie (Bur zhwah ZEE) • Middle Class • Well Educated and wealthy • Paid high taxes • No social privileges • Believed in Enlightenment ideas

8. Third Estate • Three Groups (cont’d): • The Workers • Received low wages • Paid high taxes • Often out of a job • Would attack food suppliers if they couldn’t afford food • The Peasants • 80 Percent of France’s population! • Paid half their income in taxes to the wealthy

9. The Forces of Change • Enlightenment Ideas: • Members of Third Estate were spreading these ideas; inspired by American Revolution • Economic Troubles: • Despite better production and trade, debt and cost of living was increasing

10. The Forces of Change • A Weak Leader: • Louis XVI (16th) was indecisive on these matters • Imposed taxes on Second Estate Nobles • Second Estate forced him to call a meeting called the Estates General

11. The Estates-General (1789) • An assembly of representatives from all three of France’s Estates met • First time since the middle ages • In years past, each Estate met separately and had ONE vote • Third Estate (97 Percent of population) didn’t like this • The other two estates could outvote them!

12. The Estates-General (1789) • The Bourgeoisie members of Third Estate wanted a National Assembly instead • Delegates from all Three Estates would meet together in one room instead of three • This would give Third estate huge advantage since they would have more delegates

13. The Estates-General (1789) • On June 17, 1789 the delegates of the Third Estate voted to create a National Assembly • This proclaimed an end to Absolute Monarchy in France • First act of Revolution • Three days later, Third Estate was locked out of their meeting room • Met in an indoor tennis court instead, promising not to leave until a new constitution was written • Became known as the “Tennis Court Oath”

14. Tennis Court Oath (1789)

15. King Louis XVI Reacts • Orders his mercenary Swiss guards to surround Versailles • People in Paris hear about this: • Start to gather weapons in fear of an attack on the city by Louis and his mercenary army • On July 14, 1789 a mob stormed a Paris prison called the Bastille, looking for weapons

16. Storming the Bastille • Mob took control of the prison • Killed many of its guards • Paraded around Paris with heads on pikes • Considered French version of our July 4th • Great symbol of revolution

17. The Great Fear • A panic spreads throughout France • Mobs attack nobles • Angry women, upset about the cost of bread in Paris, storm the palace of Versailles and demand the king and queen go to Paris to fix the problem. • The king and queen leave Versailles and never return!

18. What We Learned Today: • France was a country full of citizens who did not enjoy equal status • These inequalities led to the beginning of the French Revolution • How did the Enlightenment affect these changes towards revolution in France?

19. Revolution Brings Reform and Terror Section 2

20. Key Idea • The revolutionary government of France made reforms but also used terror and violence to retain power.

21. The National Assembly (1789) • Ends privileges of First and Second Estates • All French men received equal rights • Reduced power of Catholic Church (First Estate) • These laws divided revolutionary supporters • Some supported the church • Some supported the state

22. King Louis XVI • As the National Assembly assumed more power: • Louis became fearful for his life • He and his wife, Marie Antoinette, tried to escape to the countryside • They were caught, brought back to Paris, to live under guard night and day

23. The Legislative Assembly (1791) • The National Assembly drew up laws that gave the king and queen very little power • Soon, they handed over power to a new group: • The Legislative Assembly • This became divided • Some wanted to end the revolution • Some wanted more radical changes

24. Threats from Outside France • European countries feared the French Revolution would spread to their countries too • Many sent in troops to restore power to Louis XVI • The French people thought the king and queen were trying to help these soldiers • Mobs often attacked nobles in retaliation

25. The National Convention (1792) • Government takes strong steps to protect the country • Takes away all of king’s powers • New government, The National Convention, declared Louis a common citizen • Allowed them to put him to death! • Ordered thousands of French men into the army

26. The Guillotine

27. Death of Louis XVI

28. Maximilien Robespierre (1793) • Takes over rule of France • Made many changes to keep France safe • Took away a lot of rights and freedoms • Known as the “Reign of Terror” • Ended in 1794, when Robespierre was put to death • French people were tired of violence and wanted peace and stability • A new and strong leader would step in to provide this…