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FRENCH REVOLUTION. CHAPTER 23 SECTION 1 & 2. The Old Order. France was the richest and most powerful monarchy in Europe. Working men and women wanted a better life (more rights) Influenced by American Revolution. French Society Divided. The Estates General
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FRENCH REVOLUTION CHAPTER 23 SECTION 1 & 2
The Old Order • France was the richest and most powerful monarchy in Europe. • Working men and women wanted a better life (more rights) • Influenced by American Revolution
French Society Divided The Estates General France’s caste (social) system • First Estate – Clergy • Second Estate - Nobility • Third Estate – Everyone else 97% of population
French Society Divided (cont) • The Second and Third Estate began having grievances with each other • The quality of life for the Third Estate was horrible • Many nobles felt that they belonged living in a palace
Growing Unrest • Third Estate began to call for change • A growing population raised the cost of living • The government was also in a financial crisis
Calling The Estates Together 1789 • The King called the Estates together • which had not been called since 1614 • Representatives from each estate met with the King. • Third Estate wanted to be equal with other Estates.
Calling The Estates (cont) • The King would eventually lock the third estate out of the meeting • The Third Estate would form the national Assembly and take the Tennis Court Oath
Constitutional Government • Violence swept the countryside • the National Assembly worked to form a new government. • Peasant unrest and violence forced the National Assembly to make reforms
Constitutional Government (cont) • Nobles voted to end their privileges • Inspired by the American Revolution, The French wrote their own Declaration of Rights • Constitutional Government in France led to unrest and violence
A Call For Revolt • National Assembly • wanted to change French social order • The kings planed to dissolve the National Assembly
Storming the Bastille • The king refused to accept any new reforms and the declaration of rights. • Oct. 1789 • thousands of women demanded bread • marched on the kings palace at Versailles • The king agreed to move to Paris at the demands of French women.
Call For Revolt (cont) • Violence also erupted in the countryside after the fall of the Bastille • Peasants rebelled against feudal lords. • This was called the Great Fear
The Declaration of Rights • Influenced by Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau • All people are equal before the law • It guaranteed freedom of speech, press, and religion • It did not grant equal rights to women
The Constitution of 1791 • Kept the monarchy • Limited royal powers. • Unicameral house • its members were chosen by voters. • The right to vote was limited to males who paid a minimum tax. • Some the reforms went too far • for others not far enough.
Decline of the Monarchy • Constitutional Government limited the kings power • The king was caught fleeing France during the “Great Fear” • France fell into a war, social upheaval was the result
The French Republic • France was now a republic instead of a Monarchy. • Political power in a legislature based on universal male suffrage. • This begins a new era of freedom
Death of A King • December 1792 • Louis XVI was tried and convicted of conspiring against the liberty of a nation. • In January 1793, Louis XVI was beheaded by the guillotine.
Spreading the Revolution • European Monarchs feared the French Revolution. • It influenced many monarchs to make changes. • France’s leaders were determined to overthrow royalty everywhere.
Spreading the Revolution (cont) • To spread revolution, the National Convention adopted conscription. • Jacobins and Girondists began to fight in the National Convention. • Jacobins took over the Convention and accused Girondists of being royalists.
The Reign of Terror • The Jacobins set out to crush all opposition within France. • The Committee of Public Safety • under Maximilian Robespierre • Neighborhood watch committees • hunted down suspected traitors
The Reign of Terror (cont) • Marie-Antoinette • Louis XVI’s wife was taken to the guillotine • Innocent people were put to death • Robespierre was killed • others feared he would have them killed
The Directory • After Robespierre’s death • a new constitution was written. • Brought control of the government under the middle class. • Directors • Executive committee of five men • Ruled with two-house legislature
Review • Who was Robespierre? • What was the Reign of Terror? • What was the Committee of Public Safety?