The French Revolution – The Beginnings

1. The French Revolution –The Beginnings The Old Regime: The Estates General- the social classes 1st Estate- 1% of the population owning- 15% of the land- Paid NO Taxes = the Clergy 2nd Estate- 2% of the population- Paid FEW taxes-Collected fees from peasants- eldest sons inherited noble titles- high positions in the military = Nobles 3rd Estate- 97% of the population = bourgeoisie- middle class then city workers then artisans and finally peasants- (peasants had to pay nobles feudal dues, heavy taxes, rent for land and had to pay 10% tithing to the church. Peasants had not voice in government

2. Estates General in 1791

3. Discontent in France • Growth of population • Changing economic conditions • Inflation of food prices and taxes • Middle Class wanted more power • Resented the King for his debts, expensive habits, and high taxes. • Lastly, resentment toward Marie Antoinette ( Queen to Louis XVI)

4. Marie Antoinette

5. Meeting of the Estates General • Called by the King • 3rd Estate refused to follow the old rules where they had NO say. • 3rd Estate declared the National Assembly and invited the two other Estates to join them. • Assembly represents the people of France and not the classes. • Wanted to write a Constitution. • MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION…

6. “Liberty, fraternity, equality”

7. The French Revolution

8. Storming of the Bastille -July 14, 1789 • The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of royal oppression. • When attacked only a hand full of prisoners were found. Others dead and missing. • A new government was created after the storming. • Today Bastille Day is to the French like the 4th of July is to Americans.

9. Storming of the Bastille

10. Bastille Day – July 14

11. the French FlagThe blue color: The blue color is associated with caring for the destitute by the affluent. This association arises from the incident wherein a rich Roman soldier cut his blue coat into half and gave it to a poor man to protect himself from the freezing cold. The soldier later had a dream that Jesus Christ was wearing his blue coat. He dedicated his life to the service of the church and is known as Saint Martin or Martin of Tours.The white color: The white color stands for peace and honesty and for royalty and nobility. Although the white color was associated with Virgin Mary, to whom Louis XIII had dedicated the Kingdom of France in the 17th century, it also represented Joan of Arc who used a white flag during her battles against the English in the Hundred Years' War. The white color was later adopted by the Bourbon Dynasty and became the symbol of the royal family.The red color: The red color is associated with Saint Denis, the patron saint of France, who was beheaded by the pagan priests for his preachings. The Oriflamme banner that was used as a battle standard for the French royalty had a red background. The red color is symbolic of the legend that the banner was dipped in Saint Denis' blood. Hence, red stands for valor and strength.

12. The French Flag

13. The “Great Fear” • Peasants began to fear for their lives. They thought the nobles would try to crush them. • Food Shortage • The result…peasants began to attack monasteries and noble homes.

14. National Assembly • Tried to stop the “Great Fear” by: • Outlawing tithing • Cancelling feudal dues • Removed privilege's to the 1st and 2nd Estates • Lastly…ended feudalism August 4, 1789

15. The Declaration of the Rights of Man • Document of human and political rights • All MEN were born free and will remain free • Freedom of speech, press and religion • All MEN could hold public office • Fair trials for all • Seized lands of the church and sold to the public- paid national debt

16. Declaration of the Rights of Man

17. Émigrés • Nobles who fled the country • “Emigrants” • Were trouble for France for years to come • Tried to overthrow the new government • Nobles and royal family insulted the National Assembly • Royal family forced to move to Paris

18. Government Reforms • Called for the elections of local officials • Divided France into 83 departments ( states) • The Constitution of 1791-brought and end to the monarchy

19. 1790- Civil Constitution of the Clergy • Departments would elect their clergy • Government pay salaries of clergy • Pope against it and Roman Catholics begin to oppose the Revolution

20. The Constitution of 1791 • Limited the authority of the king • Divided the government into 3 branches • Allowed taxpaying males to elect members to the Legislative Assembly • National Assembly was dissolved • Despite all this…the wealthy men still had the most control in the government

21. King’s reaction to the Constitution of 1791 • Reluctantly agreed but plotted to overthrow the new government and restore the Old regime • 1791- Louis and his family tried to flee the country- he was arrested and brought back to Paris • People began not trusting the king and some wanted a republic

22. The Legislative Assembly weakenesses and problems • Lasted only a year • Weak executive branch and a powerful legislative branch • Only a minority of the population voted • Not all people supported the revolution • Catholic priests and noble opposed the new regime • Peasants still were suffering • Émigrés a problem

23. Differing attitudes in the Assembly • Conservatives- felt the revolution had gone too far- thought the ideal government included a king with limited authority • Radicals- wanted more drastic changes- wanted to get rid of the king, set up a republic and make broad reforms. • Moderates- No extreme views- they went with both sides on different issues • Sat separately in the Assembly • Conservatives- right Radicals- left Moderates-middle

24. The bringing together moment • The threat of attack from other countries • Austria and Prussia wanted to restore the monarchy in France • Louis XVI hoped for war • Declared war on Austria in 1792 • Other countries came to Austria’s support

25. The end of the monarchy • The Prussians vowed to destroy Paris if the monarchy was harmed. • The Legislative Assembly accuse King Louis XVI with plotting with foreign powers to overthrow the Constitution of 1791. • Troops arrived in Paris to protect it from invading troops. • Their marching song “The Marseillaise” became France’s National Anthem.

26. August 10, 1792 • The monarchy abolished • Imprisoned the king • The Commune now ruled Paris and the Legislative Assembly tried to govern France • The Legislative Assembly voted itself out • So that delegates could be voted on to create a NEW CONSTITUTION

27. The French Republic • In an election where all adult men could vote, delegates were elected in 1792 • “Universal Manhood Suffrage” • Divided into 3 main groups; • Girondins-feared the domination of France by Paris • Jacobins- extreme radicals and wanted reforms to benefit all classes of society • A third group who were like the moderates, but most would later become Jacobins

28. Leaders of the Jacobins- Georges-Jacques Danton, Jean-Paul Marat and Maximillein Robespierre

29. National Convention-1792 • Lasted 3 years • Declared an end to the monarchy • Created a republic • New Constitution • Brought Louis XVI to trial and sentenced him to death January 21, 1793 • The rest of the world disgusted by this action

30. Louis XVI’s execution

31. Committee of Public Safety • To stop the threat of invading countries • A special court-The Revolutionary Tribunal created to try “enemies of the Revolution” • Conscription adopted- a draft of soldiers • Nationalism- a from of patriotism formed in France • Counterrevolutionaries evolve- those against the revolution-mostly Girondins and the Catholic church

32. The death of Jean-Paul MaratKilled by Charlotte Corday

33. The Reign of Terror • The work to suppress all opposition and revolts within France • Sept.1793-July 1794 • Robespierre said “ It is necessary to annihilate ( completely destroy) both the internal and external enemies of the republic or perish with its fall” • A Law of Suspects was created defining who the enemies were.

34. Victims of the Reign of Terror • Marie Antoinette

35. Victims continued… • Against nobility • Anyone suspected of disloyalty • Executed twice as many bourgeoisie as nobles and more than twice as many peasants and workers as bourgeoisie • Danton declared the Reign of Terror had met its goal • Robespierre had Danton and his followers put to death

36. July 1794 • Robespierre arrested by the National Convention and executed • The Reign of Terror came to an end • Jacobins lost power and the wealthy middle class took control of the Convention. • Economic problems continued and got worse and the French people rioted and wanted the monarchy back in power

37. National Convention • Lasted 3 years • Created the “Republic of Virtue” • A democratic republic where people would act with good citizenship • Opened new schools-universal elementary education • Wage and price controls to stop inflation • Addressed human rights issues • Abolished slavery • Encouraged religious toleration

38. Also… • Adopted the metric system • Drove out invaders of other countries • People hoped that their republic would mark the dawn of a new era • 1795- wrote a new constitution 2 house legislature appoint the Directory eliminated universal manhood suffrage only male property owners could vote =the wealthy take control again

39. The Directory • Governed France for 4 years • The economy improved • Not everyone was happy with the new government • Had financial difficulties and the 5 directors quarreled often • This paved the way for a military dictatorship • Napoleon emerges…