French Revolution

1. French Revolution A Society in Conflict

2. Background Information • Louis XIV • Spent over $100 million to build the Versailles Palace • Spent millions on foreign wars • French commoners pay most of the taxes on these

3. Background Information • Old Regime: • Traditional French society of 17th – 18th c. • Ruled by Absolute Monarch • King rules by “divine right” • King makes laws, levies taxes, controls courts, is highly involved with foreign affairs (ex – wars)

4. French Society • Estates: • First Estate: • Clergy: Roman Catholic (does not pay taxes) • Second Estate: • Nobles (does not pay taxes) • Third Estate: • Pays all of the taxes

5. French Society • Third Estate: • Middle Class • Merchants, doctors, lawyers • Artists • Bankers • Commoners • Farmers, peasants, poor • These people pay taxes

6. Causes of the French Revolution • Unfair legal system that doesn’t allow for grievances • Third estate burdened by heavy taxes and unfair treatment by the court system • Middle class controlled large sums of money but have no political power

7. Causes of the French Revolution • Enlightenment ideas embraced by many • Voltaire • Call for reform of ancient political systems • Call for equality

8. Causes of the French Revolution • American Revolution shows the way to deal with “tyranny” • France in debt due to the increased spending of the King for a lavish lifestyle • France in debt due to the numerous wars • American Revolution

9. Causes of the French Revolution • Refusal of the First and Second Estates to pay their fair share of taxes or to decrease their privileges • May 5, 1789: Finally King Louis XVI summons the Estates General (governing body) to approve new taxes!!

10. Path to the Revolution! • Estates General meet • 1st estate – 300 members • 2nd estate – 300 members • 3rd estate – 600 members • Yet each group only has one vote ! • The 3rd estate wants one vote per member • The king rejects this idea • June 17, 1789: The 3rd estate withdraws and forms the National Assembly in order to write a new constitution

11. Path to Revolution • Meanwhile…food shortages increase • The king calls in his military troops in case a riot breaks out • Mobs start to form in the cities • Rumors spread about the King dissolving the National Assembly by force

12. Path to Revolution • July 14, 1789: This results in the storming of the Bastille • A major turning point in French history • Demonstrates the power of the 3rd estate • Show the weakness of the monarchy • Eventually: the King recognizes the National Assembly as the new governing body\ • But…mass hysteria sweeps France in the form of the Great Fear as peasants destroy nobles’ estates… • The French Revolution begins!!!

13. The Great Fear:Peasant revolt July 20, 1789

14. Progress of the Revolution • August 4, 1789: National Assembly and the August Decrees: • Abolishes feudalism • Makes nobles pay taxes • Allows any qualified person to work in the government • Adopt a constitution • Wanted a limited constitutional monarch

15. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: August 27, 1789 • Establishes: • Freedoms • Freedom of speech and the press • Equality • Included an end to exemptions from taxation for the nobles • Limited monarchy • Voting rights (for men with property)

16. Progress of the Revolution • Jacobins: A large network of political groups throughout France • The Mountain: were very radical • Wanted Louis put to death Led by Robespierre • Want a republic • Girondins – less radical and want to keep Louis alive

17. Progress of the Revolution • Mobs riot again • Don’t think the King supports them • King tries to escape • Monarchy abolished • Louis XVI beheaded – January 21, 1793 • Marie Antoinette beheaded • Foreign countries invade

18. Progress of the Revolution • Committees of Public Safety • Group that wants to ensure the goals of the revolution occur and no one stops them • Reign of Terror: September 1793 – July 1794 • Guillotine anyone suspected of treason • 20,000 – 40,000 die

19. Final days of the Revolution • Eventually the Reign of Terror turns on Robespierre and he is guillotined on July 28, 1794 • Finally the terror ends…

20. SiXgOVERNMENT bodies • Louis XVI and the Estates – General • August 23, 1754 – January 21, 1793 National Assembly – June17, 1789 – July 9, 1789 Formed by the 3rd Estate Declared the Tennis Court Oath National Convention (Nat’l Constituent Assembly) July 9, 1789 – September 30, 1791 August Decrees Write a constitution

21. Six government Bodies • Legislative Assembly: October1, 1791 – Sept 1792 • Make new laws • The Paris Commune: 1789 – 1795 • Side government in Paris • Dominated by Jacobins • The Directory: 1795 – 1799 • Legislative branch • Time of corruption • Can not solve the political or economic problems

22. Overview of the Revolution • Impossible demands made of government which, if granted, would mean its end. • Unsuccessful government attempts to suppress revolutionaries. • Revolutionaries gain power and seem united. • Once in power, revolutionaries begin to quarrel among themselves, and unity begins to dissolve. • The moderates gain the leadership but fail to satisfy those who insist on further changes.

23. Overview of the revolution • Power is gained by progressively more radical groups until finally a lunatic fringe gains almost complete control. • A strong man emerges and assumes great power. • The extremists try to create a “heaven-on-earth” by introducing their whole program and by punishing all of their opponents. • A period of terror [extreme violence] occurs. • Moderate groups regain power. THE REVOLUTION IS OVER!

24. Results of the French Revolution • End of debt slavery • Abolished debt imprisonment • Abolished primogeniture • Introduced the draft • Stimulated “nationalism” and increase in French patriotism • Yet, no true leader emerges until Napoleon Bonaparte arrives…