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French Revolution

French Revolution. UNREST. Bad harvests High prices High taxes Questions raised by the Enlightenment. Old Regime. 3 Estates 1 st Estate Catholic Church (clergy ) 1% of population 2 nd Estate Nobles 2% of population. 1 st and 2 nd Estates. Access to gov’t offices

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French Revolution

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  1. FrenchRevolution

  2. UNREST • Bad harvests • High prices • High taxes • Questions raised by the Enlightenment

  3. Old Regime • 3Estates • 1st Estate • Catholic Church (clergy ) • 1% of population • 2nd Estate • Nobles • 2% of population

  4. 1st and 2nd Estates • Access to gov’t offices • Exempt from taxes • Rejected Enlightenment • Owned 30 % of land

  5. 3rd Estate • Everyone else • Bourgeoisie ( middle class ) • Bankers, factory owners, merchants • Well educated • Believed strongly in Enlightenment • Payed high taxes • Wealth ≠status and power

  6. 3rd Estate cont. • Workers • Poorest • Low wages • High unemployment • Peasants • Largest • Farmers • 80% of population • Paid ½ income to nobles, church, gov’t

  7. Factors • New ideas about gov’t • Economic troubles • Debt • Louis XVI • Inherited • Backed American Revolution • Spent

  8. Factors cont. • Weak leader – Louis XVI • Indecisive • Paid little attention to advisors • Queen interfered • Ignored problems

  9. Estates-General • Louis XVI decides to try to tax 2nd Estate • Forced to call meeting of Estates-General • First in 175 years • May 5, 1789 Versailles

  10. Estates General cont. • Each estate met separately to vote • Each estate had one vote • 1st and 2nd outvoted the 3rd

  11. Estates General cont. • 3rd Estate wanted changes • All 3 meet together • Each delegate have a vote • Give advantage to 3rd • King denied • Leaders of 3rd called for National Assembly • Pass laws and reforms for people of France

  12. National Assembly • June 17, 1789 voted to form National Assembly • Proclaimed end of monarchy • Representative gov’t • First deliberate act of revolution

  13. National Assembly • Locked out of meeting room • Broke into indoor tennis court • Tennis Court Oath • Pledge not to disband until new constitution is written • Joined by nobles and clergy in favor of reform • Louis XVI stationed military around Versailles

  14. Storming of Bastille • Rumors spread • People began to arm themselves • July 14, 1789 stormed Bastille • Prison built in 1300 • In search of gunpowder • Mob overwhelmed guards • Symbolic act of revolt

  15. Great Fear • Rebellion spread to countryside • Wave of panic • Peasants armed themselves • Broke in nobles homes • October 1789 • Angry women of Paris march on Versailles • Demand action to provide bread • Force Louis and Marie to return to Paris

  16. The Rights of Man • By August 5th, Old Regime was dead • Commoners equal to nobles • Nat’l Assembly adopts statement of ideals • The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

  17. Rights of Man • “Men are born free and remain free and equal in rights” • “Life, liberty, security, and resistance to oppression” • Equal justice • Freedom of speech and religion

  18. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

  19. The Church • Took over Church lands • Church officials and priests were to be elected an paid as gov’t officials • Many peasants alarmed • Opposed assembly’s reforms

  20. June 1791 • Louis and Marie try to escape • Captured and returned to Paris

  21. New Plan for Gov’t • September 1791 • New constitution • Creates limited monarchy • Creates new legislative body • Legislative Assembly • Power to create laws • Declare war

  22. Divisions • Legislative Assembly split into 3 groups • To the left – RADICALS • Opposed monarchy; lots of change • In center – MODERATES • Some change • To the Right – CONSERVATIVES • Limited monarchy; few changes

  23. War with Europe • Austria and Prussia urge for restoration of monarchy • April 1792 • Legislative Assembly declares war

  24. War with Europe • Prussian forces advance quickly outside of Paris • Threaten to destroy Paris if royals harmed • August 10th • 20,000 men storm palace • Kill guards • Arrest Louis and family

  25. Paris Commune • Paris radicals • More radical, more violent • Took king captive • Wanted universal male suffrage • Sans-culottes • Wanted greater changes • Discovered ways to exert power

  26. September Massacres • Rumors that royal supporters would break out of prison and seize city • Citizens take law into own hands • Raid prison • Murder over 1000 prisoners

  27. New Constitution • Legislative Assembly pressured • Set aside Constitution of 1791 • Deposes king • Dissolves assembly • Calls for election of new legislature

  28. New Government • September 21 • National Convention takes office • Abolishes monarchy • Declares France a republic • Adult male citizens granted right to vote and hold office

  29. Political Clubs • Girondins • Moderate • Represent areas outside of Paris • Feared radical mobs • The Mountain • Radicals of Paris • Jacobins

  30. Jacobins • Jacobins – radical political organization takes charge • Jean-Paul Marot • Georges Danton • Tried Louis XVI for treason • Convicted • January 21, 1793 - beheaded

  31. Problems Within • Many enemies within France • Peasant horrified by execution of king • Priests angered by gov’t control • Rival leaders stirring up rebellions in other provinces of France

  32. Committee of Public Safety • To oversee war efforts created Committee of Public Safety • Maximillien Robespierre headed • Governed France as dictator • REIGN OF TERROR

  33. Reign of Terror • Protect France from its enemies • Many fellow revolutionaries were sentenced to death • 1793 – 1794 • 45,000-55,000 people executed

  34. Reign cont. • Revolutionary armies bring rebellious cities under control • Lyon – 1880 citizens executed • Nantes – sunk in barges • 85% from 3rd Estate • Violence was temporary Republic of Virtue

  35. Republic of Virtue • Republic composed of good citizens • Good education – primary education for all • “citizen” replaced mister • Tried to control prices • Women attended National convention sessions • De-Christianization • Cult of the Supreme Being • Superstition rather than reason • New calendar (Sept 22, 1792)

  36. End of Terror • June 1794 • Law of 22 Prairial • July 1794 • National Convention turns on Robespierre • July 28, 1794 • Robespierre is beheaded

  37. New Government • Following terror moderate leaders draft new plan for gov’t (3rd since 1789) • Power with upper middle class • 2 house legislature • Executive body of 5 men (moderates) • Directory

  38. Directory • Corrupt • Gave country period of order • Chose right general to lead army • Napoleon Bonaparte

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