870 likes | 901 Views
Learn about the inequality, debts, and lavish spending that fueled the French Revolution in 1789, led by King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. Explore the social classes, financial struggles, and public resentment that ignited this historic event. Discover the historical context and personal lives of the monarchy that shaped the course of the revolution.
E N D
World History Chapter 23: The French Revolution Begins
The French Revolution - Basics • Place: France • Year: 1789 • King and Queen at time of Revolution: • King Louis XVI & Queen Marie Antoinette
What Were the Causes of the French Revolution? • 1. Inequality of Social Classes • The Three Estates and Taxes • Ideas of the Enlightenment • 2. France’s debt • Extravagant spending of King and Queen • 3. Cost of Living Increased • Tensions rose • No money for food or basic necessities
1. Inequality/ Unfair Social Order • Society divided into 3 “Three Estates” or Social Classes • determined a person’s status, and rights!
1. Inequality/ Unfair Social Order • 1st Estate: • Clergy(priests) • Made up 1% of the population • Did Not pay taxes!
1. Inequality/ Unfair Social Order • 2nd Estate: • Nobility • 2% of the population owned 25% of the land • High positions in government, military • DID NOT PAY TAXES! • (a noble privilege)
1. Inequality/ Unfair Social Order • 3rd Estate: • Everyone Else! • “Bourgeoisie”– middle class professionals • Free Peasants • HAD TO PAY TAXES!
2.France’s Debt • Debt From previous wars • Send $ to the American colonists during American Revolution • Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette’s extravagant spending
2. France’s Debt • Marie Antoinette’s extravagant spending sprees… • 1 dress cost 20X’s what a skilled worker earned in a year! • Spent $ on clothes, shoes, accessories, parties, re-decorating Versailles…
2. France’s Debt • Marie Antoinette was nicknamed… • “Madame Deficit” • Deficit: the amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required amount.
3. Cost of Living Increased • Peasant situation worsened: • Price of food rose • Crop failures 1788-1789 led to bread shortages! • Peasant’s anger rose
Why Did the French People Dislike King Louis XVI & Queen Marie Antoinette?
Palace of Versailles • Was Built by Louis 16th’s grandfather • “The Sun King” Louis 14th • Most extravagant palace in all of Europe • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X235vpOToVU
About the Palace of Versailles Today • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=194CDlsFpQA • 1. What do you think it would have been like to belong to the nobility (2nd estate) prior to the revolution in France? • 2. What do you think the lower classes thought about the extravagace
Marie Antoinette • Born in 1755 in Vienna Austria • Was not French • Was a princess expected to marry an equal • Had 16 Brothers and Sisters • Marie was the favorite (she was the 15th child)
@ Age 15… • A marriage was arranged • To the Crown Prince of France, Louis 16th • “an advantageous match” • She was sent to Versailles, France
Marie Antoinette – Last Queen of France- Early years • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Gr-jGdVdk • 1. What are your thoughts about Marie Antoinette thus far?
The Wedding, 1770 • Marie and Louis were married in 1770 • They were both 15!
Louis XVI – The Groom • Described as “homely, awkward & anti-social” • He was obsessed with collecting KEYS, and CLOCKS. • Ignored Marie for the first 7 years of their marriage
Royal Children • Eventually, the couple had 4 children • 1. Marie Therese, 1778-1851 • 2. Louis Josephe, 1781-1789 • 3. Louis Charles, 1785-1793 • 4. Marie Sophie, 1786-1787
The Coronation, 1774 • Louis’ Father died I • And • Louis and Marie were crowned King and Queen of France • AT AGE 19!!!
What was Marie To Do? • She spent Money! • Fashion = her passion! • Named her designer/stylist Rose Bertin as “Minister of Fashion” • Threw lavish Banquets & Parties • Performed in Theater (scandalous!)
Marie Antoinette as Fashion Icon • Decided to be a “trendsetter” ! • • Had hairdresser create a ship “weave” for a party honoring a sea captain
Controversial Marie • Thought it was hard being queen – • Longed for the “simple life”so… • She built a peasant village and pretended to be “poor”
Marie Pretending to be a Peasant • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSpHcpskrfYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSpHcpskrfY • Start at 40 – 42:34
About the Peasant Dress Painting… • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN4RQiYPSqM • To 10:54 • 1783 portrait by Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun – “le Chemise”
The Only Marie Antoinette Dress that Survived the Revolution • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnnQLV9eDb0 • 1. Why do you think the French people were so angry about Marie Antoinette’s fashion choices? • 2. What did her dresses represent?
King Louis XVI’s Leadership • Fall, 1788- France in Financial Desperation! • King indecisive • Put off dealing with social/economic issues until he had no money left
May, 1789 • Louis XVI agreed to call on the Estates General – representatives of the Three Estates • Last time assembly was called: 1614!
1. Estates General -1789 • Problem: 1st & 2nd Estate usually outvoted the 3rd estate • Solution: the 3rd estate allowed to send as many delegates as the other 2 estates combined. • Members of the 1st Estate (clergy) joined the 3rd estate
1. Estates General -1789 • All Estates invited to submit: Cahiers de doleances(grievance lists) • Petitions showed: • desire for constitutional monarchy, • re-structured tax system • guaranteed liberties
1. Estates General -1789 • Joseph Sieyes wrote “What is the 3rd Estate?” • 3rd estate the “heart” of the country! • Encouraged 3rd Estate to overthrow King and establish representative government
2.National Assembly Phase – June, 1789-1791 • June 17, 1789 • The 3rd Estate Declared itself the National Assembly • Goal: To pass laws & reforms in the name of French People
2.National Assembly Phase 1789-1791 • National Assembly • swore to continue to meet until France had a new constitution… • Pledge called: The Tennis Court Oath
July 14, 1789 – Storming of the Bastille • Parisian Mob attacked the Bastille Prison • Symbol of injustice, inequality • Hoped to seize weapons, free prisoners • *official beginning of the French Revolution
2.National Assembly Phase 1789-1791 • Breakdown of law and order • Chaos on streets • Peasants broke into nobles’ homes, quit paying taxes, burned nobles’ homes • Some nobles left France (emigres)
Women’s March to Versailles • October 5,1789 • Mob of over 100,000 women protested the rising price of bread • Broke into Palace of Versailles • forced King & Queen move to Paris
Women’s March to Versailles • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSpHcpskrfY • Begin 1:04:21 – 1:12:58
What About the Royal Family? • June 21, 1791 Royal family attempted to flee France • 500 miles away from border… • They were Recognized & Arrested
PBS: Marie Antoinette (2017) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSpHcpskrfY • Why do you think Marie Antoinette changed her ways after the Women’s March? • 1:14:17-1:21:02
Declaration of Rights of Men and of the Citizen • August, 1789 • Listed basic human rights • “all men are born free and equal in rights” • Excluded women
Olympe de Gouges’ Response • wrote: “ Declaration of Rights of Men and of Women” Declared women’s rights to education, property within marriage, right to initiate divorce
3. The Legislative Assembly, 1791-1792 • Formed in September 1791 • Factions: • 1. Conservatives sat on the right (Loyal to King) • 2. Moderates sat on the center • 3. Radicals sat on the left
3. The Legislative Assembly, 1791-1792 • Leftist Radicals divided into 2 groups: • 1. The Jacobins – Wanted to overthrow monarchy and create a republic. • 2. The Girondists- wanted to extend revolutionary ideas across Europe.