French Revolution

1. Long Range Reasons • Fr still Feudal society • Enlightenment • Scientific Rev • Cost of food • American Rev Short Range Reasons • Louis’ spending • Queens’ gambling 1 mil a year • Collapse of all govt. finances French Revolution

2. The following slides describe the difficulties of “classes” in France. There were 3 “Estates” (classes) in France. Roots of French revolution

3. 1st Estate aka Clergy • Less than 1% of pop • Exempt from natl. French tax Roots of French revolution

4. 2nd Estate aka Govt. officials • Less than 2% of pop • Exempt from Fr natl tax Roots of French revolution

5. 3rd Estate aka Common Folk • 97% of pop • 80% peasants; 17% middle class • Includes Bourgeoisie • Paid almost 100% of Fr taxes Roots of French revolution

6. 3rd Estate the Bourgeoisie • Doctors; lawyers; merchants • No voice in govt • Wanted higher social status Roots of French revolution

7. 3rd Estate Peasants • Paid fees to use: mills, ovens, wine press • ½ salary went to fees, tithes Roots of the French Revolution

8. Louis needs money • Wants to tax the 1st/2nd estates • Calls 3 estates to Versailles • Called meeting of Estates General • first time called in 175 years Roots of the French Revolution

9. May 5, 1789 • 1st/2nd estates have 300 each • 3rd have 600 total • But only 1 vote for each estate (total of 3 votes only) • Basically 3rd estate screwed Meeting of Estates General

10. 3rd estate makes waves • Want all delegates to have 1 vote each • King says no – stay with old ways • June 17, 1789 • 3rd estate recreates itself into a “National Assembly” • Own constitution • Tennis court oath Meeting of Estates General

11. National assembly • 3 days later find themselves locked out • The Tennis Court Oath • Pledge not to leave until all 3 estates draft new constitution The Tennis Court Oath

12. July 14, 1789 • Louis doesn’t trust his troops • Swiss guards protect him • Moves Swiss troops to Versailles and Paris • Mass fear that he is stopping National Assembly and the Rev • Rumors Rumors • The Bastille holds 20,000 lbs of gun powder • Mobs “storm” it to protect the NA and Rev Storming of the Bastille

13. Peasants Becoming Outlaws • Break into nobles’ manors • Get Louis!!! • Peasants march on Versailles • Louis “leaves” to Paris A Great Fear

14. The Rights of Man • Like our DOI • “Men are born free and remain free” • National Assembly (NA) • Creates constitution – forces Louis to sign Assembly Reforms France

15. Louis and Family • Change clothes with servants • Make break for Austria • Pictures Pictures • Apparently they recognize him from the money pic • Oh and the royal seal on the carriage • Legislative Assembly (NA) • King is no longer • Call for his execution (Marie also) Louis Tries to Escape

16. January 21, 1793 • “Citizen” Louis is marched to scaffold • Courage and dignity • “I am innocent and shall die without fear. I would hope that my death might bring happiness to the French” • Blood Blood • His head is held up • Silence at first – then cheers • Dipping of handkerchiefs Poor Poor Louis

17. October 16, 1793 • Marie’s untimely death • Fashion to the end • Wore the same black dress she wore at trial • Wore it for 2 months • Not allowed to wear at execution – fear of sympathy Poor Poor Marie

18. Humane? • Dr. Joseph Guillotine supported it as being “humane” • Actually was compared to other ways • Equality • Instead of nobles getting axed and the poor being hung • Made execution almost production line style The Guillotine

19. September 1793 to 1794 • 40,000 executed • Radicals take over NA and want reforms • Not radical enough? • 18 yo boy executed for cutting tree down • Bartender executed for selling sour wine • Led by Robespierre The Reign of Terror

20. Wild Man • Tries to eliminate religion • Creates the Cult of the Supreme Being • Calls for many more executions • Radicals fear the Radical • He is arrested and executed Robespierre