The French Revolution Begins

1. The French Revolution Begins Chapter 18 Section 1

2. Background to the revolution • Monumental events of 1789 • United States sets out as a new independent country • French Revolution begins • French Revolution is more complex, more violent, and more radical than the American Revolution • Tried to create a new political order and a new social order • Often seen as a major turning point in European political and social history

3. Estates • Before the Revolution, population was divided into estates, creating inequality • Long-range cause of French Revolution • First Estate • The clergy • Second Estate • The nobility • Held many leading positions in government, military, courts, high church offices

4. Estates • Third Estate • Commoners • Vast array of occupation, wealth, education level • Most were peasants • Relics of feudalism owed to local landlords • Payment for use of flour mill, community oven, etc. • Skilled craftspeople, shopkeepers, wage earners • Bourgeoisie – middle class of merchants, bankers, & professionals

5. Estates • Middle class upset with privileges of nobility • Both aristocrats and bourgeoisie drawn to ideas of Enlightenment • Upset with monarchical system based on privileges and the old, rigid social structure • Ultimately leads to uprising

6. Financial Crisis • Immediate cause of French Revolution was the near collapse of government finances • Poor harvests & manufacturing slow down led to food shortages, rising food prices, and unemployment in 1787-1788 • However, government continued to spend large sums of money on wars and court luxuries

7. Estates-General to National Assembly • Estates-General, composed of representatives from all estates, met at Versailles on May 5, 1789 • First problem was voting • Each estate had one vote, so First and Second could easily outvote the Third • Third Estate established compromise, king denied • Third Estate forms National Assembly and decided to write a constitution • Find themselves locked out of meeting

8. Versailles

9. Estates-General to National Assembly • Tennis Court Oath • Deputies of National Assembly meet on a tennis court and promise to continue to meet until create French constitution • King Louis XVI prepares to use force v. Third Estate • July 14 – mob of Parisians storm the Bastille, an armory and prison, and dismantle it • Growing hatred of landholding system led to popular uprisings throughout France

10. Storming of the Bastille • Bastille Day – July 14th • Symbol of uprising of the modern nation and reconciliation of all French • Parades • President used to give an interview and pardon criminals • Sarkozy hasn’t

11. Destruction of the old regime • National Assembly votes to abolish rights of landlords and financial privileges of nobles and clergy • Declaration of the Rights of Man • Inspired by Declaration of Independence • Proclaimed freedom and equal rights for all men, access to public office based on talent, and end to tax exemptions • Also called for freedom of speech and press • Debate over if women were to be included

12. Destruction of the old regime • King Louis XVI remains at Versailles • Until thousands of armed women march to Versailles • Met with King and described their starving children and forced him to accept their demands • Crowd insisted the royal family travel to Paris to show support for National Assembly • Bring wagonloads of flour as gesture of goodwill • King and family are essentially prisoners in Paris

13. Church Reforms • National Assembly seized and sold lands of the Church • Church was also secularized • Bishops and priests were to be elected by the people and paid by the state • French government controls Church

14. New Constitution • Constitution of 1791 • Sets up a limited monarchy • King remains, but Legislative Assembly to make laws • Only men over 25 who pay a fee can vote • King Louis XVI tries to flee France • Captured and returned to Paris

15. Rise of the Paris Commune • Radical political groups in Paris declared themselves a commune and organized a mob attack on royal palace and Legislative Assembly • Took the king captive • Legislative Assembly forced to call National Convention • Chosen based on universal male suffrage • Power passed to Paris Commune • Called themselves sans-culottes – ordinary patriots without fine clothes

16. Radical Revolution & Reaction Chapter 18 Section 2

17. Move to Radicalism • Georges Danton led the sans-culottes in seeking revenge on those who aided the king • Thousands arrested and massacred • National Convention meets in September 1792 • Abolished monarchy and established French Republic • Split into factions – Girondins and Mountains • Girondins – people outside city who feared radical mobs • Mountains – radicals residing in city • King Louis XVI beheaded on January 21, 1793

18. The Guillotine • Executed through beheading • Believed to kill quickly and painlessly • Form of entertainment that drew large crowds • Sold programs • Children came too

19. Crises and Response • Execution of Louis XVI outraged most of Europe • Informal coalition of Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Dutch Republic take up arms against France • By late spring of 1793, France poised for invasion • Revolution would cease, old regime reestablished • National Convention gives power to Committee of Public Safety, a special committee of 12 people • Dominated by Maxmilien Robespierre

20. Reign of Terror • Committee of Public Safety rules from 1793-1794 • Acted to defend France from foreign and domestic threats • Instituted the Reign of Terror • Revolutionary courts set up to prosecute internal enemies of the republic • Approximately 40,000 killed • Used guillotine, grapeshot, and drowning • People from all classes were killed

21. Republic of Virtue • Committee of Public Safety creates Republic of Virtue • Democratic republic composed of good citizens • Law requiring primary education for all was passed, but not widely implemented • Slavery was abolished in French colonies • Established price limits on necessities • These measures failed to work because the government couldn’t enforce them.

22. Republic of Virtue • In an attempt to build a society based on reason, National Convention pursued a policy of dechristianization • “Saint” removed from street names, churches pillaged and closed by revolutionaries, priests told to marry • Notre Dame was designated a “temple of reason” • Created a new calendar that eliminated Sundays and renamed months after seasons • Dechristianization fails because most of France is still Catholic

23. A nation in Arms • To protect France from foreign enemies, decreed universal mobilization of the nation • Men were called to fight • Women were called to make clothes and tents • Children were called to make lint of old cloth • Republic’s army was largest in European history • By summer of 1794, French had defeated most of their foes • Robespierre continued fighting until condemned to death – ending the Reign of Terror

24. The Directory • Churches reopened for public worship and a new constitution was created • Created a legislative body of elected members who voted on the laws • The Directory, a group of five men who acted as the executive committee, ruled with the legislature • Period of corruption and resistance • The Directory was unable to solve economic problems • Coup d'état led by Napoleon Bonaparte overthrows