The French Revolution The French Revolution

and and NapoleonNapoleon

ProblemsProblems France was in economic France was in economic

decline in the 1780’s. decline in the 1780’s. Food was scarce and taxes Food was scarce and taxes

were highwere high King Louis XVIKing Louis XVI and and Marie Marie

AntoinetteAntoinette spent a lot on their spent a lot on their living styleliving style

Louis also doubled the French Louis also doubled the French debt to help support the debt to help support the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Old WaysOld Ways Since the middle ages, France had a specific social class Since the middle ages, France had a specific social class

called called estatesestates 1st was Clergy1st was Clergy

owned about 10% of French landowned about 10% of French land Exempt from taxesExempt from taxes

2nd was nobility2nd was nobility 2% of population2% of population 20% of land20% of land paid almost no taxespaid almost no taxes

3rd estate3rd estate 97% of population97% of population

split into 3 groupssplit into 3 groups Bourgeoisie (middle class)- merchants, bankers, factory owners, skilled Bourgeoisie (middle class)- merchants, bankers, factory owners, skilled

artisans, well educated peopleartisans, well educated people Workers of France (poor people)Workers of France (poor people) Peasants (80% of population)- paid half of income to church, nobles and Peasants (80% of population)- paid half of income to church, nobles and

taxestaxes

To help pay for the debt, Louis wanted to tax the noblesTo help pay for the debt, Louis wanted to tax the nobles They forced him to convene the They forced him to convene the Estates GeneralEstates General- -

representatives from all three estatesrepresentatives from all three estates The bourgeoisie wanted more power than they usually gotThe bourgeoisie wanted more power than they usually got Eventually, they were locked out of the meeting place cause Eventually, they were locked out of the meeting place cause

they set up their own government called the they set up their own government called the National National Assembly Assembly

They then broke open the door to the palace They then broke open the door to the palace tennis court and they made an oath not to leave tennis court and they made an oath not to leave till they had a constitutiontill they had a constitution Called Called The Tennis Court OathThe Tennis Court Oath (They were inspired by the American Revolution)(They were inspired by the American Revolution)

Citizens in Paris then Citizens in Paris then began to riotbegan to riot

They stormed a prison They stormed a prison looking for weapons and looking for weapons and ammunitionammunition

The mob then killed the The mob then killed the guards and paraded their guards and paraded their heads around the city on heads around the city on pikespikes

Called Bastille Day- Called Bastille Day- France’s equivalent to France’s equivalent to the American 4the American 4thth of July of July

Soon, peasants started to rebel as fear spread Soon, peasants started to rebel as fear spread from town to townfrom town to town Called the Called the Great FearGreat Fear

Peasants started to overthrow their manors that Peasants started to overthrow their manors that they lived onthey lived on

In 1791, King Louis decided that the best thing for In 1791, King Louis decided that the best thing for him to do was run to Austriahim to do was run to Austria

Just before he got to the boarder, he was stopped Just before he got to the boarder, he was stopped The rebel guard recognized him and arrested him and The rebel guard recognized him and arrested him and

had him taken back to Parishad him taken back to Paris

After Louis was brought back to Paris, he was After Louis was brought back to Paris, he was forced to approve a new constitution that forced to approve a new constitution that stripped him of almost ALL his powerstripped him of almost ALL his power

He was still allowed to enforce the laws, but He was still allowed to enforce the laws, but he couldn’t make themhe couldn’t make them

Parisians (citizens of Paris) wanted more changes than what Parisians (citizens of Paris) wanted more changes than what was being donewas being done

Soon they revolt entirely and arrest the king and his familySoon they revolt entirely and arrest the king and his family Also, fearful of a rumor that many royal supporters in Also, fearful of a rumor that many royal supporters in

prison were going to break out, they storm the prison and prison were going to break out, they storm the prison and kill over 1,000 innocent peoplekill over 1,000 innocent people

They then recreate the government and dispose of the king They then recreate the government and dispose of the king all togetherall together

The new government was ruled by radicals called The new government was ruled by radicals called JacobinsJacobins They put the king on trial for treason and find him guiltyThey put the king on trial for treason and find him guilty On Jan 21,1793 he is executed on the guillotineOn Jan 21,1793 he is executed on the guillotine

The GuillotineThe Guillotine Invented by Dr. Joseph Guillotine Invented by Dr. Joseph Guillotine Purpose was to provide a quick humane deathPurpose was to provide a quick humane death Victims were paraded through the streets for 1 ½ Victims were paraded through the streets for 1 ½

hours on their way to their deathhours on their way to their death The executioner raised the blade and a lever The executioner raised the blade and a lever

dropped itdropped it

The Reign of The Reign of TerrorTerror

In 1793 a man named In 1793 a man named Maximilien Robespierre Maximilien Robespierre gained powergained power

He started to wipe out all He started to wipe out all traces of France’s pasttraces of France’s past Redid the calendar (12 Redid the calendar (12

months with 30 days each, months with 30 days each, renamed each month)renamed each month)

Got rid of SundayGot rid of Sunday

He also would execute He also would execute “enemies of the Revolution”“enemies of the Revolution”

The enemies of the The enemies of the revolution were usually revolution were usually other radical leaders that he other radical leaders that he felt were a threat to his felt were a threat to his powerpower

Many were killed for petty Many were killed for petty chargescharges Felt that less changes needed Felt that less changes needed

to be doneto be done Cutting down a treeCutting down a tree Being disliked by someoneBeing disliked by someone

40,000 people were killed 40,000 people were killed by the guillotine between by the guillotine between 1793 and 1794 1793 and 1794

Soon, many of Robespierre’s followers began to turn on Soon, many of Robespierre’s followers began to turn on himhim

The Reign of Terror ended with his execution in July of The Reign of Terror ended with his execution in July of 17941794

Soon, another government was made (The 3Soon, another government was made (The 3rdrd since 1789) since 1789) The upper middle class held all the powerThe upper middle class held all the power