The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

From Louis XVI - Napoleon

The Division of French Society Before The French Revolution

• Roman Catholic clergy

• One percent of the population

• Free from taxes

• Owned 10 percent of the land– Collected rents– Became wealthy

• Roman Catholic clergy

• One percent of the population

• Free from taxes

• Owned 10 percent of the land– Collected rents– Became wealthy

First Estate

• Nobility

• Less than 2 percent of the population

• Paid few taxes

• Controlled much wealth

• Held key positions– Government– Military

• Lived on country estates

• Nobility

• Less than 2 percent of the population

• Paid few taxes

• Controlled much wealth

• Held key positions– Government– Military

• Lived on country estates

Second Estate

• Largest group—97% of the population

• Bourgeoisie—city-dwelling merchants, factory owners, and professionals

• Sans culottes—artisans and workers

• Peasants—poor with little hope, paid rents and fees

• Largest group—97% of the population

• Bourgeoisie—city-dwelling merchants, factory owners, and professionals

• Sans culottes—artisans and workers

• Peasants—poor with little hope, paid rents and fees

Third Estate

The Three Estates

Background Causes

04/19/23 5

Causes of the Revolution

New Ideas

Economic Problems Social Inequality

Causes of the Revolution

• Long-standing resentments against the monarchy

Inequalities in society◦ Existing social and political structure◦ Called the Old Order, or ancient régime

King at the top and estates under him ◦ King Louis XVI, shy and indecisive ◦ Unpopular, self-indulgent queen, Marie-

Antoinette◦ Rest of French society divided into three classes,

called estates

• Severe economic problems affected much of the country

• France in debt, spending lavishly, borrowing money, and facing bankruptcy

• Hailstorm and drought ruined harvest; harsh winter limited flour production

• People hungry and angry; clergy and nobility no help

A Financial Crisis

• Inspiring new ideas from Enlightenment philosophers such as Rousseau and Thomas Paine.

• Great Britain’s government had limited the king’s power

• American colonists rebelled successfully against British king

Enlightenment Ideas

Further Causes

Louis Calls the Estates-General

Estates General– Similar to Parliament– Representatives from each of the 3 classes of

French society1st Estate - Clergy

2nd Estate - Nobles

3rd Estate – Everyone else- bourgeoisie - artists, farmers,

Peasants, city workers etc

Estates General

1st Estate has 300 members and one vote 2nd Estate has 300 members and one vote 3rd Estate has 600 members and one vote

– How do you feel about this if you are in the 3rd Estate???

– WHY?

Demand for Change

3rd Estate wants to change voting procedures.– Want to establish a National Assembly where

EACH representative has an equal vote.

Louis XVI refused completely.

King Louis XVI’s Response

Get the idea??

NADA!!! No!!, No Way!!! Aint gonna

happen!!!, Forgetaboutit!!! Nope!!! Uh-uh!!! Not on my watch!!! Not here, not

now, not ever!!!

3rd Estate Response

May 1788 -Representatives meet on an indoor tennis court and pledged that they would not leave until the king agrees to their demands– “The Tennis Court Oath”

Embarrassing situation for the king King finally agrees Establishment of The National Assembly

Bastille Day July 1788 French farmers, peasants do not have

enough to eat and are paying high taxes– Nobles out of touch (“Let them eat cake”)– People can not afford food

– Peasants getting a bit rowdy Louis XVI starts assembling troops at Versailles People fear he is planning to attack the new National

Assembly and arrest members

Bastille Day continued People in Paris hear

about the troops– Begin to riot. – July 14, 1789 - Attack

the Bastille – fortress prison in Paris.

• Seen as a symbol of Kings power

• People storm the prison, free the prisoners, take guns and ammo.

Then

Now

The Bastille

Revolution gets out of hand

Riots soon spread to countryside– Peasants attack nobles in their houses. Kill

many nobles– Nobles and Clergy living in fear

• “A Tale of Two Cities” is set in this time period

Declaration of the Rights of Man

National Assembly votes to eliminate all classes, titles, nobility.– Say nobles and clergy must pay taxes too

Serves as a basis for French Constitution“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

Revolution Getting out of Control King Louis XVI attempts to flee the

country with his wife Marie Antoinette Captured and brought back Radicals (Jacobins) getting more say in

how the government should be run

We better

stop this

This is getting out

of hand

The killed their

King!!!

This is not

good

1792-1793 Other nations of Europe worry that revolution in France will spread to their countries.

Other nations invade France 1792-1793: Other nations of

Europe worry that revolution in France will spread to their countries.

Austria, Prussia (Germany), Spain, Britain, wage war on France.

French fight them off and a young army officer called Napoleon Bonaparte becomes a war hero.

Radicals in France gain even more power

Radicals Gain Control Maxmilian

Robespierre and the “Committee for Public Safety”– Begin hunting

down all those seen as a threat to the Revolution

– 1793 Louis and Marie sent to the guillotine for promoting revolt.

“Reign of Terror”

– “Reign of Terror” Begins• Around 30,000 people

eventually sent to the guillotine.

• Guillotine seen as a humane way to kill people.

• Nobles, peasants, workers - anyone Robespierre saw as a threat to the revolution

Different Social Different Social Classes Executed Classes Executed

28%

31%

25%

8%

7%

End of Reign of Terror 1794 – National

Convention feels Robespierre has gone over the line– He is arrested,

tried, convicted and executed

Results of the Revolution Monarchy is gone, French Republic declared Old feudal customs are gone Slavery in French colonies abolished France becomes democratic country France has LARGE, experienced army

– Rising young star in that army; Napoleon Bonaparte

Next; Napoleon’s domination of Europe!!