The French Revolution
1789-1799
What were the causes of the
French Revolution?
What were the causes?
1. Three estates
–
–
Unfair tax system
Social inequality
1% of Pop.
Owned 5-10% of Land
Received 10% Tithe
Paid no taxes
1st
2% of Pop
Owned 25% of land
Held all govt. and
nd
2
military positions
Paid no taxes
Estate Estate Received Feudal Dues
Bourgeoisie
Artisans
Peasants
3rd Estate
97% of Population
Paid all of the taxes
No Voice in Government
Inspired by Enlightenment Ideas
The Three Estates
What were the causes?
2. Enlightenment
Ideas/American Rev.
– Belief all men should have
natural rights
– Right to overthrow an unjust
gov’t
– Equality for all
– American Revolution
• Dec. of Independence
• Constitution
What were the causes?
3. King Louis XVI’s Weak Leadership
– 19 years old
– Indecisive
What were the Causes ?
4. Economic Problems
Wars: 7 Years War/French & Indian,
American Revolution
Louis XVI lifestyle
Economic Depression
Crop failures
Unemployment
Which of the following is not a
cause of the French Revolution
1. Unfair class system
2. Unfair taxes
3. Ignoring the Magna
Carta
4. Expenses from the
American Revolution
5. Excessive spending
by the King
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France’s Situation
• France’s Government is in extreme debt. Half of
France’s debt is contributed to war, especially money
owed for helping the US gain independence. The
Government is near bankruptcy and the banks are
refusing to lend money to the troubled country.
• Recent crop failures have caused a shortage in food,
making famine a real possibility. Yet the newspapers
publish stories about King Louis’ lash parties and his
wife’s extreme spending habits. Assuming the role
you were assigned on Friday, what would you do to
solve the problems in France?
King Called the Estates General
to “convince” the 1st and 2nd
Estate to pay taxes
What is the Estates General?
–
–
–
–
Legislative body, similar to parliament
Had not met since 1614 ( 179 years!)
Made up of members from all 3 Estates
Each Estate has one Vote
Estates General Voting
1 Vote
First Estate
1 Vote
Clergy
Second Estate
Nobles
1 Vote
Third Estate
Commoners
Situation
• . The Estates General has members
from each Estate but each only has one
vote regardless of the population. The
Nobles and the clergy plan to force the
third estate to pay even more taxes so
they don’t have to. 2 votes against 1
• Is there another alternative?
Is There Another Alternative?
300 Members 1st Estate
300 Members 2nd Estate
648 Members 3rd Estate
1 Vote per Representative
Third Estate outvoted - what
should they do?
• Established the National Assembly – a new
legislative body
– One vote per representative
– Members of the 3rd Estate, later joined by other
estates
• Pledged the Tennis
Court Oath
• Marks the beginning
of the Moderate Phase
of the Revolution
What is the Tennis Court Oath?
• National Assembly’s pledge to write a new
constitution making France a
____________________
What are the stages of the
French Revolution?
• Moderate – people want change to
constitutional monarchy
• Radical – people want an end to any
form of monarchy; want a republic
• Reactionary – people want to return to
Absolute Monarchy
What was the Spark?
• King Mobilized Troops
• 3rd Estate feared King would dissolve the
National Assembly
• The Spark:
The Bastille
is stormed
What is the Storming of The
Bastille?
• Bastille – a prison where weapons and
prisoners were held
• A mob charged the prison to steal weapons
and free 7 prisoners
• 97 rioters killed
• Symbol of French Independence
– July 14, 1789
What is the Great Fear?
• Rumors spread of nobles killing
peasants and stealing property
• In Fear, the peasants armed themselves
• Peasants broke into Manors, robbed
and destroyed
property
What Early Reforms did the
National Assembly Make?
Dismantled feudal system
No more Feudal dues
Nobles give up exemption from
taxation
Abolished estates
Created a new social contract for
France
What was the first social contract
of France?
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and the
Citizen (Aug., 1789)
– Focus on Individual Rights
and equality
– Influenced by the Declaration
of Independence
US Constitution and
English Bill of Rights
• King Louise did not accept
What was the March on
Versailles?
• Protest by French Women
• Food prices in France were soaring
• Wanted King to move to Paris and accept the
National Assembly and Declaration of Rights
What was the Constitution of
1791?
Constitution of 1791
•Constitutional Monarchy
•Guaranteed basic rights
•Property owning males could vote
What actions can citizens take
against their government?
• Protest – a public demonstration of
disapproval (ex.
)
• Political action - Actions organized by citizens
to bring about changes in law, or govt.
conduct/policy
(Ex.
)
• Revolution - A radical change in political
organization, especially the overthrow of a
government or ruler and the substitution of
another by the governed (
)
Which of the following was not a
citizen action against the govt.
during the French Revolution?
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1. Formation of the
National
Assembly
2. March on
Versailles
3. Great Fear
4. Storming of the
Bastille
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Which of the following events is the
symbolic beginning of the French
Revolution?
Creation of the
National
Assembly
Tennis Court Oath
Storming of the
Bastille
0% 0% 0%
March on
Versailles
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18
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20
Which of the following events is the best
example of a protest against the government’s
actions?
1. National
Assembly
2. March on
Versailles
3. Storming of the
Bastille
4. Constitution of
1791?
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In which of the following events did
citizens vow to write a new constitution?
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1. Constitution of
1791
2. Formation of the
National
Assembly
3. Declaration of the
Rights of Man
4. Tennis Court
Oath
17
18
19
20
Did everyone like the new
Constitution?
• Political Parties formed in the newly elected
Legislative Assembly
• The assembly was seated by their political views
• Political division led to unrest and violence
Left
Center
Right
Radical
Moderate
Reactionary
•Support Republic
•want major change
•Known as
Jacobins
•Support
Constitutional
Monarchy
•Want some
change
•Support Absolute
Monarchy
•Want to return to
the old way
What is the flight of the nobles?
• Louis and Marie try to flee France, but are
caught and returned to Paris.
• Émigrés (nobles, clergy an others) flee
France and tell horror stories of the events
there
• In fear that revolution will spread, European
Monarchs condemn the revolution and begin
to mass armies against a possible French
threat.
Why did France become a Republic?
• Strong Distrust of the King and Queen
• Austria, Prussia and Sardinia declare
war on France – fearful that Revolutions
will spread to their own country
• Radicals voted for the King’s
imprisonment
What was the French Republic?
• A government without
a King
• Constitution limits the
power of the leaders
elected by the people.
• Every man could vote
What happened to King Louis
XV1?
• He was tried and
executed
What was the Reign of Terror?
• Beginning of the
Radical Period of the
Revolution
• Left Wing Radicals
called Jacobins took
control of the new
Republic’s National
Convention
(legislature)
• Leader
– Maximilien
Robespierre
What was the Committee for
Public Safety?
• Neighborhood watch
committees that
hunted down
suspected traitors and
turned them in
• 40,000 people
executed
What Happened to Marie
Antoinette?
• She is executed
during the Reign
of Terror
How does the Reign of Terror
End?
•
•
Robespierre is executed
The Directory takes over
– Committee of five conservative men
– Still has many problems
•
Napoleon Bonaparte stages coup
d'état – quick seizure of power
imposes new constitution - declares
himself first emperor
What do you think is the
Reaction Of the French?
Finally, we can
have peace and
stability again
I am Emperor
Ooh la la
• Marks the beginning of the Reactionary
Period
Roman Empire
French Empire
Napoleon Bonaparte
What are the top 5 facts to know
about Napoleon Bonaparte?
• Became Dictator of France – people were tired of the
Revolution & respected his leadership
• Conquered most of Europe
– 3 major losses contributed to his downfall
• Battle of Trafalgar against English Navy
• Invasion of Russia
• Battle of Waterloo against Prussia, Britain, Netherlands
• Created the Napoleonic Code –
– New law code
– Enlightenment ideas – equality, religious freedom
• Continental System – protected France’s industries at
the expense of Great Britain (similar to Navigation
Acts it was considered “protectionism”
• Exiled to Elba after defeat by foreign armies , but
escaped to rule for 100 more days until his defeat at
Waterloo
The purpose of the Continental
System was to
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1. Create a united
Europe under the
Leadership of
France
2. Consolidate Europe
under Napoleon’s
leadership
3. Unify France
4. Defeat England
through an
Economic war
A major problem for Napoleon in his
conquest of Europe was
A
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1. The British Navy
2. The Russian
Winter
3. The American
colonists
4. All of the above
5. Both 1 and 2
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