The French Revolution
The Fall of King Louis XVI
Opening
The main cause of the French Revolution was…
Causes of the French Revolution
King vs. Estates
Feudalism Was Failing
Enlightenment Ideas
The French people united
to fight the king for
government power.
The French system of
government was broken
and needed replacement.
The French wanted
freedom, equality and
democracy.
The clergy, nobles and
peasants had long fought
with each other for power
and privileges, keeping
them too divided and weak
to overthrow the monarchy.
Funding the American
Revolutionary War and the
Royal Family’s selfish
spending showed that the
government could not care
for its own people.
For hundreds of years,
French people gave all
government power to
absolute monarchs and
followed their laws.
King Louis XVI’s order to tax King Louis XVI’s decision to
everyone united all three
order taxes without the
estates against the
people’s consent was a step
monarchy.
too far.
Now, Enlightenment ideas
like freedom, equality and
democracy were more
popular than obedience,
monarchy and tradition.
Changes in France’s Government
Tennis Court Oath (June 20, 1789)
• Delegates of the first, second
and third estates refuse to
accept King Louis XVI’s order
to pay taxes and swear an oath
to write a new constitution.
Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789)
• French citizens attack a
government fortress in
downtown Paris, taking
weapons and freeing
political prisoners.
• Showed that King Louis XVI
no longer controlled his
subjects.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the
Citizen (August 26, 1789)
• The National
Assembly approves a
document describing
the values of the
revolution.
• Marquis de Lafayette
– Main Author
• Inspired by the
Enlightenment
(and Americans)
(Failed) Flight to Varennes (June 21, 1791)
• King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and their
children attempt to flee to Austria.
• The Royal Family is caught, returned to Paris,
and put under house arrest.
French Constitution of 1791
(September 3, 1791)
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
National Assembly
– elected leaders
to vote for and
enact laws.
King Louis XVI – to enforce
laws and command the
military
Judicial Branch
Courts – to evaluate laws
and judge cases
Austria and Prussia Invade France
(July 30, 1792)
• Marie Antoinette’s brother, Leopold, leader of Austria,
teams with Prussia to invade France to free the Royal Family.
• King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are accused of plotting
the invasion, and are transferred from house arrest to prison.
Trial of King Louis
(December 3, 11, 23, 1792)
• King Louis XVI accused of planning the invasion of France by
Austria and Prussia and charged with treason.
• Maximilien Robespierre leads the prosecution, arguing that
“the king must die so that the country may live.”
• Louis is convicted, stripped of his title, and sentenced to
death by guillotine.
French Constitution of 1791
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
National Assembly
– elected leaders
to vote for and
enact laws.
Committee
King Louis XVI
of Public
– to enforce
Safety
laws
– small
andgroup
command
lead by
the
Robespierre
military
empowered to
enforce laws.
Judicial Branch
Courts – to evaluate laws
and judge cases
Execution of King Louis XVI
(January 21, 1793)
• Started fights
between Royalists
and Jacobins
• Lead to the
Committee of
Public Safety’s
“Reign of Terror”
attacks on alleged
Royalists
Execution of Marie Antoinette
(October 16, 1793)
• Accused of:
• Orgies at Versailles
• Sending money to
Austrian relatives
• Planning murders
• Incest with her son
• Naming her son
King of France
• Tried on October 14,
1793 and guillotined
just two days later.
Closing
Why did King Louis XVI fall from power?
How did he lose his power?