The French Revolution
Chapter 7 sec. 1 & 2
The French Revolution Begins
 Economic and social inequalities in the
Old Regime help cause the French
Revolution.
The Old Order
The Old Regime – social and political system
in France during the 1770s.
Estates – three social classes of France’s
Old Regime
The First Estate
Catholic Clergy
- Owned 10% of
land
- Paid few taxes
Second Estate
Rich Nobles
2% of the population
Owned 20% of the
land
Third Estate
 97% of the people
are peasants, urban
workers, middle
class
 Have few
privileges, pay
heavy taxes, want
change
Forces of Change
Enlightenment Ideas
- Individual Rights, Democracy
Economic Troubles
- High Taxes and rising costs damage the
economy
- King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette
known for extravagance, gambling, and
overspending.
- Louis doubles Nation’s debt, banks refuse to
lend more money.
Forces of Change
A Weak Leader
- Louis’s poor decision
and lack of patience add
to France’s problems
- He calls EstatesGeneral – meeting of
representatives from all
three estates.
Dawn of the Revolution
The National Assembly
- Third Estate has little power under old
rules
- Third Estate sets up National Assembly –
new legislature to make reforms.
- Tennis Court Oath – delegates decide to
write new constitution for France.
Tennis Court Oath
A pledge made by the National Assembly vowing to
continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution.
Storming the Bastille
Rumors fly in Paris that Louis wants to
destroy the national assembly.
Mob attacks and seizes the Bastille,
killing guards on July 14, 1789.
Storming the Bastille
A Great Fear Sweeps France
Rebellion
- rumors and panic spread through France
- Great Fear – attacks by peasants taking
place across France
- October 1789, Bread Revolts – women
revolt over rising price of bread.
- They demand action, forcing Louis to
return from Versailles to Paris
Revolution Brings Reform and
Terror
 The revolutionary government of France
makes reforms makes reforms but also uses
terror and violence to retain power
The Assembly Reforms France
Declaration of The Rights of Man
- National Assembly adopts Declaration of
the Rights of Man and the Citizen
- Revolutionary leaders use the slogan
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
More Reforms
A State-controlled Church
- Assembly seizes church lands, turns
clergy into public officials
- This action concerns many peasants
who are devout Catholics
Louis tries to escape
- Worried for his life Louis tries to
escape but the royal family is captured
by the Netherlands border.
Divisions Develop in
Government
Factions Split France
- Major problems including debt, food shortages
remain
- Assembly splits into Radicals, Conservatives, and
Moderates
- Emigres – nobles who flee country, want Old
Regime back in power
- Sans-culottes – lower class who want more
changes from the Revolution
Sans-culottes
War and Execution
Problems with Other Countries
- Austria and Prussia support Louis, France
declares war.
- Prussian forces soon threaten Paris
- Parisian mod jails royal family and kill guards
- Mob breaks into prisons, killing over 1000,
including many who support Louis
- Pressured by mob Legislative assembly dissolves
monarchy
- National Convention takes office forming French
republic.
Jacobins take Control
Jacobins – radical political
organization behind
governmental changes
After a close vote Louis XVI
is found guilty of treason
and beheaded
Guillotine – machine
designed during the
Revolution to behead
people.
The War Continues
 The French Army wins great victories over
Prussia and Austria
 In 1793 Britain, Spain, and Holland join
forces against France
 National Convention orders draft of
300,000 to reinforce army
Robespierre Assumes Control
Maximilien Robespierre – Jacobin leader
rule France for a year
Become leader of the Committee for Public
Safety, a dictator
Reign of Terror – Robespierre’s rule, which
includes killing many opponents
Thousands die during the terror, including
former allies and Marie Antoinette
85% of those who die during the terror are
middle or lower class.
Maximilien Robespierre
End of the Terror
 Another change in government
 Robespierre arrested and executed
 Terror results in public opinion shifting
away from Radicals
 Moderate leaders write a new constitution
 Two-house legislature and Five-man
Directory restore order
 New Government makes Napoleon
Bonaparte commander of armies