The French Revolution
Vocabulary
Chapter 7 Section 1
1.Old Regime
2.Estate
3.National Assembly
4.Estates-General
5. Tennis Court Oath
The Old Order
• France was divided in three estates
– First Estate- Roman Catholic Church clergy
– Second Estate- Rich Nobles who owned 20
percent of the land.
– Third Estate- 97 percent of the population.
Composed of middle class, workers, and
peasants
 ½ of third estates income went to taxes.
Led to strong feelings of resentment and
a desire for change
Forces of Change
• Enlightenment Ideas- The Third Estate was
inspired by Enlightenment ideas that
questioned the role of the government. They
began to demand equality, liberty and
democracy.
• Economic Troubles- Frances economy was in
decline due to over spending by the French
monarchy. Louis XVI tried to tax the nobility to
pay off France’s debt. The second estate called
a meeting of the Estates- General to approve
the new tax.
Think- Pair Share
• Why were members of the Third
Estate dissatisfied with life under the
Old Regime?
• Were changes in the French
government inevitable? Explain.
Dawn of Revolution
• The National Assembly- The Third estate formed
the National Assembly in response to the
tradition of always being outvoted in the EstatesGeneral by the First and Second estates.
The Tennis Court Oath was the pledge made by the
Third estate(National Assembly) to create a new
constitution.
• Storming the Bastille- In response to fear of the
government using military force, people started
to search for weapons which led to a storming of
the Bastille(a prison), today this day is celebrated
as a symbolic act of revolution.
The Great Fear Sweeps France
• The Great Fear- A wave of violence called the
great fear swept the country. Peasants
revolted and turned to violence.
In 1789, women marched to Paris and
demanded that the king lower prices of
bread and end hunger in the city.
The king and queen fled the city. Their exit
signaled the change of power and radical
reforms about to overtake France.
Vocabulary
Chapter 7 Section 2
1. Legislative Assembly
2. Sans-culotte
3. Guillotine
4. Robespierre
5. Reign of Terror
The Assembly Reforms France
• The National Assembly adopted a statement of
revolutionary ideals.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the
Citizen. The document stated “men are born and
remain free and equal in rights” and those right
included “liberty, property, security, and resistance to
oppression”
• Church Reforms- The Catholic church lost both its
lands and political independence. Proceeds from
the sale of the land helped pay off France’s huge
debt.
Divisions Develop
• A Limited Monarchy- The National Assembly
completed a new constitution. It stripped the
king of much of his authority, and created the
Legislative Assembly.
• Factions Split France- The Legislative Assembly
split into three groups over how to handle
issues.
Radicals- opposed monarchy, wanted deep changes
Moderates- wanted some changes
Conservatives- limited monarchy and a few changes
Vocabulary
Chapter 7 Section 3
1. Napoleon Bonaparte
2. Coup d’ etat
3. plebiscite
4. Napoleonic Code
5. Battle of Trafalgar
Think- Pair- Share
• What major reforms did the
National Assembly introduce?
• What did divisions in the
Legislative Assembly say about
the difference in French society?
War and Execution
• France at War- War began, the royal family
was deposed. The Legislative Assembly set
aside the constitution, dissolved the assembly
and elected a new legislature called the
National Convention. France was declared a
republic, adult males granted the right to vote
and hold office.
• Jacobins Take Control- The majority of the
people involved in the governmental changes
were members of the Jacobins, a radical
political organization.
The Reign of Terror
• Robespierre Assumes Control- A key Jacobin
Leader, Maximilien Robespierre gained power in
1793.
• The Reign of Terror- Robespierre’s ruler was
known as the Reign of Terror and his chief task
was to protect the revolution from “enemies”.
• The End of the Terror- in 1794, members of the
National Convention turned on Robespierre
fearing their own safety and had him executed.
The National Convention selected Napoleon
Bonaparte a general to command France’s
armies.
Napoleon Seizes Power
• In 1795, Napoleon led soldiers against French
royalists who were attacking the National
Convention. For this, he was hailed as the
savior of the French Republic.
• In 1799, Napoleon assumed power as a
dictator. His sudden seizure of power is known
as a coup d etat.
• Napoleon restored peace in France by signing
a peace treaty with Britain, Austria and Russia.
Review Question
Please list the positive and
negative aspects of the
Napoleonic Code.
Napoleon Rules France
• In 1800, by vote of a plebiscite Napoleon was
given all real power as first consul.
• Napoleon worked to restore order in France,
by fixing the economy and ending corruption
and inefficiency in the government. He set up
lycees or public schools. He restored the
power of the church
• Napoleonic Code gave France a uniform set of
laws and eliminated many injustices.
• In 1804, Napoleon declared himself emperor
of France.
Napoleon Creates an Empire
• Once Napoleon declared himself emperor, he
yearned for more territory.
• Napoleon’s conquest started with the loss of
colonial possessions in Haiti and America.
• During the first decade of the 1800s Napoleon
had mastery of most of Europe. The French
empire was huge but unstable. Its sudden
collapse was caused by the actions of
Napoleon.
Vocabulary
Chapter 7 section 4
1. Continental System
2. Guerrilla
3. Peninsular War
4. Scorched Earth Policy
5. Waterloo
Napoleon’s Costly Mistakes
• The Continental System- an attempt by
Napoleon to forcibly close ports to prevent all
trade and communication. It was intended to
destroy Britain’s commercial and industrial
economy.
• The Peninsular War- Napoleon invaded Spain,
the British sent troops to aid Spain, France lost
300,000 men. These losses weakened France.
• The Invasion of Russia- Napoleon’s decision to
invade Russia in late summer combined with
Russia’s scorched earth tactic led French
forces to fall victim to Russia’s deadly winter.
France’s Grand Army of 420,000 = 10,000 left alive
Napoleon’s Downfall
• Napoleon Suffers Defeat- Prussian and Russian
troops march into Paris and force Napoleon to
surrender. Napoleon was banished to Elba.
• The Hundred Days- Louis XVIII assumes power
in France. He is unpopular among the
peasants. Napoleon regains power after
escaping from Elba. Allied powers defeat
Napoleon at Waterloo. He is sent to St. Helena
where he lives out his life imprisoned.
Vocabulary
Chapter 7 Section 5
1. Congress of Vienna
2.Metternich
3. Balance of Power
4. Holy Alliance
5.legitimacy
Metternich’s Plan for Europe
At the Congress of Vienna, Metternich insisted
on three goals.
 First, he wanted to make sure that the French
would not attack another country again.
 Second, he wanted a balance of power in
which no one nation was too strong.
 Third, he wanted to put kings back in charge
of the countries from which they had been
removed, this principle was called legitimacy.
The leaders agreed with Metternich’s ideas.
An age of European peace began.
Political Change Beyond Vienna
• Across Europe, kings and princes reclaimed their
thrones. Most of them were conservatives and
did not encourage individual liberties. They did
not want any calls for equal rights.
• The Holy Alliance is formed to combat
revolutions. The Concert of Europe reinforces the
idea that stronger nations will assist each other if
revolution breaks out.
• People in the Americas also felt the desire for
freedom. Many nations won independence from
Spain. Italy, Germany, and Greece would rebel
and form new countries. The French Revolution
had changed the politics of Europe and beyond
Review Questions
1. What were the three points of
Metternich’s plan for Europe?
2. Explain legitimacy.
Timeline
Directions: Find dates of the following events, then create a timeline of the events.
Waterloo
The Great Fear
Napoleon exiled to Elba
Congress of Vienna
Reign of Terror
The Legislative Assembly
Invasion of Russia
Meeting of Estates-General
The Hundred Days
National Assembly
Peninsular War
Napoleon exiled to St. Helena
Storming of the Bastille
Napoleon Bonaparte
Maximilien Robespierre
Analyze
The French Revolution
G- Geography
R- Religion
A-Achievements
P-Political System
E- Economics
S- Social Structure
French Revolution Journal
Write journal entries on four events during the
French Revolution from the perspective of one
of the following members of the three estates of
the Old Regime: a peasant, a noble or clergy.
Place yourself into the persona you have chosen
and describe the following events and how they
affect you personally:
Life in the Old Regime
Reign of Terror
Napoleon’s Seizure of Power
The Congress of Vienna