THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION
Lesson
LESSON 1
THE OLD REGIME
Essential Outcomes
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I will be able to identify the impact of rulers on society.
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I will be able to make some predictions of the French Revolution.
Review
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In the late 1700’s, Paris
was buzzing with new
ideas. People came
together to talk about
these ideas at social
gatherings.
Listening to philosophers
like John Locke, Voltaire,
Rouseau, and
Montesquieu made
people think that things
could be different.
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The Enlightenment
brought new ideas
about:
Natural rights
 The rights of man
 Religious tolerance
 Freedom of speech and
of the press
 Political freedom to
choose your own leaders
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Vocabulary
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Louis XIV: The Sun King (1643 – 1715)
Louis XV: “Apres moi, le deluge”
Louis XVI: The end of the Old Regime
Versailles: Palace build by Louis XIV
Monarchy: System of government with king or
queen in power.
Marie Antoinette: Wife of Louis XVI
Prediction: Educated guess
King Louis XIV
The Sun King
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The most powerful monarch in Europe.
Believed he was God’s representative
and ruled by divine right.
Built the magnificent palace at
Versailles.
Reigned for 72 years and made France
one of the most prosperous European
nations.
King Louis XV
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“Apres moi, le
deluge”
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Great grandson of the Sun King.
He was ineffective and more interested in
having fun than governing.
He was unable to control his ministers.
Reigned for almost 60 years.
French and Indian War happened during this
time when France lost colonies to North
America and India.
Heavily taxed the poor.
Left France in a financial crisis.
Mistress, knowing there needed to be reform
said; “Apres moi le deluge”.
King Louis XVI
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The end of the
Old Regime
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The last absolute monarch of France.
Kind and generous but had trouble making
decisions.
Enjoyed hunting more than taking care of
the affairs of his country.
He was shy and awkward during a time
when France needed a strong leader.
Married Marie Antoinette when he was 15
(she was 14, eeek).
When he took the throne Louis XVI said: “I
feel like the universe is going to fall on
me.”
Marie Antoinette
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Wife of King
Louis XVI
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Her greatest weakness was that she liked to
spend $$$ and have a good time.
She wasn’t well educated and not interested
in the affairs of the state unless they were
gossip or scandal.
She had the largest allowance any queen had
received and was still in debt.
She spent nearly 2 million dollars a year (in
today’s money) on clothes.
Had a “peasant village” built on the grounds
of Versailles so she could pretend to be a
peasant.
Discussion
How would you feel living under the conditions
of the Old Regime?
Prediction
Discuss with your shoulder partner:
What do you think caused the French Revolution
and what do you think happened during the
French Revolution?
Journal
Write down in your journal your predictions of
the French Revolution and compare them to that
of your shoulder partner.
LESSON 2
THE THREE ESTATES
Essential Outcomes

I will be able to understand the differences between the Three
Estates and gain an understanding of their roles in the French
Revolution.
Vocabulary
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Estates: Social classes of France
Clergy: leaders of the Church in France (1st estate)
Nobles: members of the elite who were born into
their status in society (2nd estate)
Bourgeoisie: members of the middle class and
below with little rights (3rd estate)
The Three Estates
1st Estate:
Churchman, Clergy.
2nd Estate:
Nobleman,
Nobility.
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3rd Estate:
Peasants,
everybody else.
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Simulation
Journal
Write your reaction to this simulation in your
journal based on the estate you were in.
Lesson
LESSON 3
EVENTS OF1789
Essential Outcomes

I will be able to summarize the main events of 1789 in relation to the
French Revolution.
Vocabulary
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Tennis Court Oath: 3rd estate pledge to work together
Bastille: armory and prison that was stormed by
peasants in order to arm themselves against the kings
army.
National Assembly: 3rd estate members who formed
together against the Estates General.
Estates General: special meeting of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Estates due to the taxation of the 2nd Estate.
More Vocabulary
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Women’s March on Versailles: October 5th, women
march to Versailles to bring the king and queen into
Paris to prevent them from leaving the country.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen:
document written by the National Assembly
declaring the need for equality, right to fair trial,
and freedom of religion.
The Estates General originated in medieval times before the kings had
absolute power, and its original purpose was to give advice to approve
new taxes. The nobles thought that a meeting of the Estates General
could push through some changes of their own.
The Tennis Court Oath
Depiction of the famous scene of the deputies taking the oath as a
heroic and glorious moment – the beginnings of the revolution.
The Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille, which had symbolized the absolute power of the French
kings, fell on July 14, 1789. Within one year, it was completely torn
down and its bricks sold as souvenirs.
A deputy said: “ For a constitution to be a good
one, it must be based on the rights of man and
must protect these rights; we must understand the
rights which are granted to all men by natural
justice; we must recall all the principles which are
at the base of any human society.”
Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
The Declaration of Rights of Man was not only about the rights of French
citizens. It claimed that all people had natural rights.
Issued on August 27, 1789
Women’s March on Versailles
The market women wanted the king in Paris to solve the problem of the
shortage of bread. Others wanted the king in Paris so they could keep
an eye on him.
Discussion
Discuss with your shoulder partner which event
during 1789 you feel was the most significant.
Journal
Write in your journals your feelings on the
significance of these events and compare them
to your partners thoughts.
Lesson
LESSON 4
LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND
FRATERNITY
Essential Outcomes

I will be able to analyze the ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity
in relation to historical events.
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I will be able to work in a group to come up with ideas and
examples of where these words are used today.
Vocabulary
Your turn!
 Get in groups of 3
 Each student will have a piece of paper.
 Fold this piece of paper into thirds.
 At the top of each third write one word.
 Liberty – Equality – Fraternity
 Define each word and use the word in a sentence.
Lesson
Journal
Answer this question:
How would the ideas of Liberty, Equality, and
Fraternity better your life now?
LESSON 5
TRIAL OF LOUIS XVI AND THE REIGN
Less
OF TERROR
Essential Outcomes
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I will be able to identify people and events in the Reign of Terror.
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I will be able to construct a narrative describing the events and
emotions of the Reign of Terror.
Vocabulary
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Napoleon Bonaparte: Military leader and
eventually emperor of France.
Jacobin Club: group led by Robespierre during the
Reign of Terror.
Maximilian Robespierre: Revolutionary leader of
the Jacobin Club.
Committee of Public Safety: powerful committee
responsible for the death of thousands during the
Reign of Terror.
More Vocabulary
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Reign of Terror: 1794, lasting one year, a period of
time when suspicious actions led to the death of
40,000.
Coup d’ etat: a sudden overtaking of government
by a group, usually backed by the military.
King Louis XVI
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King Louis XVI tried to escape France
and go to Austria where the Queen’s
brother was emperor.
He was hoping to persuade the
emperor to invade France to restore
the monarchy to its old powers.
His plan to escape failed.
They were discovered, captured, and
brought back to Paris in humiliation.
The king had lost his power and the
love and trust of his people.
From this time on he was prisoner in his
palace of the Tuileries.
Trial of King Louis XVI
Louis was found guilty of conspiracy against the nation. After 3 days
of debate the vote was taken and the verdict was announced: The king
must DIE!
Death of Louis XVI
On January 21, 1793 Louis was driven in a carriage to the guillotine. He
calmly climbed the steps placed his head beneath the heavy blade and said:
“I die innocent…” The blade fell and the crowd cheered “Long live the
Republic!” The king was dead and the queen would soon follow.
The Reign of Terror
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People that were enemies of the
revolution were killed by
guillotine.
If a woman wept because her
husband was killed, if a young
man chopped down a tree, if
they were rumored to say “they
did not care a fig”, if they
slipped and said something
incorrectly they were thought to
be “suspect”
The Reign of Terror
Jacobins
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One of the most radical
political clubs.
Demanded the death of
Louis and Marie Antoinette
and insisted on going to
war with Austria.
Many people disagreed
with the Jacobins.
Jacobins would take
control of the government.
The Committee Of Public Safety
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Established to solve the
problems of traitors trying
to overturn the revolution.
In July 1973 Maximilien
Robespierre took control
of this committee whose
name has ever since been
associated with terror.
Maximilien Robespierre
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Small man who rarely smiled.
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Fanatical in his dedication to the revolution.
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Believed he had to root out all of the
opposition.
Terror was his method.
Eventually turned on Jacobins and accused
some deputies as “suspect”.
They had grown tired of the blood and
before Robespierre could speak the deputies
said “Down with the tyrant!”
Robespierre was now facing the fate he had
put so many others through.
The End of Terror
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New constitution was passed that gave control to a
Directory of five members.
In October 1795 the royalists wanted to restore the
old regime.
Napoleon Bonaparte (26 yrs old) was called on to
defend the National Convention.
He ordered his troops to fire cannons into groups of
people killing hundreds.
He put an end to the uprising and became famous.
Napoleon Bonaparte
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By 1799 the people were losing faith
in the Directory and they wanted
strong leadership.
Napoleon took this moment and used
his popularity to gain power.
This marked the end of the French
Revolution.
In 1800 the French gave ruling power
to Napoleon.
He became consul for life in 1802 and
had the power of dictator.
In 1804 he was voted as Emperor.
The End of an Era
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The French Revolution and the era of
Napoleon had a dramatic effect on
Europe and the world.
The world had witnessed one of the
bloodiest revolutions in history.
A
revolution that resulted in the fall of the
French monarchy and the rise of the middle
class.
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The 1800’s would be marked by a series
of revolutions as the ideals of liberty and
equality spread to old and new nations.
Journal
Place yourself in 1790’s France. Pretend your
neighbor was recently taken away by the police
for aligning themselves with Robespierre. Answer
the following questions: What are you going to
do to make sure you are not next? What are you
feeling about the Revolution? Was it better when
the King was still in charge?
FINAL PROJECT
Essential Outcomes

I will be able to review my notes and correctly identify people and
key events that happened during the French Revolution.
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I will be able to work in a group and we will be able to write and
organize a newspaper covering topics during the French Revolution.
Create a Newspaper