The French Revolution
Three events through multiple perspectives.
BY DENNIS SHULTZ
MCCAIG DOVE
CECE MOORE
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
 The Declaration of the Rights of Man was the
French equivalent of the United States’ Declaration
of Independence. It outlined what the people of
France believed were their natural rights, and their
idea of the role of government. It was first issued in
1789 by the National Assembly. It is still an
important document today, and has served as a
partial basis for the U.N.’s Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
Nobility’s Response
 The text to the right is an
excerpt from The Declaration
of Pillnitz, which was written
by nobleman émigré the
Count of Artois.
 The Count of Artois was a
formally noble French émigré
and was very against the
declaration of the rights of
man. In this passage he says
that troops should be
gathered in order to stop the
king from establishing
sovereignty. This statement
reflects the views of most
nobles during this time.
 "Consequently, jointly with
their respective Majesties,
they will use the most efficient
means in relation to their
strengths to place the King of
France in a position to be
totally free to consolidate the
bases of a monarchical
government that shall be as
amenable to the rights of
sovereigns as it is to the wellbeing of the French nation.…”
 “Meanwhile, they shall issue
their troops the necessary
orders to prepare them for
action."
Bourgeoisie’s Response
 THE BOURGEOISIE WERE
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THE MAIN AUTHORS OF
THIS DOCUMENT
the men of the bourgeoisie
liked the idea of the Declaration
of the Rights of Man
they were happy with this
document because it ensured
their equality with the other
classes
fair taxes for them-document
called for taxes to be levied
according to ability to pay
all male citizens equal before
the law
religious tolerance
equal right to hold public office
 “In consequence, the National
Assembly recognizes and
declares, in the presence and
under the auspices of the
Supreme Being, the following
rights of man and the citizen:
 1. Men are born and remain
free and equal in rights. Social
distinctions may be based
only on common utility.
 2. The purpose of all political
association is the
preservation of the natural
and imprescriptible rights of
man. These rights are liberty,
property, security, and
resistance to oppression.
Foreign Government’s Response
 The text to the right is an
excerpt from The Contest of
Faculties, an essay written
by Immanuel Kant.
 In it, Kant observed the
importance of the DRM,
and noted that such a
document was a blow
against oppressive regimes.
 "Why has no ruler ever
dared to say openly that he
does not recognize any
rights of the people against
himself?”
 “The reason is that any
such public declaration
would rouse up all the
subjects against the ruler,
even although they had
been like docile sheep, well
fed, powerfully protected
and led by a kind and
understanding master, and
had no lack of welfare to
complain of."
The Execution of Louis XVI
 The Execution of Louis the XVI was probably the
high water mark of the Reign of Terror. It was also
the most radical moment in the revolution. Before,
there had at least been some semblance of
monarchy, but with this execution, the monarchy
was completely destroyed, and the Revolution
asserted it’s power and authority.
The émigrés response
 The émigrés, nobles and
clergymen who had fled France,
supported Louis XVI, even unto
his death. They planned and
hoped to return the king to
power, but his execution left
those dreams shattered.
 This romanticized depiction of
his stately bearing before his
death, credits him with his
finest moment.
 While the majority of
Frenchmen supported Louis’
death, his departed supporters
emphasized his courage in the
face of death, clearly showing
their despair.
Bourgeoisie’s response
 most supported the execution of
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the king
thought he was a traitor who did
not actually support the reforms
of France
tried to flee his own country
others thought that beheading
the king was too harsh of a
punishment and that he should
be able to live
argued that the action of
beheading Louis XVI was too
radical of a decision
one newspaper even described
those who supported the
execution as “cruel savages”
 “The executioner
immediately lifted the head
from the sack into which it
fell automatically and
displayed it to the people.
 As soon as the execution had
taken place, the expression
on the faces of many
spectators changed and,
from having worn an air of
somber consternation, they
shifted to another mood and
fell to crying, "Vive la
Nation!" At least one can say
this of the cavalry who
witnessed the execution and
who waved their helmets on
the point of their sabers.”
Foreign Government’s response
 In the image to the right, A
Democrat… or Reason and
Philosophy, contemporary
British cartoonist James Gillray
portrays a sans-culottes, the
most radical group of the
French revolutionaries
 This interpretation of the sansculottes was most probably
made after King Louis XVI’s
execution, hence the bloody
hands and knife, though it’s
exact date is never specified.
The fall of Napoleon, 1814
 Napoleon Bonaparte brought order and power to
France, after it’s long revolution had reduced the
country to chaos. He attempted to extend his power
beyond France’s capacity, and thus was eventually
defeated by a coalition of European countries. His
fall marked the end of the revolution, and the end of
France’s continental dominance. Though he would
soon rise again to power, it was for a mere 100 days,
and thus, nothing drastic had happened.
Provincial government’s response
 This image shows the
growing discontent with
Napoleon, especially from a
military, or governmental
point of view.
 Napoleon is seen in the top
left corner, riding a horse,
proud and regal. Behind
him, however, are the
mutinous remains of his
once invincible army.
 For government officials,
Napoleon’s fall from power
was beneficial, for it would
mean that a peace could be
created.
Bourgeoisie’s response
 Initially, many people were
disappointed and angry with
Napoleon, for his military
failures.
 It can clearly be seen in this
picture that the many
soldiers, most of whom were
of the former Third Estate,
are cold, disillusioned, and
mutinous.
 However, they soon switched
their loyalties back to
Napoleon, because Louis
XVIII sent France into
another economic depression
and spread fear of the old
regime returning.
Foreign Government’s response
 Foreign governments
sighed with relief when
Napoleon abdicated from
the throne.
 In the image to the right,
entitled The Exorcism:
Ridding France of the
Devil Napoleon, you can
see multiple European
nationalities expelling
Napoleon.
Bibliography (not in any particular order)
 "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, 26 August
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1789". Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. March 1, 2009
<http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/295/>.
Pernoud, Georges. "Execution of the King (21 January 1793)".
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. March 1, 2009
<http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/327/>.
Fall of Napoleon. Hard News, Inc. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
<hardnewsinc.blogs.com/.../meanwhile_over_.html>.
the Count of Artois, . "The Declaration of Pillnitz." Exploring
the French Revolution. 1966. Web. 1 Mar 2010.
<http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/421/>.
"Debris of the French Army Returning to the Fatherland in
June 1813." Exploring the French Revolution. Web. 1 Mar
2010. <http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/163/>.
Bibliography (continued)
 Unknown. "Son of Saint Louis Going up to Heaven…" unknown.
Online Image. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. February 27, 2010.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/179/
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 James Gillray. "A Democrat… or Reason and Philosophy."
unknown. Online Image. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. February 25,
2010. http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/24/
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 Unknown. "The Exorcism: Ridding France of the Devil Napoleon."
unknown. Online Image. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. February 22,
2010. http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/166/
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 Kant, The Contest of Faculties. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
Unknown. March 1, 2010. http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/564/