French Revolution
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
French Society Divided
 France is divided into three estates.
 First Estate: made up of the Clergy
 Second Estate: Made up of Nobility
 Third Estate: Vast majority of the population
The Clergy enjoy wealth
 French Clergy still enjoys enormous wealth
and privilege.

Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution

The Church owned about 10%of the
land
 Had the right to collect tithes and paid no
direct taxes to the state.

High Church leader and clergy lived very
well.
 Bishops, Abbots
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Parish priest lived a more humble lives.
 The first estate did prove some social
services

 Ran schools, hospital and orphanages
Philosophers targeted the Church for
reform and the interference in politics.
 During this period the church was intolerant
of dissent.

 Against the ideas of the Enlightment
○ Attacked religion and moral order
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Nobles Hold Top Government Jobs.
 Second Estate was the titled noble
knights nobility of French society.
 Were knights who defended the land in the
Middle age.

Jobs were given under royal control.
 Top Government jobs, Army, the courts and
the Church.

Feared losing their traditional privileges.
 Not paying taxes
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Third Estate is Vastly Diverse
 Top was the Bourgeoisie

 Middle class
○ Bankers, merchants and manufacturers,
lawyers, doctors, journalists and professor.
○ Bulk was consist of rural peasants.
 landowner and tenant farmers
 Poorest were the urban workers.
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
 Apprentices and journeymen, servants,
construction workers.
○ To survive some turned to begging or crime
Rich and Poor members of the Third Estate
resented the privileged
 Best jobs were reserved for nobles
 Urban workers earned the miserable wages.

 A rise in food prices would cause greater hunger
and starvation.
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
 The First and Second estates paid almost
no taxes.
 Peasants were burdened by taxes on bread.
In towns and cities, the ideas of the
Enlightment led to people questioning
the inequalities of the old regime.
 Throughout France the members of the
Third estate called for the privileged and
First and Second Estates to pay their
share.

Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Financial Troubles
 Economic woes in France added to the
social unrest
 Part of the economic problems came
from deficit spending.
National Debt soars
 Louis XIV had left France in a deep debt
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
The Hundred Years war and the
American Revolution stressed the
economy
 Costs in the 1700’s continued to rise
and the lavish courts soaked up millions
 To bridge the gap, the government
borrowed more and more money.
 By 1789, half of the governments money
came from taxes went to pay interest on
the debt

Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
In the late 1780’s , bad harvest sent
food prices soaring and brought hunger
to the poorer peasants and city dweller.
 To solve the economic crisis the
government increased taxes

 Noble and clergy resisted any attempt to
end their exemption from taxes
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Economic Reforms Fails.
 The heirs of Louis XIV were not the right
people to solve the economic problems
of France
 Louis XVI (1725 to 1774) pursued
pleasure before serious businesses and
ran up more debt.
 Louis XVI was a well mannered but
weak and indecisive leader.
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution

Jacques Necker was chosen as financial
advisor.
 Necker urged the king to reduce lavish
spending, reform the government and
abolish burdensome tariffs on internal trade.
 Necker proposed taxing the First and
Second estates.
○ Noble and clergy forced the king to dismiss
Necker.
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
As the crisis continued the pressure to
reform increased.
 The king summoned the EstatesGeneral

 A legislative body with representatives of the
three estates
 The Estates-General hadn’t be called in 175
years
 The third estate feared that the nobles would
try to recover their feudal powers
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
 Noble hoped they could bring the monarch
under control of the noble and guarantee
their own privileges
Louis XVI calls the Estates-General
 As 1788 came to an end the Bread Riots
were spreading, the noble became
fearful of taxes.
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Estates Prepare grievance notebook
 Louis had each estate prepare a
cashier(notebook)
 Many cashiers called for reforms from
fairer taxes, Freedom of press or regular
meetings of the estates-general.
 Regulation on leather by shoe makers
 Right to leave service by servants
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Each cashier showed the resentment
between the classes.
Delegates take the Tennis Court Oath.
 Delegates from the Third Estate were
elected

 Only men with property could vote
○ Lawyers and middle class officials
○ Familiar with the writing on the enlightment
philosophers
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Not only insisted on fixing the financial
crisis but creating reform
 The Estates-General met in May of 1789

 Became deadlocked over voting
The Estate-General usually met separately
 Each group had ONE vote
 The First and Second Estate could outvote
the Third Estate

 The Third Estate wanted all estates to met a
single body, with votes could by head
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution

After making no progress the Third
Estate made a daring move
 Declared themselves the National Assembly
○ Claiming the represent the people of France
Days later the National Assembly found
the doors locked and guarded to their
meeting hall.
 They assembled at a indoor tennis court
and took the Tennis Court Oath

Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
 “never to separate and to meet wherever the
circumstances might require until we have
established a sound and just constitution.”
Reform-minded clergy and nobles joined
the National Assembly
 Forced Louis XVI to accept it.
 Royal troops gathered around Paris on
the rumor that Louis XVI was going to
dissolve the assembly

Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
Parisians Strom the Bastille
 On July 14, 1789 the city of Paris was
seized the spotlight from Versailles as
royal troops began to occupy the city
 Over 800 Parisians met outside the
Bastille
 A fortress used as a prison and to store
royal supplies
 Crowd demanded weapons and gunpowder
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution

The commander refused to open the
Bastille and fired into the crowd.
 Many were killed

The mob broke through the defenses
and killed the commander and five
guards
 Also released all the prisoners
 But found no weapons
Sect. 1 On the Eve of Revolution
The Bastille became the symbol to the
people of France that showed all the
years of abuse by the monarchy.
 The riot at the Bastille wake-up call to
Louis XVI

 Challenged the existence of the monarch

Since 1880, July 14 has been
celebrated as their independence day
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
The four phases of the French revolution
1. Moderate Phase 1789-1791

2.
Radical Phase 1792-1794

3.
End of the monarchy and the Reign of Terror.
The Directory 1795-1799

4.
France become a constitutional monarchy
Period of reaction the extremism
Age of Napoleon 1799 -1815

Consolidation of revolutionary changes
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
Political crisis leads to Revolt
 In 1789 France was experiencing the worst
famine in recent memory.
 Peasants began to starve, grain prices soared,
Most people spent 80% of their income on bread.
Rumors create the “Great Fear”
 Tales of attacks on villages and town spread
 By government troops
Sect.2 The French Revolution unfolds
Peasants unleashed their fears on the
nobles who were trying to reimpose medieval
dues.
 Peasants burned manor records, stole grain
from storehouses.

 Attacks show the unhappiness with the
government.
Paris Commune Comes to power
 Paris become the center of the revolutionary
movement.
 National Guard led by Marquis de Lafayette.
 Protect Paris from government troops (moderate)
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
 First group to use red, white and blue
patches.
○ Colors found in the flag of France.

The more radical groups was the Paris
Commune.
 Replaced the royalist government in France
 Helped to push the ideas of the revolution.
 Demanded an end to the monarchy and
spread rumors about the royals and court
members.
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
The National Assembly Acts
 Due to the Storming of Bastille and peasant
uprisings pushed the National Assembly into
action.
 Noble voted to end their own privileges
○ Manorial Dues, Hunting Rights, Special legal status,
and exemption from taxes.
Special Privileges Ends
 Feudalism is Abolished
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
Nobles had nothing to lose by giving up
their rights.
 National Assembly turned reforms into
laws.

 Meeting goal of equality of all male citizens
before the law.
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
Declaration of the right of man
 First steps towards a constitution began.

The assembly issued a Declaration of
the Rights of Man and the Citizens
 Modeled after the American Constitution
written 13 years earlier
 Announced that French men were born free
and remain free and equal in rights
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
 Had the right to enjoy natural rights to
“Liberty, Property, Security, and resistance to
oppression.

Governments existed to protect the
natural rights of citizens.
 Every Frenchmen had an equal right to hold
public office based on merit.
○ Talents and Virtues
 Asserted freedom of religion and called for
taxes that can be paid.
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
 Women were disappointed that they were
left out of the Declaration.

Olympe de Gouges: Demanded rights
for women in the Declaration of the
Rights of Women and the Female
Citizens.
 Citizens were both men and women.
○ Equally eligible for public office
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds

Louis XVI didn’t accept the reforms of
the assembly.
The National assembly Presses Onward
 The bourgeoisie worked to draft a
constitution and solve the Financial
crisis
 To pay debt, assembly voted to take over
Church lands and sell to pay debt
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
The Church placed Under State Control
 The National Assembly put French Catholic
Church under state control.
 Radical move.
 Bishops and priest became elected and salaried
officials
 Papal Authority was ended of the French Church.
○ Mixed reactions
○ The Pope condemned it
○ Government punished clergy who refused to
support the consitiution
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
The Constitution of 1791 Establishes a new
Government
 The National Assembly completed its main
task of making Constitution
 Set up a limited monarchy
○ New legislative Assembly to make laws, collect
taxes, decide on issues of war and peace.
The government set up 83 departments
roughly equal size.
 Ended Church interference in government.

Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
Louis’ Escape Fails
 Louis and the royal family was urged to
escape Paris.
 The escape failed, due to poor planning.
 Was taken back to Paris.
 Showed that he was a traitor to the
revolution
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
Radicals Take Over
Rulers Fear Spread of Revolution
 European Rulers increased Border
patrols to stop the spread of the “French
Plague”
 Spread of revolutionary ideas into Europe.
 Emigres: Nobles, clergy an others who fled
France
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
○ Reported attacks on privileges, property and
religion
Threats Come From Aboard
 The failed escape brought attention from
aboard
 The king of Prussia and the Emperor of
Austria issued the Declaration of Pilnitz.
 The nations threatened to intervene to
protect the French Monarchy.
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds
Radicals Fight for Power and Declare War.
 The newly elected Legislative Assembly
took office.
 Faced many problems
○ Assignat : Currency’s valued dropped
 Caused prices to increase.
 Led to food Shortages

Sans-culottes: pushed revolution into more
radical
 Demanded a republic
○ Government ruled by elected representatives.
Sect.2 The French Revolution
unfolds

Jacobins became more radical political club
 Pushed the idea of the republic
The National Assembly Declares War on
Tyranny
 The radical groups gained control of the
Legislative Assembly.
 Declared war on Prussia, Austria, Britain and
other states
 Fighting began in 1792 and lasted to 1815
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution

In 1793 the revolution entered the Radical
Stage
 The bloodiest parts of the History of France
Tension lead to violence
 Many revolutionaries thought that the King
was in a league with the enemies
 Violence breaks out at Tuileries.
 Mob killed the King’s guards
○ Royal family fled to safety
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution

Next, citizens attacked a prison that held
nobles and priest accused of political
crimes
 1,200 prisoners were killed
○ Many ordinary crimes
○ “September Massacre”
 Most were just ordinary citizens fired up over
real and imaginary grievances.
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Radicals Take Control and Execute the King
 Radicals took control of the assembly.
 Called for a election of a new legislative body
○ National Convention
 Suffrage was expanded to all male citizens, not
just property owners.
 Met in September 1792, Convention voted to
end the Monarch and create a republic
○ The French Republic
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Made a new constitution for France.
 The Jacobins set out to erase all traces
of the old order.
 Seized noble lands and abolished the
titles of nobility.
 In the early months of the convention,
Louis XVI was placed on trial for be a
traitor.

 Convicted by a single vote, sentenced to
death
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution

A foggy morning in
January 1793 Louis
XVI was beheaded.

In October 1793. Marie
Antoinette was
executed.
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Terror and Danger Grip France
 By early 1793 France was a dangerous
place
 At war with most of Europe.
In Vendee, Royalist and Priest led peasant
in a rebellion against the Government
 Two groups fought over control of the
Convention

 Jacobins and Girondins
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
The Convention Create a new Committee
 The Convention created the Committee of
Public Safety.
 12 member had almost absolute power as it
battled to save the revolution
 Prepared France for an all out war.
 Issued “Levee en masse” Mass Levy Tax
○ All citizens to contribute to the war effort.

The Revolutionaries, marched off to defend
the young republic
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
 Young officers developed new tactics to win
battles with ill trained troops but patriotic
force
 French armies took control of the
Netherlands
 Invaded Italy
 In France, crushed peasant revolts

Europeans monarchs called it “Freedom
Fever”.
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Robespierre “ the incorruptible”
 A shrewd lawyer and politician
 Quick rose to leadership in the
Committee of Public Safety
 Dedicated to the revolutionary cause
 Received the nickname of “The
Incorruptible”
 Called a tyrant by his enemies
 Embraced the ideas of Rousseau.
○ Source of legitimate laws
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution




Promoted religious toleration
Wanted to abolish slavery
Had a disliking for the old regime
Believed the Republic could be achieved by
terror
○ Prompt, serve, inflexible justice.
The Guillotine Defines the Reign of Terror
 Led by people like Robespierre
 Reign of Terror lasted from September
1793 to July 1794
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
 “Hail the Republic” or “Death to the Traitors”.

Suspects were those who resisted the
revolution.
 About 300,000 people were arrested during
the Reign of terror.
○ 17,000 were executed
○ Many more were victims of mistaken identity
or falsely accused by neighbors
 Packed into hideous prison were death from disease
was common.
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution

The Guillotine was Dr. Joseph Guillotine.
 Member of the legislature
 Developed as a more humane method of
beheading than the ax.
 Became the symbol of terror.

The Terror consumed those who started it.
 Robespierre was arrested July 1794 and be
executed the next day.
 Other Radicals also fell
 Executions slowed
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
The Revolution enters its Third stage
 A move towards more moderate ideas
 The Constitution of 1795 was drafted
○ Set up five man directory and a two-house
legislature elected by male citizens of
property.
The middle class and the bourgeoisie
were the dominant force in this stage
 The Directory held power from 1795 to
1799

Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Peace was made with Prussia and
Spain.
 War continued with Austria and Britian.


The Directory became more corrupt.
 Worried about wealth
 Failed to solve pressing issues
○ Bread prices increased.

Emigres returned to France
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Supporters of the Constitution Monarchy
won majority of the seats in legislature
 Politicians turned to Napoleon
Bonaparte to advance their goals

 General who won against the Austrians in
Italy.
 Would out smart the legislature to become
ruler of France.
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Revolution Brings Change
 By 1799, the revolution was moving into
its 10th year,
 Many changes have occurred
 Removal of the old regime, overthrew the
Monarchy and brought the Church under
state control.
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Nationalism Spreads
 The revolution and war gave the French
people a strong sense of national
identity.
 A shift from loyalty to local authorities to
Kings and Queens.

La Marseillaise would become the new
national anthem
Sect. 3 Radical Days of the
Revolution
Revolutionaries Push for social reform
 Pushed for social reforms and religious
toleration
 Set up schools to replace religious ones
 Systems to help the poor, soldiers and
war widows
 Abolished slavery in the French
Colonies
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
From 1799 to 1815, Napoleon
Bonaparte came to dominant France
and Europe.
 The final phase of the French Revolution

Napoleon Rises to Power
Victories Cloud Losses
 During the turmoil of the revolution,
Napoleon quickly rose to power
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
December 1793, he drove the British out
of the port city of Toulon.
 Many dazzling victories against the
Austrians

 Forced them to make peace with France.

Want to disrupt the British trade with
India
 Led an expedition in Africa in 1798
○ Be came a disaster

Napoleon was good at hiding his losses
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
 Had a network of spies and censoring the
press
Success fueled Napoleon’s ambitions
 In 1799 he became a political leader

 He helped to overthrow the weak Directory
 Formed a three man governing board known
as the Consulate
○ Another Constitution was drafted

In 1800, He forced Spain to return the
Louisiana Purchase to France.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
In 1802, he named himself to the consul
for life.
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor
 IN 1804, He acquired enough power to
assume the title of emperor.

 In invited the pope to the coronation
 Take the crown from the pope and places it
on his head.
○ Showed he owes the throne to no one but
himself.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Napoleon Reforms France
 Consolidated his power by
strengthening the central government.
 Order, security and efficiency replaced
Liberty, equality and fraternity.

To restore economic prosperity
 He controlled prices, encouraged new
industry, and built roads and canals
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Set up public education with well-trained
officials
 Made peace with the Catholic Church

 Concordat of 1801
 Church remained under state control, but
recognized religious freedom.
○ Not popular with revolutionaries
Napoleon won support across the classes
 Encouraged emigres to return

 Had to take a oath of loyalty
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
He recognized peasants right to the land
bought from the Church and Nobles
 The middle class benefited the most from
Napoleon’s reforms

 Restored order
Opened job to all, based on talent
 Most lasting reform was the new code of
laws

 Napoleonic Code
○ Equality of all citizens before the law, religious
toleration, and the abolition of feudalism.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Napoleon Builds an Empire
 From1804to 1812, Napoleon further is
reputation on the battlefield.
 He battled the combined forces of the
European powers.
 He took great risk and suffered great losses

by 1812 the Great empire reached its
greatest extent.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
The Map of Europe is Redrawn.
 Napoleon created a vast French empire.
 Empire included Netherland, Belgium, and parts
of Italy and Germany.
 Ended the Holy Roman Empire in Germany and
created a 38 confederation of the Rhine
○ Under French Protection
 Cut the Prussian Empire in half

Controlled Europe through a Forceful
diplomacy
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
 Placed friends and relatives to thrones of
Europe.
○ Placed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte to the
throne of Spain .
 Forced Rulers of Austria, Prussia and
Russia to sign treaties.
His successes boosted the nationalism
Napoleon Strikes Britain
 Only Britain remained out the French
Empire

 Small army the relied on its sea power to
stop Napoleon
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon

Napoleon took the war to Britain's
commerce with the Commerce.
 Continental System: closed European ports
to British Goods.
 Britain also placed a blockade on European
ports
○ Both sides seized ships suspected of trading
with the other side
 Attacks on American ships eventually triggered the
War 1812.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon

The Continental System failed to bring
Britain to its knees.
 Britain’s powerful navy keep the trade routes with
India and Americas open.
Napoleon’s Empire Faces challenges
 IN 1812, Napoleon continued to idea of
World Domination.
 Invasion of Russia
○ Failure, Brought to the end of an Era
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Nationalism Works Against Napoleon
 Napoleon’s success contained seeds of
defeat.
 Many welcomed the ideas of the French
revolution.
 Saw Napoleon and his army as foreign
oppressors
 Resented the Continental System and effort
to impose French culture.

Nationalism unleashed revolts against
France.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Spain and Austria Battle the French
 Napoleon introduced reform the
Undermined the Spanish Catholic
Church.
 Many remained loyal to the former king and
devoted to the church

When the Spanish resisted the French
army responded with brutal oppression
 Spanish began efforts to remove the French
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon

The Spanish conducted Guerrilla
warfare
 Hit and run
 Small bands ambushed French troops and
return into the countryside
 Keep troops in Spain, when Napoleon
needed them elsewhere.

The problem in Spain encouraged the
Austrian’s to do the same.
 Austria’s sought revenge on the French.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
The Russian Winter Stops the Grand Army
 Russia was once an ally of Napoleon
 Planned to divide up Europe
 Russia be came unhappy with the Continental
System and its economic affects.

Russia withdrew its support of the
Continental System.
 In response, Napoleon assembled an army with
soldiers from 20 nations
○ Known as the Great Army.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia with
an army of 600,000 soldiers
 To avoid the French army, the Russian
retreated eastward.

 Burning crops and villages as they retreated
○ Called Scorched-Earth policy
○ Left the French army Hungary and low on
supplies for the long Russian Winter
 The retreat turned into a battle for survival
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Between the brutal winter and Russian
attacks on 20,000 soldiers survived
 Napoleon’s reputation for success was
shattered.

Napoleon’s Fall From power
 Russia allied with Britain, Austria and
Prussia against the weakened France.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon

In 1813, they defeated the Napoleon at
the Battle of Nations in Leipzig.
Napoleon Abdicates Briefly
 After the defeat at the Battle of Nations,
Napoleon stepped down.
 Exiled from Elba, Island in the
Mediterranean
 Louis XVIII was named king
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon

Fears of the old regime rekindled loyalty
to Napoleon

Napoleon, fled Elba from France.
 Citizens cheered for his return
 Louis XVIII fled

Napoleon returned to Paris
 Also back into power.
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Crushed at the Battle of the Waterloo
 Napoleon’s new power only lasted 100
days
 While the allies reassembled their forces

The British crushed the French forces.
 Napoleon was forced into exile again
○ St. Helen, island in the South Atlantic
○ He would not return
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon
Napoleon’s Legacy
 Died in 1821
 Various impacts in France
 Napoleonic Code consolidated many
changes of the revolution
 Centralized government with a constitution
 More right to properties and access to
education
 Lost many rights promised by the
convention
Sect.4 The Age of Napoleon

On the world level
 Sparked nationalism across Europe
 Ending the Holy Roman Empire
 Selling of the Louisiana Territory to the
Americans