Key Ideas of the French

Revolution

Factual information drawn from McKay, John P. A History of World

Societies. 7th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. Print.

Image from: https://jspivey.wikispaces.com/file/view/bastille-2.gif/97014286/bastille-2.gif

Why study it?

The nature of politics

Human response to oppression

Abandonment of Absolute Monarchy

When the economy faltered, the King’s lavish lifestyle dealt a blow to his claim of divine right

Top Image found at: http://www.students.sbc.edu/gregg09/Versailles%20images/Versailles%203.jpgImage to the left found at: http://thegardensblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/palace_of_versailles_gardens.jpg

Present day connection: Has the economybeen a key issue in a recent or upcoming election?

The Estates General

Top image is from: http://www.zunal.com/myaccount/uploads/three_estates_pic.jpgChart comes from: http://mcknight-cardinalpoints.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

Three groups with varying interests

Privileges of the First Two Estates

Representation

Financial opportunities

Image from: http://zwebsite.net/Three+Estates.jpg

• Why would the first two Estates oppose the Third Estate on most issues?

*hint* look at the chart

Population of each Estate

National Assembly

Third Estate creates their own club

Image from: http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_history/French_Revolution_Serment_du_jeu_de_paume_Tennis_Court_Oath.jpg

The Tennis Court OathOf 1789

The Great Fear

Large scale rebellion

Led to improved peasant conditions

Image from: http://cdn.dipity.com/uploads/events/a16df1262fc52a6ae85628c5c6cee53d.jpg

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Similar to U.S. Declaration of Independence

Inspired further revolutionary thought

Image from: http://cla.calpoly.edu/~lcall/111/Declaration_Rights_of_Man.jpg

Highlights of the Declaration

Men are born free

Protection from acts that do not harm others

Representative government

How do these rights compare to the U.S. Declaration of Independence?

A Different Revolution

A women’s movement

emerged

Top image from: http://www.historywiz.com/images/frenchrevolution/womensmarch1.jpgImage to left from: http://www.glogster.com/media/2/3/56/65/3566589.jpg

The Second Revolution

The most radical phase of the revolution

Executed King

Declared France a republic

Translation: Unity, Indivisibility of the French Republic, Liberty, Equality andBrotherhood – or death.

Image and translation from: http://www.sahistory.org.za/classroom/grade8/graphics/1_liberty_poster.jpgwww.sahistory.org.za/classroom/grade8/1_1.htm

Reign of Terror

Opposition was suppressed

Up to 40,000 executed

Top Image from: http://www.radford.edu/~wkovarik/class/images/guillotine.jpgLeft image from: http://www.newgenevacenter.org/06_Historical-Documents/Photocopies+Illustrations/1794_Robespierre.jpg

Maximilien Robespierre, head of The Committee of Public Safety

A Moderate Swing

Eventually, the killing stopped

Conservative attitudes began to return

Napoleon claimed the throne

Image from: http://wiki.theplaz.com/w/images/thumb/French_Revolution_Napoleon-peque.jpg/300px-French_Revolution_Napoleon-peque.jpg