17891789The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

Causes of the RevolutionCauses of the Revolution

Financial crisis gripped France.Financial crisis gripped France.

Inept leadership of Louis XVI.Inept leadership of Louis XVI.

Inequity in French economic, political and Inequity in French economic, political and social system (taxation of third estate).social system (taxation of third estate).

Growing size and power of the Growing size and power of the bourgeoisie. bourgeoisie.

Influence of Enlightenment ideas.Influence of Enlightenment ideas.

Bad weather (little ice age) and resulting Bad weather (little ice age) and resulting crop shortages and famine.crop shortages and famine.

The Estates GeneralThe Estates GeneralCalled by Louis XVI to meet (at the urging Called by Louis XVI to meet (at the urging of Necker) in July 1788.of Necker) in July 1788.

Elections gave 300 seats each to First and Elections gave 300 seats each to First and Second Estates, 600 to Third Estate.Second Estates, 600 to Third Estate.

Bad harvest brought greater criticism.Bad harvest brought greater criticism.

Aristocracy demands to constitutional Aristocracy demands to constitutional monarchy, bourgeoisie wanted to end monarchy, bourgeoisie wanted to end mercantilism and noble privileges , mercantilism and noble privileges , peasants want end to manorialism.peasants want end to manorialism.

May 5, 1789 they meet and vote by order.May 5, 1789 they meet and vote by order.

The National AssemblyThe National Assembly

June 17, 1789 – Third Estate declares June 17, 1789 – Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly and invited itself the National Assembly and invited other estates to join.other estates to join.June 20June 20thth, Third Estate locked out; they , Third Estate locked out; they meet on handball court and declare the meet on handball court and declare the Tennis Court OathTennis Court Oath..Louis XVI opposes, but relents and asks Louis XVI opposes, but relents and asks other two estates to meet with Assembly.other two estates to meet with Assembly.Assembly controlled by middle class and Assembly controlled by middle class and liberal nobility. liberal nobility.

Storming of the BastilleStorming of the Bastille

Rumors spread that the King Rumors spread that the King is organizing troops.is organizing troops.

On July 11On July 11thth, he dismissed , he dismissed Necker (later rehired).Necker (later rehired).

July 14July 14thth, mob storms the , mob storms the Bastille, symbol of despotic Bastille, symbol of despotic Bourbon rule.Bourbon rule.

Necker is restored to power Necker is restored to power and the Marquis de Lafayette and the Marquis de Lafayette becomes commander of the becomes commander of the National Guard.National Guard.

The Great FearThe Great Fear

Nobility begin to flee France in great Nobility begin to flee France in great numbers in the summer of 1789.numbers in the summer of 1789.

Revolutionary fervor spreads among the Revolutionary fervor spreads among the peasants.peasants.

Famine and riots spread across the Famine and riots spread across the countryside.countryside.

On August 4, National Assembly ended On August 4, National Assembly ended manorialism and privileges of the nobility. manorialism and privileges of the nobility.

Declaration of the Rights of ManDeclaration of the Rights of Man

August 27August 27thth 1789 – Assembly 1789 – Assembly approvedapproved Declaration of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and CitizenRights of Man and Citizen– Provided freedom of speech Provided freedom of speech

and press.and press.– Freedom of assembly and Freedom of assembly and

petition.petition.– Freedom of religion.Freedom of religion.– Freedom from arbitrary arrest. Freedom from arbitrary arrest. – Embraced the doctrine of Embraced the doctrine of

popular sovereignty. popular sovereignty.

The Women's March to VersaillesThe Women's March to Versailles

Autumn of 1789, rumors Autumn of 1789, rumors persisted of a plan by persisted of a plan by the king to use military the king to use military force.force.On the night of Oct. 5-6, On the night of Oct. 5-6, mob of mostly women mob of mostly women marched to Versailles to marched to Versailles to protest the lack of bread.protest the lack of bread.Royal family moved to Royal family moved to Tuileries Palace in ParisTuileries Palace in Paris

Political ClubsPolitical ClubsJacobinsJacobins– Moderate faction that became more radical; Moderate faction that became more radical;

supporting the end of the monarchy and supporting the end of the monarchy and establishment of a republic. establishment of a republic. Maximilien Maximilien RobespierreRobespierre was the most famous member was the most famous member

CordeliersCordeliers– Radical faction (support end of monarchy). Radical faction (support end of monarchy).

Leading figures included Leading figures included Georges-Jacques Georges-Jacques Danton Danton andand Jean-Paul Marat Jean-Paul Marat

FeuillantsFeuillants– More conservative, supported constitutional More conservative, supported constitutional

monarchy.monarchy.

Civil Constitution of the ClergyCivil Constitution of the ClergyNov. 1789 – to deal with financial crisis, Nov. 1789 – to deal with financial crisis, Assembly confiscated all Church lands.Assembly confiscated all Church lands.Assembly then issued paper money Assembly then issued paper money ((assignatsassignats) using land as security, but it ) using land as security, but it quickly lost value.quickly lost value.Assembly passed Assembly passed Civil Constitution of Civil Constitution of the Clergy the Clergy on July 12, 1790.on July 12, 1790.– Bishops and priests were elected by people.Bishops and priests were elected by people.– Needed to swear allegiance to Assembly.Needed to swear allegiance to Assembly.– Over half refused to do so, became Over half refused to do so, became

opponents of the revolution.opponents of the revolution.

The Constitution of 1791The Constitution of 1791

Necker loses favor with the Assembly and Necker loses favor with the Assembly and resigns in Dec. 1790.resigns in Dec. 1790.On June 20, 1791 Royal family attempts to On June 20, 1791 Royal family attempts to flee that country, but is caught at flee that country, but is caught at Varennes and retuned to the capital.Varennes and retuned to the capital.On Sept. 14, 1791 the king accepted the On Sept. 14, 1791 the king accepted the constitution creating a constitutional constitution creating a constitutional monarchy.monarchy.Legislative Assembly was created as the Legislative Assembly was created as the legislative branch.legislative branch.

Reforms of the National AssemblyReforms of the National Assembly

Abolished the titles of nobility and the Abolished the titles of nobility and the parlements which they dominated. parlements which they dominated. Created elected courts and juries.Created elected courts and juries.Ended torture.Ended torture.Reorganized local government into the 83 Reorganized local government into the 83 Departments.Departments.Followed laissez-faire economic policies Followed laissez-faire economic policies by abolishing guilds and mercantilism.by abolishing guilds and mercantilism.Created fairer tax system.Created fairer tax system.