AP Euro CH 21 Part 1

CH 21: The Revolution in Politics (1775-1815)

AP European History

Magister Ricard

Questions to Consider What was the main cause of the financial

crisis in France? What was the plan to solve the financial

crisis? What is the National Assembly and what was

the kings response to it? Why and when did the Parisians storm the

Bastille? How did Parisian women further the

revolution?

Background to Revolution


Legal Orders and Social Change France’s population was divided into three

orders or estates Those who pray – clergy (1st Estate) Those who fight – nobility (2nd Estate) Those who work – everyone else (3rd Estate)

Growing tensions between nobility and bourgeoisie help shape events leading to revolution Bourgeoisie felt they were not peasants and

should have privileges like 2nd Estate But there are other influences that new research

brings to light

The Crisis of Political Legitimacy A century of political and fiscal struggle

precedes the revolution Between 1715-1723, institutions regain power

they lost under Louis XIV Efforts to impose new taxes after the War of

Austrian Succession were opposed by Parlement of Paris

Louis XV official Rene de Maupeou led a royal backlash against the parlements, charges of “loyal despotism”

Scandalous pamphlets contributed to desacralization of monarchy

The Impact of the American Revolution England defeats France in Seven Years’ War, desires to

increase taxes to pay for war American colonists oppose tax increases Dispute over taxation and representation flare up during

1760’s-1770’s Colonies moved toward open rebellion and a declaration

of independence starting in 1775 French support colonists against foe England In 1783 the American Revolution ended with the Treaty of

Paris Europeans became fascinated by the American Revolution

Inspired French intellectuals France saw Britain defeated, humbled, but itself fiscally

drained

Financial Crisis By 1780s half of France’s budget went towards

paying interest on national debt Could not survive a declaration of bankruptcy France had no national bank, could not print money to

cover its own debt Had to reform tax system to bring increased revenue King convened Assembly of Notable to gain support

for new taxes Assembly refused to support new taxes, dismissed the

king King established taxes by decree

Negative reaction forced king to call meeting of Estates General

Revolution in Metropole and Colony (1789-1791)


The Formation of the National Assembly Prior to the meeting of the Estates General, a

list of grievances were compiled Featured considerable popular participation

Intense debate forced the Third Estate to leave the assembly of Estates General Declared itself the National Assembly in June 1789

Louis XVI’s response was “nothing”

The Revolt of the Poor and Oppressed Bad harvests lead to starvation, hunger, and

unemployment Poor protested to prevent dismissal of king’s

finance minister July 13, 1789 the Bastille was stormed,

destroyed Peasant uprisings resulted in the Great Fear Gave National Assembly credibility, abolished

feudal dues and other peasant obligations (August 1789)

A Limited Monarchy August 1789, National Assembly issues a

Declaration of the Rights of Man “Men are born and remain free and equal in

rights” Several thousand women rush Versailles and

force king and royal family to move to Paris National Assembly creates a constitutional

monarchy A new constitution would go into effect in 1791

Peasants react negatively to National Assembly’s attempt to increase state control over Catholic Church

Revolutionary Aspirations in Saint-Domingue Slaves majority of population in Saint-

Domingue Free population was divided by color and wealth

Turmoil of the 1780s challenged the status quo National Assembly sides with white planters

Each colony gets right to draft its own constitution

July 1790, Vincent Oge leads a failed attempt to rebel against colonial authorities

Compromises proposed by National Assembly failed to satisfy the contradictory ambitions in the colonies

Questions to Consider What was the main cause of the financial

crisis in France? What was the plan to solve the financial

crisis? What is the National Assembly and what was

the kings response to it? Why and when did the Parisians storm the

Bastille? How did Parisian women further the

revolution?

AP Euro CH 21 Part 1

Education

Transcript of AP Euro CH 21 Part 1