The French Revolution

QUICKWRITE

• How would you define an unjust government?• What, if anything, would lead you to take part

in a violent revolution?

The Old Regime

• In the 1700s, France was considered to be the most advanced country in Europe. It was considered the center of the Enlightenment. Their culture was copied by others.

• Under the old regime, the people of France were divided into 3 large social classes, or estates.

First Estate

• 2 of the estates had privileges, include access to higher offices and exempt from paying taxes.

• Roman Catholic clergy made up the First Estate.

• Church owned 10 percent of land in France• Disliked Enlightenment ideas

Second Estate

• Rich nobles• Owned 20 percent of land• Paid almost no taxes• Disliked Enlightenment ideas

– Why do you think those in the First and Second Estate disliked Enlightenment ideas?

Third Estate

• About 97 percent of people in France were in the 3rd Estate. Three different groups made up this estate:– First group, the bourgeoisie, were bankers, factors owners,

professionals, etc. Well educated and believed strongly in Enlightenment ideas. Still paid high taxes and lacked privilege. They believe their status entitled them to better social status and more power

– Second group were the workers in France’s cities. They were the poorest group and included tradespeople, laborers, servants.

– Third group were peasants. Made up 80 percent of France’s population. Paid about half their income in taxes. Were even taxed for salt.

– ALL THESE GROUPS WANTED CHANGE

Causes of the French Revolution

• Bad harvest=High Prices– Bad weather in 1780’s caused widespread crop

failure– Result: severe shortage of grain; price of bread

doubled in 1789.– Many people faced starvation

Causes of the French Revolution

• Enlightenment ideas– People in the Third Estate inspired by the success

of American Revolution.– The questioned long-standing notions about the

structure of society.– Began to demand equality, liberty and democracy

Causes of the French Revolution

• Weak leadership– King Louis XVI: Indecisive about economic

problems, didn’t listen to advisors.– Marie Antoinette: Lived a very extravagant

lifestyle. Gave Louis terrible advice on government matters

Causes of the French Revolution

• High Taxes

– Which estate do you think paid most of the taxes?

Steps toward a Revolution• Third Estate is fed up.• Name themselves The National Assembly and pass laws and

reforms in the name of the French people.• King Louis locks them out of their meeting room.• Louis stationed his army around the city of Versailles.• Rumors flew• Some thought Louis was going to use military force to remove the

National Assembly• Others heard that foreign troops were coming to Paris to slaughter

French citizens.• People panicked• Began to gather weapons to defend their city

Steps toward a Revolution

• Storming the Bastille – July 14, 1789 a mob searching for gunpowder stormed The

Bastille, a Paris prison. – Mob overwhelmed the guards.– Took control of the building.– Hacked the guards and prison commanders to death.– Paraded around the city with their heads on pikes.– Became a great symbolic act of Revolution to the French

People.– July 14th is Bastille Day in France – Similar to our July 4th

Steps toward a Revolution

• The Great Fear– Rumors spread that nobles were hiring outlaws to

terrorize peasants. – A wave of senseless panic called the Great Fear

rolled through France.– In response, peasants became outlaws

themselves.– Destroyed homes of the nobles– King Louis and family leave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzK97Aaj_U8

The Assembly reforms France

• Nobles, motivated by fear, joined the National Assembly.

• Swept away privilege.• Made peasants, clergy and nobles equal.• National Assembly adopts “Declaration of the Rights of Man”

Declaration of the Rights of Man

-Men are born and remain free and equal in rights”-Rights include: Liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression-Guaranteed Citizens: Equal justice, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion.

A Limited Monarchy

-New Constitution completed by the National Assembly-Created a Limited Constitutional Monarchy.-Stripped the King of much authority.-Created a new Legislative Body – The Legislative Assembly: Made Laws

Other Countries Fear Revolutions

• Prussia threatens The National Assembly.• National Assembly responds with war.• Mobs storm palace and imprison Louis and

Marie.• Monarchy abolished.• France declared a republic. • Adult males granted right to vote and hold

office.

King Louis XVI Executed

-Tried for treason.-Found guilty.-Sentenced to Death.-Beheaded in public by the Guillotine

Robespierre Assumes Control

-Sought to build a “republic of virtue” by wiping out all traces of France’s past.-Changed the calendar, removed Sundays - thought religion was dangerous. -Closed churches-He governed France as a dictator, using terror to get compliance.-Terror claimed many lives.-Finally overthrown and sent to Guillotine.

Effects of Robespierre

• His “Reign of Terror” claimed about 40,000 lives (Majority of them peasants)

• Public opinion shifted after his death, and moderates formed a government and placed power in the hands of upper-middle class

• Not a great government, but established order in France. They also found the right general to command France’s armies…