the french revolution – the beginnings

The French Revolution –The BeginningsThe Old Regime:The Estates General- the social classes

1st Estate- 1% of the population owning- 15% of the land- Paid NO Taxes = the Clergy

2nd Estate- 2% of the population- Paid FEW taxes-Collected fees from peasants- eldest sons inherited noble titles- high positions in the military = Nobles

3rd Estate- 97% of the population = bourgeoisie- middle class then city workers then artisans and finally peasants- (peasants had to pay nobles feudal dues, heavy taxes, rent for land and had to pay 10% tithing to the church. Peasants had not voice in government

Estates General in 1791

Discontent in FranceGrowth of populationChanging economic conditionsInflation of food prices and taxesMiddle Class wanted more powerResented the King for his debts,

expensive habits, and high taxes.Lastly, resentment toward Marie

Antoinette ( Queen to Louis XVI)

Marie Antoinette

Meeting of the Estates GeneralCalled by the King

◦3rd Estate refused to follow the old rules where they had NO say.

◦3rd Estate declared the National Assembly and invited the two other Estates to join them.

◦Assembly represents the people of France and not the classes.

◦Wanted to write a Constitution.◦MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE

FRENCH REVOLUTION…

“Liberty, fraternity, equality”

The French Revolution

Storming of the Bastille -July 14, 1789The Bastille was a prison and a

symbol of royal oppression.When attacked only a hand full of

prisoners were found. Others dead and missing.

A new government was created after the storming.

Today Bastille Day is to the French like the 4th of July is to Americans.

Storming of the Bastille

Bastille Day – July 14

the French FlagThe blue color: The blue color is associated with caring for the destitute by the affluent. This association arises from the incident wherein a rich Roman soldier cut his blue coat into half and gave it to a poor man to protect himself from the freezing cold. The soldier later had a dream that Jesus Christ was wearing his blue coat. He dedicated his life to the service of the church and is known as Saint Martin or Martin of Tours.The white color: The white color stands for peace and honesty and for royalty and nobility. Although the white color was associated with Virgin Mary, to whom Louis XIII had dedicated the Kingdom of France in the 17th century, it also represented Joan of Arc who used a white flag during her battles against the English in the Hundred Years' War. The white color was later adopted by the Bourbon Dynasty and became the symbol of the royal family.The red color: The red color is associated with Saint Denis, the patron saint of France, who was beheaded by the pagan priests for his preachings. The Oriflamme banner that was used as a battle standard for the French royalty had a red background. The red color is symbolic of the legend that the banner was dipped in Saint Denis' blood. Hence, red stands for valor and strength.

The French Flag

The “Great Fear”Peasants began to fear for their

lives. They thought the nobles would try to crush them.

Food ShortageThe result…peasants began to

attack monasteries and noble homes.

National AssemblyTried to stop the “Great Fear” by:

◦Outlawing tithing◦Cancelling feudal dues◦Removed privilege's to the 1st and 2nd

Estates◦Lastly…ended feudalism August 4,

1789

The Declaration of the Rights of ManDocument of human and political

rightsAll MEN were born free and will

remain freeFreedom of speech, press and religionAll MEN could hold public officeFair trials for allSeized lands of the church and sold

to the public- paid national debt

Declaration of the Rights of Man

ÉmigrésNobles who fled the country“Emigrants”Were trouble for France for years

to comeTried to overthrow the new

governmentNobles and royal family insulted

the National AssemblyRoyal family forced to move to

Paris

Government ReformsCalled for the elections of local

officialsDivided France into 83

departments ( states)The Constitution of 1791-brought

and end to the monarchy

1790- Civil Constitution of the ClergyDepartments would elect their

clergyGovernment pay salaries of

clergyPope against it and Roman

Catholics begin to oppose the Revolution

The Constitution of 1791Limited the authority of the kingDivided the government into 3

branchesAllowed taxpaying males to elect

members to the Legislative Assembly

National Assembly was dissolvedDespite all this…the wealthy men

still had the most control in the government

King’s reaction to the Constitution of 1791Reluctantly agreed but plotted to

overthrow the new government and restore the Old regime

1791- Louis and his family tried to flee the country- he was arrested and brought back to Paris

People began not trusting the king and some wanted a republic

The Legislative Assembly weakenesses and problemsLasted only a yearWeak executive branch and a powerful

legislative branchOnly a minority of the population votedNot all people supported the revolutionCatholic priests and noble opposed the

new regimePeasants still were sufferingÉmigrés a problem

Differing attitudes in the AssemblyConservatives- felt the revolution had gone

too far- thought the ideal government included a king with limited authority

Radicals- wanted more drastic changes- wanted to get rid of the king, set up a republic and make broad reforms.

Moderates- No extreme views- they went with both sides on different issues

Sat separately in the AssemblyConservatives- right Radicals- left

Moderates-middle

The bringing together momentThe threat of attack from other

countriesAustria and Prussia wanted to

restore the monarchy in FranceLouis XVI hoped for warDeclared war on Austria in 1792Other countries came to Austria’s

support

The end of the monarchyThe Prussians vowed to destroy Paris if

the monarchy was harmed.The Legislative Assembly accuse King

Louis XVI with plotting with foreign powers to overthrow the Constitution of 1791.

Troops arrived in Paris to protect it from invading troops.

Their marching song “The Marseillaise” became France’s National Anthem.

August 10, 1792The monarchy abolishedImprisoned the kingThe Commune now ruled Paris

and the Legislative Assembly tried to govern France

The Legislative Assembly voted itself out

So that delegates could be voted on to create a NEW CONSTITUTION

The French RepublicIn an election where all adult men

could vote, delegates were elected in 1792

“Universal Manhood Suffrage”Divided into 3 main groups;

◦Girondins-feared the domination of France by Paris

◦Jacobins- extreme radicals and wanted reforms to benefit all classes of society

◦A third group who were like the moderates, but most would later become Jacobins

Leaders of the Jacobins- Georges-Jacques Danton, Jean-Paul Marat and Maximillein Robespierre

National Convention-1792Lasted 3 yearsDeclared an end to the monarchyCreated a republicNew ConstitutionBrought Louis XVI to trial and

sentenced him to death January 21, 1793

The rest of the world disgusted by this action

Louis XVI’s execution

Committee of Public SafetyTo stop the threat of invading countriesA special court-The Revolutionary

Tribunal created to try “enemies of the Revolution”

Conscription adopted- a draft of soldiersNationalism- a from of patriotism

formed in FranceCounterrevolutionaries evolve- those

against the revolution-mostly Girondins and the Catholic church

The death of Jean-Paul MaratKilled by Charlotte Corday

The Reign of TerrorThe work to suppress all

opposition and revolts within France

Sept.1793-July 1794Robespierre said “ It is necessary

to annihilate ( completely destroy) both the internal and external enemies of the republic or perish with its fall”

A Law of Suspects was created defining who the enemies were.

Victims of the Reign of TerrorMarie Antoinette

Victims continued…Against nobilityAnyone suspected of disloyaltyExecuted twice as many

bourgeoisie as nobles and more than twice as many peasants and workers as bourgeoisie

Danton declared the Reign of Terror had met its goal

Robespierre had Danton and his followers put to death

July 1794Robespierre arrested by the

National Convention and executed

The Reign of Terror came to an end

Jacobins lost power and the wealthy middle class took control of the Convention.

Economic problems continued and got worse and the French people rioted and wanted the monarchy back in power

National ConventionLasted 3 yearsCreated the “Republic of Virtue”A democratic republic where people

would act with good citizenship◦Opened new schools-universal

elementary education◦Wage and price controls to stop inflation◦Addressed human rights issues◦Abolished slavery◦Encouraged religious toleration

Also…Adopted the metric systemDrove out invaders of other countriesPeople hoped that their republic would

mark the dawn of a new era1795- wrote a new constitution2 house legislatureappoint the Directoryeliminated universal manhood suffrageonly male property owners could vote=the wealthy take control again

The DirectoryGoverned France for 4 yearsThe economy improvedNot everyone was happy with the

new governmentHad financial difficulties and the 5

directors quarreled oftenThis paved the way for a military

dictatorshipNapoleon emerges…