Chapter 19Revolutions in Politics - the French Revolution

Images of France

The Royal Flag - fleur-de-lys

The republican flagLe Tricouleur Bastille Day - July 14

logo and motto of modern day French

Republic"Liberty, Equality,

Brotherhood"

Marianne

French Rev - Phase 1 (1789-1791)

The beginning of the breakdown of France's Ancien Régime

• Louis XV (r.1715-1774) attempts to raise taxes to finance War of Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War

• Blocked by parlements, high courts comprised of noble judges

Financial Crisis

Debt Pay-

ments50%Dis-

cre-tionary Spend-

ing19%

Mili-taty25%

Versailles6%

1786 French Budget

• Louis XVI (r.1774-1792) inherits a kingdom in financial ruin

• 50% of France's annual budget servicing war debt

• France's uses outdated medieval banking and financial models - no paper currency and mercantilist

• Blocked by parlements, high courts comprised of noble judges

The Last King of France• Louis XVI was known as shy and

inexperienced, unable to stand up to rising opposition and duties

• Married Austrian Princess Marie Antoinette, daughter of Maria Theresa

• Intended to cement a permanent alliance between Hapsburg and Bourbon monarchies

The Estates General

• Legislative body of pre-revolutionary France

• Composed of 3 "estates" or representatives of french society

• 1st estate - clergy (1%) 2nd estate - nobility (2%) 3rd estate - everybody else (98%)

• Each estate granted 1 vote in matters of state

church10%

nobles25%

middle class and

poor65%

Land ownership in France

The first meeting of the estates general• July 1788 - under heavy pressure

king Louis calls first meeting of estates general in over 300 years

• May 1789 - first meeting in Versailles of over 1200 delegates leads to disagreement over voting

• 1st and 2nd estate did not want to give up ancient privileges that exempted taxation

• Fundamentally, the three estates agreed France needed change

abbé Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès

• Publish pamphlet called "what is the 3rd Estate"

• Becomes the manifesto of French Revolution

• Accuses nobility of abusing privileges as small minority

• Champions the working majority, 3rd estate, as true France

The National Assembly • Because of disagreements re:

voting and representation, 3rd estate takes decisive action alone

• June 20, 1789 - renames itself National Assembly during the famous tennis court oath

• Vowed to work toward giving France a constitution and recognized itself as the true representatives of France