French Revolution

French Revolution • Causes of the French

Revolution• French society was

divided into 3 different classes or “Estates”

French Revolution • 1st Estate• Priests • Church officials• Exempt from paying taxes

French Revolution • 2nd Estate• Nobility• Exempt from paying most taxes• Had the right to collect Feudal Dues from 3rd Estate• Served as officers in the Army• Held high positions at court

French Revolution •3rd Estate• Common People (largest population)• Bourgeoisie: Middle class merchants, professionals

and shopkeepers• Urban worker • Paid the most % of taxes• Had lowest quality of life

French Revolution • Impact of Enlightenment Ideas• Ideas made Frenchmen unwilling to accept• the Divine Right of Kings • Privileged positions of the Church and

Nobility

French Revolution • Impact of Enlightenment Ideas• Financial Crisis• Tax system was based off of tradition• Different social classes and different

regions paid different taxes • France was a wealthy country but the

Government didn’t have a fair tax system

French Revolution • Impact of Enlightenment Ideas• Financial Crisis• The Government borrowed a lot of money to

help finance their wars with Britain (rival)• To help pay, the government wanted the

Nobility to start paying taxes

French Revolution • Impact of Enlightenment Ideas• Financial Crisis• Nobility would only agree to paying taxes if an

Estates General was created• Estates General: a national assembly in which

each of the three social classes was represented in the government

French Revolution • Main Events • King Louis XVI gave into the 2nd Estate demands and

allowed a vote to take place to select the General Estate• Delegates from each Estate (1st, 2nd & 3rd) were elected

to represent their Estate •

French Revolution • Main Events • The 3rd Estate was able to elect the most representatives

because they were the largest population• Estates General met in May of 1789• Delegates from the 3rd Estate declared themselves to be

the Nation Assembly

French Revolution • Main Events • King Louis XVI sought to break up the National Assembly• When word spread of King Louis XVI’s plans, the

National Assembly attacked and seized a royal prison, the Bastille in search of weapons to defend themselves• The King gave in and recognized the National Assembly

French Revolution •Main Events • The National Assembly (August 1789)• Abolished privileges of the Nobles• Confiscated Church lands to pay off the states

debt• Issued a Declaration of the Rights of Man and

Citizen • Had a constitution written and created a

Constitutional Monarchy in France

French Revolution •Main Events • Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen • Proclaimed that the government rested on the

consent of the people (Popular Sovereignty)• The Divine Right of Kings was no longer accepted• Announced that all Frenchmen were “Free and Equal”

French Revolution • Revolution Takes a Radical Turn• In 1790, Louis XVI took an oath to the Constitution • In 1791 Louis and his family tried to escape France • Soon after the Monarchy was over thrown and

France became a Republic

French Revolution • Revolution Takes a Radical Turn• The new French Republic was seen as a threat by the

other European Monarchs so France was facing constant warfare• Other parts of France were in still in rebellion• The people felt that France might lose its power• The Committee of Public Safety was created to

restore power and control lead by Robespierre• The committee began a “Reign of Terror” over the

people of France

French Revolution • The Committee of Public Safety• The committee began a “Reign of Terror” over the

people of France• They used force and repression to crush the

rebellion • Laws were passed to allow the government the

ability to arrest anyone • An estimated 40,000 Nobles, Catholic Priest and

other suspected traitors were killed