The French The French RevolutionRevolution1789-18151789-1815

CausesCauses Existence of class distinctionsExistence of class distinctions Enlightenment- shouldn’t we all be Enlightenment- shouldn’t we all be

equal?equal? Seven Years’ War – causes Seven Years’ War – causes

bankruptcybankruptcy Financial mismanagement by the KingFinancial mismanagement by the King Monarchy out of touch with most of Monarchy out of touch with most of

French citizensFrench citizens Population growthPopulation growth Bad winter = high bread pricesBad winter = high bread prices

Events of the Events of the RevolutionRevolution

Old Regime-Old Regime- existence of three existence of three estates whose political and estates whose political and economic rights were based on economic rights were based on birth and rank, rather than meritbirth and rank, rather than merit

Louis XVI sought financial advice Louis XVI sought financial advice to help France’s poor economy; to help France’s poor economy; all the same – tax the first and all the same – tax the first and second estatessecond estates

Estates GeneralEstates General Louis is forced Louis is forced

to call a to call a meeting of the meeting of the Estates General Estates General in 1789in 1789

King wanted the King wanted the tax plan to passtax plan to pass

Problem: Problem: VotingVoting Wanted to vote Wanted to vote

as individuals, as individuals, not estatesnot estates

National Assembly National Assembly FormedFormed

National National Assembly- Assembly- the the third estate; third estate; replaced the replaced the Estates Estates General and General and promised to promised to write a new write a new constitution constitution for Francefor France

King ReactsKing Reacts He brought in He brought in

troops to Paristroops to Paris People react People react

by storming by storming the Bastillethe Bastille

July 14, 1789July 14, 1789

Great FearGreat Fear Great Fear- Great Fear- reaction reaction

in country side by in country side by peasants to rumors peasants to rumors nobles were coming nobles were coming to destroy them; to destroy them; peasants destroyed peasants destroyed nobles’ homes and nobles’ homes and financial records of financial records of money the peasants money the peasants owed owed

ChangesChanges August 1789, August 1789,

National National Assembly voted:Assembly voted:1. no more tithe1. no more tithe2. no more 2. no more privileges to the privileges to the 11stst and 2 and 2ndnd EstatesEstates

Declaration of the Declaration of the Rights of ManRights of Man

Men are born equal and Men are born equal and remain equal before the law. remain equal before the law. Also granted freedoms of Also granted freedoms of speech, press, religion and a speech, press, religion and a fair trial. This did not include fair trial. This did not include womenwomen

National AssemblyNational Assembly: : 1789-17911789-1791

1.1. Divided France into 83 equal Divided France into 83 equal districtsdistricts

2.2. Seized church land and sold it off Seized church land and sold it off to pay national debtto pay national debt

3.3. Civil Constitution of the Clergy-Civil Constitution of the Clergy- govt. controlled the church; people govt. controlled the church; people elect clergy and state would pay elect clergy and state would pay their salary – Pope said no!their salary – Pope said no!

Constitution of 1791Constitution of 1791 Created a Created a

constitutional constitutional monarchymonarchy

Three branches of Three branches of government like government like in U.S.; executive, in U.S.; executive, judicial and judicial and legislativelegislative

Legislative= Legislative= unicameralunicameral

National National Assembly is Assembly is dissolved and the dissolved and the Legislative Legislative Assembly Assembly replaces itreplaces it

RealityReality: wealthy : wealthy who have the who have the most power in most power in the L.A. the L.A.

Behind the ScenesBehind the Scenes The king plotted with the nobles The king plotted with the nobles

who had fled France at the who had fled France at the beginning of the Revolution to get beginning of the Revolution to get help from foreign countries to help from foreign countries to overthrow the new governmentoverthrow the new government

After Louis tried to flee, French After Louis tried to flee, French people no longer trust him and people no longer trust him and now want, and get a republic.now want, and get a republic.

Foreign ProblemsForeign Problems Declaration of Declaration of

Pillnitz-Pillnitz- issued by issued by Austria and Prussia Austria and Prussia called European called European rulers to help rulers to help restore Louis XVI restore Louis XVI back to powerback to power

Louis wanted warLouis wanted war – – hoped the foreign hoped the foreign powers would win!powers would win!

Government, part IIIGovernment, part III 17921792- the - the

National National Convention Convention replaced the replaced the Legislative Legislative Assembly and Assembly and they declared they declared France an France an official republicofficial republic

GirondinsGirondins Political party in Political party in

the National the National Convention that Convention that were mostly from were mostly from the countryside, the countryside, were middle class were middle class and feared a Paris and feared a Paris dominated Francedominated France

Opposed to so Opposed to so much violencemuch violencePierre Brissot –

leader of the Girondists

JacobinsJacobins More radical More radical

and extremists and extremists of the National of the National ConventionConvention

Soon took Soon took power away power away from the from the Girondins Girondins

Committee of Public Committee of Public Safety Safety (yup, a vocab word)(yup, a vocab word)

Created by the Created by the National ConventionNational Convention

Directed the armyDirected the army Set up a Set up a

revolutionary tribunal revolutionary tribunal to try all “enemies of to try all “enemies of the Revolution”the Revolution”

Results of the French Results of the French RevolutionRevolution

DemocracyDemocracy NationalismNationalism Questioning the Questioning the

authority of kings, authority of kings, priests and priests and noblesnobles

Increased political Increased political power of ‘the power of ‘the people”= people”= bourgeoisiebourgeoisie

Abolished the three Abolished the three estatesestates

Possible to Possible to reorganize a reorganize a society if you want society if you want toto

Inspires other Inspires other democratic democratic revolutions revolutions throughout the throughout the worldworld