The Roots of the Revolution

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

Quote from Thomas Jefferson

“OUT OF A POPULATION OF 20 MILLIONS OF PEOPLE…

THERE ARE 19 MILLIONS MORE WRETCHED (POOR),

MORE ACCURSED IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF HUMAN

EXISTENCE, THAN THE MOST CONSPICUOUSLY

WRETCHED INDIVIDUALS OF THE WHOLE UNITED

STATES.”

The Old Regime is a term used to describe life how it used to be in France, before all the changes that the French Revolution brought about.

Under the old Regime, society was broken into 3 EstatesThe Clergy, the Nobles, and the Bourgeoisie

THE OLD REGIME

The First Estate, they made up only about 1% of the French Population

The Church was EXTREMELY wealthy. They higher clergy became greedy and ignored their

spiritual duties. They did not pay taxes, but collected taxes, rent, and

fees, increasing their wealth

THE CLERGY

The 2nd Estate consisted of the Nobility. They made up about 2% of the French Population They paid few, if any taxesHeld highest positions in the government and armyNobility was inherited by the eldest son. This included

titles and lands.

THE NOBILITY

The 3 rd estate was the rest of the people. They made up 97% of the French Population. Some of them were upper-middle class. They included

merchants manufacturers and the professionals. However, the larger majority were very poor. They

included city workers, artisans, and rural peasants. Peasants were the largest group. Even though they were the poorest, they paid the

most in taxes. On top of that, they paid rent for the land they

worked and were forced to pay tithe to the church.

THE BOURGEOISIE

Connecting to today

OCCUPY WALLSTREET!

Growing discontent erupted with the last year.

Protesters argue the growing disparity between the rich and poor.

In fact, they argue that the richest 1% are making loads of money, while the rest of the 99% are struggling.

The top 1% of the population make 23% of the total income made in the US

WE ARE THE 99%

OCCUPY SLC

GROWING DISCONTENT

Back to the French Revolution

Growing population, more mouths to feedFood prices and taxes being raisedWhile the poor were getting poorer, the rich lived

lavishly and had plenty to eat.Bourgeoisie wanted political power, or at least a say

in the taxes they were payingAbove all wanted Liberty and equality.

(Enlightenment)Decided to challenge the King’s power.

SEVERAL PROBLEMS

Extreme spending from the absolute monarchs made France broke.

Monarchs kept up with expensive habits while the 3 rd estate was suffering

When Louis the XV was warned of his expensive habits, he proclaimed “It will survive my time. After me, the deluge.”

After a while, Louis XVI tried to taxes the first 2 estates, but they refused.

Louis the XVI married Marie-Antoinette, who became a hate symbol in France for her over-spending.

FINANCIAL CRISIS

Married when she was 15, Queen when she became 19.

Known to spend thousands on dresses and hair accessories.

“Let them eat cake!”Eventually prisoned

and beheaded.

MARIE-ANTOINETTE

King Louis XVI called together the estates to help address problems.

The 3 rd estate was fed up with being stepped on. The 3 rd estate declared itself the National Assembly

when their demands were not met.The beginning of the French RevolutionThe National Assembly would not stop until a written

constitution was adopted in France.

THE MEETING OF THE ESTATES GENERAL

The Revolution Begins

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

The National Assembly meets. Being Cautious, King Louis XVI moved troops into

Paris and VersaillesThe National Assembly, fearing that they would be

driven out by force, decides to take actionOn July 14,1789 they capture the Bastille Prison. They loot it for weapons, and then destroy it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poh1_WxNGng

THE SPREAD OF THE REVOLUTION

Now with more power, the National Assembly outlawed the tithe, canceled all feudal dues and services owed by peasants

Essentially, doing away with feudalism in France.

THE END OF THE OLD REGIME

Document that dealt with basic human rights and political powers

“all men are born equal”

Freedom of speech, press, and religion

“Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity!”

Specifically meant for men.

THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN

A PlaywrightPart of the RevolutionBelieved that women

should be included in equality.

Wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizenesses.

The Leaders of the Revolution rejected it.

OLYMPE DE GOUGES

National assembly drafted a constitution for FranceDivided government into 3 branches, judicial, executive,

legislativeMaking a constitutional Monarchy, kept King intact, but

limited his powers. King could no longer make or block his own lawsTax-paying males voted members into the Legislative

AssemblyLouis XVI reluctantly agreed to new powers… however,

secretly plotted with escaped nobles to restore old regime. Louis the XVI eventually tried to escape France in

disguise, but was recognized and sent back to ParisKing’s attempted escape marked a turning point. People

no longer trusted the King

THE CONSTITUTION OF 1791

New Constitution goes into effect. Not very good, only lasts a year.Weak executive branch, inexperience in democracy. Differing attitudes:

Radicals –Assembly hasn’t gone far enough Conservatives -Assembly has gone to far Moderates- No extreme views.

On top of that War breaks out with Austria, shows the weakness of the current system.

In the end, Radical view prevailed and the monarchy needed to be ended, and a new government need to be instated.

NEW CONSTITUTION IN ACTION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5mKZtMc2ng&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSeHJDBfD6U&feature=related

MOVIE CONTINUED!

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

National Assembly meets again to discuss where to go from here.

Delegates are elected through Universal Manhood Suffrage

The Radicals who led the debate Danton, Robespierre, and Marat

National Convention tried Louis XVI for plotting against the security of the nation

Found him guilty and sentenced him to death

THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

Many other European Monarchs found the French Revolution terrifying and took steps to keep it from spreading

Even people of the former Bourgeoisie disliked the radical nature of the Revolution

They were called counterrevolutionariesHowever, those who spoke out against the radicals

were arrested.

OPPOSITION

Marat is assassinated by Charlotte Corday

Stabbed him while he was bathing

Was her attempt to stop an all-out Civil War

ASSASSINATION OF MARAT

DEATH OF MARAT

THE REIGN OF TERROR

Robespierre

“IT IS NECESSARY TO ANNIHILATE BOTH

THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ENEMIES

OF THE REPUBLIC OR PERISH WITH ITS

FALL”

Those even suspected of being apart of the counterrevolution were executed

Targeted the old nobility, but also punished ANYONE who was seen as disloyal

During the Reign of Terror, twice as many bourgeoisie were executed compared to nobility.

This included Olympe de GougeDanton, former radical, believed the reign of terror

had met its goal in stopping the counterrevolutionRobespierre accused him of being disloyal and had

him beheaded.Lasted from September 1793 to July 1794

REIGN OF TERROR

Finally, a few members went against Robespierre and had him beheaded.

Radicals lost powerFeeling of unrest led to a favorable return to a

monarchyhttp://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CbxmxyW9CQ&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g-GD3ucbPo&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

REIGN OF TERROR

RISE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE