The French Revolution

SWBAT: APPLY INFORMATION LEARNED IN CLASS TO A PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENT.

HOMEWORK: “DO YOU REALLY STAY CONSCIOUS AFTER BEING DECAPITATED” ARTICLE AND QUESTIONS.

DO NOW: THINK BACK TO BEFORE BREAK. WHAT EVENTS HAD HAPPENED PRIOR TO THE FRENCH REVOLUTION?

Timeline…

1774: Louis XVI takes over France.

1787: Bankers refuse the monarchy money to pay for debts.

1788: Louis calls for a meeting of the Estates General for the first time in 175 years.

May, 1789: Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly after Louis refuses to let the estates meet together.

July, 1789: French Revolution begins.

The Spread of Revolution

King Louis allowed the Estates General to meet together, but in the mean time moved troops into Paris and Versailles.

Fearing Louis was going to drive out the National Assembly by force, the people of Paris took action.

On July 14, 1789, Parisians captured the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal oppression.

The crowd looted the prison and then destroyed it. What message would destroying the Bastille (and killing

the head of the prison) send to Louis XVI?

Charles Thévenin

Prise de la Bastille le 14 Juillet 1789

1793

Following the fall of the Bastille

Formation of a new army under American Revolution hero General Lafayette- the National Guard.

A new flag was created without royal insignia.

Old Flag New Flag

More Events

The “Great Fear” begins across France. Peasants believed that the nobles were planning to crush

them and stop the revolution. Peasants attacked manor houses and monasteries and killed their

owners.

Also destroyed possessions and burned documents that documented rents, feudal dues, and other debts.

But as food shortages worsen, peasants become angrier.

The End of the Old Regime

Following the violence, the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. Stated that all men are created equal and remain equal under the law.

Granted freedom of speech, press, and religion.

Guaranteed the right to a trial by jury.

Embodied the principles of the revolution: “liberty, equality, and fraternity”.

These rights, however, only applied to men. Olympe de Gouges wrote her own document the Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizenesses, but was rejected by the Assembly.

The leaders of the Revolution believed in equality for men only.

Old regimes die hard

Many nobles (aka émigrés) fled to nearby countries such as Great Britain, Switzerland, and Germany. They constantly plotted to overthrow the revolution.

They would prove problematic in years to come. Some nobles stayed at Versailles and held a feast for the king and

queen applauding their reign. When peasants heard, a crowd led by angry women stormed the

palace and forced the king and queen to come back to Paris with them.

Constitution of 1791

The National assembly finally finished writing the Constitution it swore to create in 1791.

What did it do? Limited the power of the king.

Could not make/block laws.

Divided the gov’t into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Dissolved the National Assembly and created the Legislative Assembly.

King Louis agrees however: Plots to overthrow the new gov’t.

Attempts to escape France and is caught and sent back to Versailles.

Effectiveness

Like the American’s Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of France ultimately proved ineffective.

The executive branch was too weak.

Legislators were chosen by a small percentage of the population.

Led to the division of the Legislative Assembly into three groups:

Conservatives: felt the revolution had gone far enough.

Radicals: wanted more drastic changes.

Moderates: were either conservative or radical depending on the issue.

While they were divided on many issues, one problem in particular brought both sides together.

War

Marie Antoinette’s brother, the king of Austria, along with other European powers declare war on France.

Goal: restore the French monarchy. Amidst the confusion, radicals rose up and took over the

Commune, Paris’ city government. Legislative Assembly response:

Dissolve the monarchy and arrest the royal family.

Dissolved itself and the Constitution w/plans to create a new one.

“La Marseillaise” Activity

Remember: France is at war during the French Revolution.

Winning the war meant relying on volunteer French troops from all over the country.

At this time, the French National Anthem was created.

Was written when troops coming from Marseilles moved to defend Paris from the Austrians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqeHTANebN8

Exit Slip

How does the French national anthem compare to the United States’ national anthem?