Chapter 11 Section 1The French Revolution Begins

I. Background to the Revolutiona. The French Revolution and

Beginning of the U.S. both occurred in 1789.

b. Causes of the French Revolution.i. French society was based on

inequality.

c. France was divided into three estates.

d. Three estatesi. First Estate- clergy

1. 130,000 people.

2. Exempt from France’s chief tax.

ii. Second Estate- Nobility.– 350,000 people.

1. Held many of the leading positions in the state.

2. They wanted to increase their power.

iii. Third Estate- commoners.1. 98% of the population.

2. Relics of feudalism.

3. Economically hurt by the rise of prices of goods.

e. Bourgeoisie or middle class- Owned about 25% of the land.i. Upset about the privileges given to

the nobles.

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy

2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

Division in France:Division in France:The three EstatesThe three Estates

f. Aristocrats and members of the middle class were drawn to the political ideas of the enlightenment. i. Opposition of these elites to the existing

order led them to drastic action against the monarchy.

g. The immediate cause of the French Revolution was the near collapse of the government’s finances. i. The French economy suffered a series of

crises for 50 years.

ii. 1/3 of the population was considered poor.

iii. The poor lived in absolute squalor.

h. The French gov’t continued to spend lavishly on wars and court luxuries. i. Marie Antoinette, was especially known

for her extravagance.

II. From Estates-General to National Assembly

a. Each order of French society had representatives in the Estates-General. i. To fix the economic situation the Third

Estate wanted to set up a constitutional gov’t that would eliminate tax exemptions.

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of The Number of RepresentativesRepresentatives

in the Estates General: Vote in the Estates General: Vote by Head!by Head!300

300

600

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy

2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting The Suggested Voting Pattern:Pattern:

Voting by EstatesVoting by Estates1

1

1

Louis XIV insisted that Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.three orders be conserved in its entirety.

b. Tennis court oath- Agreement that the National Assembly would continue to meet until they finished drafting a constitution.

c. Commoners stormed and dismantled the Bastille.i. The royal armory and prison in Paris.

ii. The kings authority collapsed.

iii. Local revolutions broke out throughout France.

““The Tennis Court The Tennis Court Oath”Oath”

by Jacques Louis Davidby Jacques Louis David

June 20, 1789June 20, 1789

d. Peasant rebellions became known as the Great Fear.i. Panic hit France in 1789 because of a

fear of invasion from foreign troops in support of the monarchy.

ii. People in the countryside formed militias.

III. Destruction of the Old Regimea. National Assembly’s first act was to

destroy the relics of feudalism or aristocratic privileges.

b. Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen- proclaimed freedom and equal rights for all men.i. Ended exemptions from taxation.

ii. Adopted freedom of speech and press.

The Declaration of the The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Rights of Man and of

the Citizenthe CitizenAugust 26, August 26,

17891789

V Liberty!Liberty!

V Property!Property!

V Resistance to Resistance to oppression!oppression!

V Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was in Paris at was in Paris at this time.this time.

c. Did “all citizens” include women? Deputies said that it did if women stayed out of politics. i. Olympe de Gouges didn’t accept the exclusion

of women.1. Wrote Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the

Female Citizen.

d. Louis XVI stayed at Versailles and refused to accept the laws of the National Assembly.

e. A delegation of these women met with Louis XVI and told him how their children were starving.i. They forced the king to accept new decrees.

f. The Assembly adopted its Constitution in 1791. i. It set up a limited monarch with a king and a

Legislative Assembly with the power to make laws.

ii. Men over 25 and paid taxes could vote.

March of the Women,March of the Women,October 5-6, 1789October 5-6, 1789

We want the baker, the baker’s wife We want the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy!and the baker’s boy!

A spontaneous demonstration of Parisian A spontaneous demonstration of Parisian women for bread.women for bread.

g. By 1791 the old order was destroyed. i. Lower classes were hurt by the economic

hard times.

ii. King tried to flee unsuccessfully from France.

h. Austria offered to help Louis regain his power.i. Legislative Assembly declared war on

Austria.

ii. France lost battles with Austria, distrust began to hit France.

i. War defeats and economic shortages led to new political demonstrations. i. Radicals organized mob attacks on the

royal palace.1. They captured the king and demanded the

end of the monarchy.

j. Sans-culottes- ordinary people without fancy clothes.