The French Revolution

Chapter 18

April 28, 1789- unrest exploded in Paris By July people were hungry, unemployed, and

poorly paid people of Paris had taken up arms

On the Eve of Revolution

Causes

1. Unfair Class & Tax System (Last slide)

2. Economic Troubles What were the

economic causes to the French Revolution? Deficit Spending: Wars: How to solve?

A Poor Harvest Why a famine? Effects?

Louis XVI of France - portrait by A.F. Callet (1741-1823) www.wikipedia.org

Causes Continued

3.The Enlightenment Paris was home to this philosophical movement

rooted in the questioning of the status quo How did the Enlightenment cause the

revolution? 4.The example of the American Revolution

How did the American Revolution cause the French Revolution?

John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphiawww.wikipedia.org

France had an outdates social system (Ancien

Regime)

French Society

First Estate: Clergy

Second Estate: Nobility

Third Estate: Vast majority of population

First Estate: provided social services- nuns,

monks, and priests ran schools, hospitals and orphanages

Second Estate- hated absolutism Third Estate- most diverse social class

Bourgeoisie- middle class. Included prosperous bankers, merchants, as well as lawyers, doctors, journalists, and professors, peasants

Jobs of the social classes

Resented the privileges enjoyed by their social

“betters” First and Second Estate did not have to pay

taxes Why should people from the first two estates

have such great privileges at the expense of the majority?

Even the smallest rise in the bread prices (their main food) brought the threat of great hunger or even starvation

Third Estate

One of the causes of the economic troubles

was the financial crisis that was due in part to deficit spending

Louis XIV had left France deeply in debt- Seven Years War, American Revolution

To solve the problem- government would have to increase taxes, reduce expenses or both

Financial Troubles

Financial expert and advisor

to Louis XVI. Urged the king to reduce

extravagant court spending, reform government, and abolish burdensome tariffs

Proposed taxing the First and Second Estate.

Jacques Necker

French kings did not call the Estates General

for 175 years France was on the verge of bankruptcy- 1788 Bread riots spread, nobles were denouncing

royal tyranny. Finally convened in May 1789. First and Second Estate outvoted the Third

Estate

Calling the Estates General

June 1789- Third Estate claimed to represent

the people of France, they declared themselves to be the National Assembly

Were afraid of the king Tennis Court Oath- swore “never to separate

and to meet wherever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution.”

National Assembly

July 14, 1789- city of Paris was seized Streets buzzed with rumors about the royal

troops occupying the capital 800 Parisians assembled outside the Bastille-

Prison Crowd was looking for weapons Commander of Bastille opened fire on 800 and

battle broke out Enraged people stormed into Bastille and did

not find weapons

Storming of the Bastille

Storming the Bastille

Bastille was a symbol to the people of France representing years of abuse by the monarchy

Section 2: The French

Revolution Unfolds

The people react

Section 2: Creating a New France Revolts in Paris and the Provinces

Why are we seeing revolts? The Great Fear

What caused it? Famine + Fear = Crazy Peasants

peasants go crazy over the nobles who were trying to reimpose medieval dues

Attacked homes of nobles Burned old manor records

Paris in Arms Revolutionary Center Factions (small groups) competed for power Marquis de Lafayette

Headed National Guard – middle class militia formed in response to the royal troops in Paris

Radical Paris Commune Replaced the royalists government of the city Could mobilize whole neighborhoods for protests or violent

Actions to further the Revolution

Political crisis in 1789- coincided with the

worst famine Grain prices soared People were unemployed Rumors about attacks lead people to be in fear Peasants unleash their fury on nobles

Political Crisis Leads to Revolt

Aristocratic hero of two worlds Fought alongside George Washington during

the American Revolution Was also the head of the National Guard-

middle class militia The National Guard was the first to wear red,

white, and blue

Marquis de Lafayette

Paris Commune replaced the royalist

government of the city Newspapers and political clubs made an

impact

Political Unrest

August 4- National Assembly voted to end

their own privileges. They agree to give up their old manorial dues, exclusive hunting rights, special legal status, and exemption from taxes

Feudalism is abolished Used Enlightenment as a goal- equality of all

male citizens before the law. Declaration of the Rights of Man and the

Citizens- modeled after the Declaration of Independence

National Assembly Acts

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the

Citizen stats all men have the right to be born free and equal in rights

Liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression

Many women were upset by the Declaration because they did not have rights

National Assembly Acts

1791- Olympe de Gourges-

demanded equal rights in her Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen

Gourges was imprisoned and executed

October 5th- 6,000 women marched 13 miles from Paris to Versailles demanding “bread” and to see the king

Women and the Declaration

Daughter of Maria Theresa

and her brother was Joseph II Queen lived a life of great

pleasure and extravagance Was compassionate to the

poor

Marie Antoinette

Has a large bourgeois membership and

worked to draft a constitution and to solve the continuing financial crisis

To pay off the huge government debt: Assembly voted to take over and sell Church lands

National Assembly put the French Catholic Church under state control

Civil Constitution of the Clergy-1790- bishops and priests became elected and salaried

National Assembly Presses Onward

Constitution of 1791- set up a limited

monarchy in place of an absolute monarchy New legislative assembly had the power to

make laws, collect taxes, and decide on issues of war and peace

The constitution abolished the old provincial courts and reformed laws

Constitution put the power in the hands of men with means

National Assembly

European rulers increased border patrols to

stop the spread of the “French plague”- the revolution

Émigrés- nobles, clergy and others who had fled France and its revolutionary forces

Declaration of Pilnitz- Prussia and Britain threatened to intervene to protect the French monarchy

France took threat seriously and prepared for war

Radicals Take Over

October 1791- Economic problems led to

renewed turmoil Currency dropped in value Caused prices to rise rapidly Uncertainty about prices led to hoarding and

caused additional food shortages

Economic Issues

Sans-Culottes- working class men and women-

pushed the revolution into more radical actions

Demanded a republic or government ruled by elected representatives instead of a monarch

Jacobins- mostly middle-class lawyers or intellectuals- supported sans-culottes

Sans-Culottes

Legislative Assembly declared war first on

Austria, then on Prussia, then on Britain and other states

Fighting lasted from 1792-1815

War

Section 3: Radical Days of the Revolution

1793- France experienced one of the bloodiest

regimes in its long history August 10, 1792- Parisians stormed the royal

palace and slaughtered the kings guards Citizens attacked prisons that held nobles and

priests accused of political offenses Radicals took control of the Assembly Called for the election of a new legislative

body- the National Convention

Monarchy is Abolished

National Assembly allowed suffrage- the right

to vote- extended to all male citizens September 1792- more radical body- voted to

abolish the monarchy and establish a republic Seized lands of nobles and abolished titles of

nobility Convention put Louis XVI on trial as a traitor to

France and he was beheaded Marie Antoinette was also executed

National Assembly

1793- France was at war with much of Europe

including Britain, the Netherlands, Spain and Prussia.

Sans-culottes demanded relief from food shortages and inflation

Committee of Public Safety- 12 members- had almost absolute power as it battled to save the revolution

French recruits marched off to defend the republic

Terror and Danger Grip France

Government battled counterrevolutionaries-

Maximilien Robespierre- lawyer and politician- rose to leadership of the Committee of Public Safety

Robespierre- embraced Rousseau’s ideas- promoted religious toleration and wanted to abolish slavery

Robespierre led the Reign of Terror: lasted from September 1793-July 1794.

300,000 were arrested and 17,000 were executed

July 27, 1794- Robespierre was arrested and killed

Terror and Danger Grip France

Moderates set up another constitution New constitution set up a five man Directory

and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens with property

Directory held power from1795-1799 Peace was made with Prussia and Spain, but

war with Austria and Great Britain continued

The Revolution Enters Its Third Stage

Chaos is rampant in France French look for stability Napoleon Bonaparte- a popular military hero

who had won a series of brilliant victories against the Austrians in Italy

Politicians planned to use him to advance their own goals.

Chaos

Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

Early Military Career What was his reputation?

Napoleon’s Coup de e’tat Helped overthrow the

directory and set-up three man board “the consulate”

Napoleon took title first consul 1802 – named himself consul

for life 1804 – had enough power to

name himself emperor

Revolution Brings

Change 1799- Dislodged the old social order,

overthrown the monarchy, and brought the Church under the state control

“Citizen” applied to all social classes Revolution and war gave the French people a

strong sense of national identity Nationalism- a strong feeling of pride in and

devotion to one’s country

Napoleon’s Reforms Napoleonic Code

Equality of all citizens before the law Religious toleration Advancement based on merit – what group

wanted this most of all?  Economic Reforms

What did Napoleon reform? Social Reforms

Public Schools: Encouraged émigrés to return provided they

took an oath of loyalty Land Reform: Women:

Napoleonic Wars 1804-1814

The Grand Empire Strongest power in Europe Claimed or defeated most of

Europe Forceful diplomacy Would take kings and queens of

European countries off their thrones and replace them with family and friends

1805-1807: Napoleon’s Grand Army defeated Austrian, Prussian, Russian Armies

1807-1812: Napoleon Master of European Empire

Spread of French Revolution principles to conquered territories that will be an important factor in the development of liberalism in these countries.

Napoleon's Empire at its greatest extent.

Dark Blue-French EmpireMedium Blue-Conquered "Rebellious" StatesLight Blue-Allied States

www.wikipedia.org Posted by user Kieran4

Continental System: Economic Warfare

Napoleon wanted to take over Great Britain – issue to overcome?

1805 Napoleon prepared to invade Britain Napoleon defeated at Battle of Trafalgar off

the southwest of Spain Napoleon Tries to Weaken Britain Through

Economic Warfare: the Continental System Explain how the system worked? Why does it fail?

Still France was at an age Napoleon

Invasion of Russia

Why did Napoleon Invade Russia? How did the Russians choose to deal with

Napoleon? Was it successful? Only 100,000 survived many died and others

deserted – What defeated the Grand Army?

Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, painted by Adolph Northen in the 19th centurywww.wikipedia.com

Napoleon’s First Defeat

Russia allies with Austria and Prussia against a weakened France

1813 they defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Nations at Leipzig

1814 European troops approach France and Napoleon abdicates

Napoleon is exiled to Elba in the Mediterranean Louis XVIII, brother of the late king is restored to the French

throne

Napoleon and Poniatowski at Leipzig, painted by Suchodolski 1797–1875www.wikipedia.org

The Final Defeat

Battle of Waterloo June 18th, 1815 French Army met English and Prussian forces Duke of Wellington and General Blucher met at Belgian town of

Waterloo Battle crushed the French Army Again Napoleon exiled this time to St. Helena where he

would eventually die in 1821 What is his legacy?

Battle of Waterloo, painted by William Sadler (1782–1839)www.wikipedia.org

Congress of Vienna

September 1814-June 1815

Called by Prince Clemens von Metternich of Austria to restore the “Status Quo” in Europe

Representatives: They had to try to restore the balance of power

How did they do that? Other Decisions

Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain create the Quadruple alliance Pledged to act together to maintain balance of power to

suppress revolutionary uprisings German confederation created (39 states) with Austria as its

official head. Switzerland becomes independent Nationalism increases throughout Europe

– WHY????The Congress of Vienna by Jean-Baptiste Isabey, (1819). www.wikipedia.org

Revolution Outside France

1791 – French colony Saint Domingue (Haiti) revolted Toussaint L’Ouverture – son of

African slaves led the revolt of over 100,000 men

Later Napoleon captured Toussaint and he died in French prison

January 1804 western Hispaniola became first independent nation of Latin America

1793 France went to war with Britain, Netherlands, Spain and Prussia

Toussaint Louverture. From a group of engravings done in post-Revolutionary France. (1802) www.wikipedia.org

Effects of the French Revolution

Bourgeoisie grow in influence Revolutions of 1830 & 1848 Latin American Wars of Independence Congress of Vienna & the Concert of Europe Spread of Modern European Nationalism Spread of Revolutionary & Enlightenment Ideas

What do you think we are going to see next?