The French Revolution

1789-1799

ContextWhat was France like in the 1600s and 1700s?

What was happening:

-Inside of France

-Around the world

ContextRecall:

Internally:

● France was governed by an absolute monarchy- Louis XIV (the “Sun King”) had built up his own power

● France’s economy had prospered through mercantilism

Externally:

● France had colonies in North America (New France- Quebec and Louisiana), the Caribbean, and was involved in trade with India

● Involved in the North American fur trade, Caribbean sugar trade, and African slave trade● France competed with the British for power and influence- lost the Seven Years’ War to Britain= lost

colonies in North America

Context and Causes● While it appeared to be wealthy and prosperous on the surface, France had

several issues leading up to the French Revolution (1789-1799): ○ Social tensions○ Economic issues○ Environmental issues○ Political issues○ New Inspiration/Ideas Challenged the status quo

Context and Causes: Social Issues● The “Old Regime”- the old social order- divided French society into 3 social

classes (“estates”): ○ First Estate- Church clergy- 1% of population, owned 10% of land, paid almost no taxes○ Second Estate- Nobles- 2% of population, owned 20% of land, paid almost no taxes○ Third Estate- 97% of population- paid HIGH TAXES, lacked privileges. The Third Estate

included: ■ Bourgeoisie- wealthy upper middle class (bankers, factory owners, merchants,

professionals)■ City workers (poorest group)- laborers, servants■ Peasants (80% of population)- paid half of income to nobles, Church tithes, king’s

agents

These sharp class distinctions caused resentment among lower classes!

Context and Causes: Economic Issues● By the 1780s, France’s economy was in decline● Crushing tax burden on the Third Estate (97% of the population)● High taxes= hard for businesses to be profitable (hurt the bourgeoisie)● Rising cost of living, stagnant wages= people struggling● Huge debt from wars and extravagant spending● By 1786, bankers refused to loan the government more money= govt started

running out of money!

Context and Causes: Environmental Issues● Bad weather in 1780s=

crop failures= shortage of grain= not enough bread! (Bread was a staple of poorer French people)- price of bread doubled- this led to social unrest and starvation (CRISIS!)

Context and Causes: Political Issues● France’s new king, Louis

XVI, was weak and indecisive

● Marie Antoinette, from Austria, was seen as a foreigner and would often interfere with politics (also, her lavish lifestyle added to the debt)

Context and Causes: New Ideas/Inspiration● Enlightenment views spread

among the Third Estate, especially the bourgeoisie

● Britain had limited their monarch’s power

● The success of the American Revolution inspired the Third Estate

Buildup to the Revolution: 1789● Louis XVI tried to increase nobles’ taxes- nobles (Second Estate) forced him to call a

meeting of the Estates-General (an assembly of representatives from all 3 estates) to approve the tax

● Current rules gave each estate equal voting power- the privileged estates could outvote the Third Estate

● Third Estate wanted this changed- wanted each delegate to have a vote (giving the edge to the Third Estate)

● Louis XVI sided with the nobles (keep current voting rules)

The Revolution Begins: June 1789● The Third Estate decided to form the National Assembly and pass laws in the name of

the French people- proclaimed the end of absolute monarchy (beginning of French representative government)

● The other two estates locked the Third Estate out of their meeting room- the Third Estate went to an indoor tennis court and swore to form a new constitution (the Tennis Court Oath)

● Louis XVI gathered an army- revolutionaries gathered weapons to defend Paris- stormed the Bastille (a medieval prison) for gunpowder

These were the first deliberate acts of revolution!

Early Stages of the Revolution: 1789-1791● Rebellion spread fear and chaos around the countryside● August 1789: National Assembly swept away privileges of the first two estates, adopted

the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen- stated natural rights, freedom of speech and religion

● October 1789: French women marched to Versailles- ordered Louis and Marie Antoinette to follow them to Paris (they did)

● The National Assembly ended independence of the Church- said clergy were to be elected as state officials, also sold land owned by the Church

● 1791- National Assembly adopted a new constitution- established a limited constitutional monarchy and created the Legislative Assembly

The Revolution Continues: 1791-1793● The French Revolution alarmed other European neighbors- Austria and Prussia

ordered the French to reinstall Louis- France declared war on them● 1792: Under pressure from the most radical revolutionaries (Jacobins), the Constitution

of 1791 was set aside- the monarchy was completely removed, and a new legislature, the National Convention, was created. This new plan declared France a republic. Males were given the right to vote.

● Louis XVI was taken prisoner- stood trial for treason- sentenced to death (he and Marie Antoinette were guillotined in 1793)

● Britain, Holland, and Spain also declared war on France

The Revolution Turns Radical: 1793-1794● The revolution turned radical under the Jacobins, led by

Maximilien Robespierre- he said the revolution’s ideas needed to be protected from “enemies”- anyone who objected needed to die- this was called the Reign of Terror

● Robespierre led the Committee of Public Safety- organization formed to protect the revolution from “enemies”- led to about 40,000 being executed (85% were peasants)

● Attempted to wipe out traces of France’s past- strongly believed in reason over religion- changed the calendar, closed churches

● Eventually, people grew weary of the Terror- Robespierre himself was guillotined

The End of the Revolution: 1795-1799● A more moderate government was put

into place after the Reign of Terror- a new plan for government called for a 2-house legislature and an executive body of 5 men called The Directory

● While it did lead to more stability, the Directory eventually lost public confidence- Napoleon Bonaparte, a popular general, seized power in a coup d’etat (blow to the state)- while he had the support of the people, he assumed power of a dictator

WHAP HW

● Enlightenment Philosopher Social Media Profile Assignment due MONDAY! Instructions are on the website- make sure you turn in a physical product!

● Finish reading and taking notes over Ch. 16 by Wednesday!