The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

The CausesThe Causes

The 4 Stages of the French Revolution• 1st Stage “Moderate Phase” (1789 – 1791)

– Meeting of Estate General– Fall of the Bastille– Development of a Constitution and Bill of Rights

• 2nd Stage “Radical Phase” (1792 – 1794)– Execution of Louis XVI– Rise of Maximilien Robespierre– Reign of Terror

• 3rd Stage “Conservative Phase” (1795 – 1799)– Period of reaction against the violence of the revolution– Establishment of the Directory

• 4th Stage “Napoleonic Phase” (1799 – 1815)– Rise of Napoleon: Dictator to Emperor– France builds an empire– Collapse of Napoleon’s Empire

What would cause you to revolt What would cause you to revolt against an established institution?against an established institution?

Causes of French RevolutionCauses of French Revolution

Europe 1789Europe 1789

Bourbon Family

Louis XVI+

Hapsburg Family

Marie Antoinette

Political and Social InequalitiesPolitical and Social InequalitiesIntroduction• French society was divided into estates = Large social classes• 1300’s - The social classes began meeting as the Estates General “Old Regime”

– French institution similar to early English Parliament

1st Estate• Highest level church officials (NOT parish priests)

– Under 1% of population, but owned 10% of land– Paid virtually NO taxes (2% of income)– Hated Enlightenment ideas

2nd Estate• Rich Nobles: Office holders of army, government, courts, and middle

level church officials– Less than 2% of population, but owned 20% of land– Paid NO taxes – This really furthered revolution– Disagreed with Enlightenment ideas

3rd Estate• Bourgeoisie / Lower Class / Peasants

– Paid vast majority of taxes (50+% of income)– Differed greatly in economic conditions BUT all had reasons to hate the Old Regime– Embraced Enlightenment ideas

Bourgeoisie (Middle Class)Bourgeoisie (Middle Class)

• Well educated professionals– Lawyers, doctors, manufacturers ,

bankers, merchants, and shopkeepers

• Some were very wealthy, but had NO political or social standing– Paid very high taxes

– Dressed like nobles wearing wigs, waistcoats, and culottes

• Tight fitting knee breeches

• Strongly believed in Enlightenment ideals

"People under the Old Regime""People under the Old Regime"

Lower ClassesLower Classes

• Workers of France’s cities– Butchers, brewers, weavers,

tanners, peddlers, cooks, servants

• Much poorer & less educated than Bourgeoisie– Embodied frugality, thrift, hard

work, and honest devotion

• Sans-culottes– Those who are without knee

breeches

• Often went hungry– Diet consisted of 3 pounds of

bread per day and very little else

Peasant FarmersPeasant Farmers

• Largest group of the 3rd Estate– 80% of total population

• Very faithful to Catholic Church & local priests• Lost over ½ their income to taxes

– Often went hungry

• Required to perform free work for government for set number of days every year– Nevertheless, French peasants lived better than

peasants elsewhere in Europe

Awakening of the Third EstateAwakening of the Third Estate

Influence of the Enlightenment & Influence of the Enlightenment & American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

• Enlightenment thinkers inspired French people to question the Old Regime & go against their king– Major challenge to absolute monarchy

• Success of American Revolution encouraged French to fight for freedom, equality, and liberty

Weak RulersWeak Rulers• Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette were weak

and indecisive rulers– Put off dealing with France’s economic

problems until it was an emergency• “Protect us lord for we reign too young”

Louis XVI

• Louis was more interested in hunting than public affairs– Had a history of hiring/firing financial

advisers when they run into opposition

• Marie = “Madame Deficit”– She was hated by the French people

• From the royal family of Austria

– Dedicated to absolute monarchy principle

• 1788 – A bread shortage caused the price of bread to double – “Do you know why there are so many

needy people? Because your elegant existence devours in 1 day the substance of 1,000 men.” – Robespierre

Louis XVILouis XVI Marie Marie AntoinetteAntoinette

Bankruptcy of the GovernmentBankruptcy of the Government• France went into deep debt to pay for the 7 yrs War &

American Revolution– American Revolution price tag = 200 million livre

• Enough to house and freed 7 million French citizens for a year

• Louis’s established financial reforms– Raise taxes on 3rd Estate = Increased cost of living

• Loaf of bread = One months earnings

• By 1788 – France was almost bankrupt– 50% government’s income went to pay interest on debt– 13% to support royal family’s lifestyle

• Result: Riots start to spread across France

Bankruptcy of the GovernmentBankruptcy of the Government• 1788 - Louis was forced to hire Jacques Necker

– Believed in the ideals of the Enlightenment• Believed it was the governments duty to make sure

there was enough beard for everyone

• Necker introduced financial reforms– Reduce court spending, reform government, and

improve trade– Proposed taxing the 1st and 2nd estates

• Result: King tried to tax 1st and 2nd estates

• The 1st and 2nd Estates forced Louis to call the Estates General