French Revolution

UNREST1.Bad harvests2.High prices3.High taxes4.Questions raised by

the Enlightenment

Old Regime3 Estates

1st EstateCatholic Church (clergy )1% of population

2nd EstateNobles2% of population

1st and 2nd EstatesAccess to gov’t officesExempt from taxesRejected EnlightenmentOwned 30 % of land

3rd Estate Everyone else

Bourgeoisie ( middle class )Bankers, factory owners, merchants

Well educatedBelieved strongly in Enlightenment

Payed high taxesWealth ≠status and power

3rd Estate cont.Workers

PoorestLow wagesHigh unemployment

PeasantsLargestFarmers80% of populationPaid ½ income to nobles, church, gov’t

FactorsNew ideas about gov’tEconomic troubles

DebtLouis XVI

InheritedBacked American Revolution

Spent

Factors cont.Weak leader – Louis XVI

IndecisivePaid little attention to advisors

Queen interferedIgnored problems

Estates-GeneralLouis XVI decides to try to tax 2nd Estate

Forced to call meeting of Estates-GeneralFirst in 175 yearsMay 5, 1789 Versailles

Estates General cont.Each estate met separately to vote

Each estate had one vote

1st and 2nd outvoted the 3rd

Estates General cont. 3rd Estate wanted changes

All 3 meet togetherEach delegate have a vote

Give advantage to 3rd

King denied Leaders of 3rd called for National

AssemblyPass laws and reforms for people of France

National AssemblyJune 17, 1789 voted to form National AssemblyProclaimed end of monarchy

Representative gov’tFirst deliberate act of revolution

National Assembly Locked out of meeting room Broke into indoor tennis court Tennis Court Oath

Pledge not to disband until new constitution is written

Joined by nobles and clergy in favor of reform

Louis XVI stationed military around Versailles

Storming of BastilleRumors spreadPeople began to arm themselves July 14, 1789 stormed Bastille

Prison built in 1300In search of gunpowder

Mob overwhelmed guardsSymbolic act of revolt

Great Fear Rebellion spread to countryside Wave of panic Peasants armed themselves

Broke in nobles homes October 1789

Angry women of Paris march on VersaillesDemand action to provide bread

Force Louis and Marie to return to Paris

The Rights of ManBy August 5th, Old Regime was

deadCommoners equal to nobles

Nat’l Assembly adopts statement of ideals

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Rights of Man“Men are born free and remain

free and equal in rights”“Life, liberty, security, and

resistance to oppression”Equal justiceFreedom of speech and

religion

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

The ChurchTook over Church landsChurch officials and priests were to be elected an paid as gov’t officialsMany peasants alarmed

Opposed assembly’s reforms

June 1791Louis and Marie try to escape

Captured and returned to Paris

New Plan for Gov’tSeptember 1791

New constitution Creates limited monarchyCreates new legislative body

Legislative AssemblyPower to create lawsDeclare war

Divisions Legislative Assembly split into 3

groupsTo the left – RADICALS

Opposed monarchy; lots of change

In center – MODERATESSome change

To the Right – CONSERVATIVESLimited monarchy; few changes

War with EuropeAustria and Prussia urge for restoration of monarchy

April 1792Legislative Assembly declares war

War with EuropePrussian forces advance quickly

outside of ParisThreaten to destroy Paris if royals

harmedAugust 10th

20,000 men storm palaceKill guardsArrest Louis and family

Paris Commune Paris radicals

More radical, more violentTook king captiveWanted universal male suffrage

Sans-culottesWanted greater changesDiscovered ways to exert power

September MassacresRumors that royal supporters

would break out of prison and seize city

Citizens take law into own handsRaid prisonMurder over 1000 prisoners

New Constitution Legislative Assembly pressured

1. Set aside Constitution of 1791

2. Deposes king3. Dissolves assembly4. Calls for election of new

legislature

New GovernmentSeptember 21

National Convention takes officeAbolishes monarchyDeclares France a republicAdult male citizens granted right to vote and hold office

Political Clubs Girondins

ModerateRepresent areas outside of ParisFeared radical mobs

The MountainRadicals of ParisJacobins

JacobinsJacobins – radical political

organization takes chargeJean-Paul MarotGeorges Danton

Tried Louis XVI for treasonConvictedJanuary 21, 1793 - beheaded

Problems WithinMany enemies within France

Peasant horrified by execution of king

Priests angered by gov’t control

Rival leaders stirring up rebellions in other provinces of France

Committee of Public SafetyTo oversee war efforts created Committee of Public SafetyMaximillien Robespierre headed

Governed France as dictatorREIGN OF TERROR

Reign of TerrorProtect France from its

enemiesMany fellow revolutionaries

were sentenced to death1793 – 1794

45,000-55,000 people executed

Reign cont.Revolutionary armies bring

rebellious cities under controlLyon – 1880 citizens executedNantes – sunk in barges

85% from 3rd Estate Violence was temporary

Republic of Virtue

Republic of Virtue Republic composed of good citizens

Good education – primary education for all“citizen” replaced misterTried to control pricesWomen attended National convention

sessionsDe-Christianization

Cult of the Supreme Being Superstition rather than reason New calendar (Sept 22, 1792)

End of TerrorJune 1794

Law of 22 PrairialJuly 1794

National Convention turns on Robespierre

July 28, 1794Robespierre is beheaded

New GovernmentFollowing terror moderate leaders

draft new plan for gov’t (3rd since 1789)Power with upper middle class2 house legislatureExecutive body of 5 men (moderates)Directory

DirectoryCorruptGave country period of order

Chose right general to lead armyNapoleon Bonaparte