http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Napoleon_Bonaparte.jpg

• The image above is the Versailles Palace.

• This palace would house France’s royal family from 1682-1789 (approx).

• The palace was built by Louis XIV in order to move the royal family away from Paris.

• This was done to avoid corruption and conspiracy (plot against) among the court.

How much do you think it cost to build Versailles?

• Original estimates put the palace at 2 billion$ US.

• New sources state that the palace cost 65 million golden livres (special currency).

• 1 golden livre= 24 livres• Taking into account today’s price of

gold the palace could have cost almost 300 billion$ US!!!

Why would Louis XIV build such an expensive palace?

Louis XIV: The Basics

• Louis became His Most Christian Majesty at the age of 5 in 1643.

• He did not assume power until he was 23 in 1661.

• He was supreme ruler of France until his death in 1715. He was77.

• He referred to himself as the Sun King because he felt the court and France should revolve around him.

Louis XIV: Politics

• Louis didn’t rule as a child. He ruled under an Italian, Cardinal Mazarin, and his mother until the age of 23.

• Louis centralized (he had final say) power by giving the nobility pointless titles.

• The nobility would have no real power, but because they had the title they were happy.

• All decisions were made by the king.• To distract the nobility the king

would throw huge parties at the palace of Versailles with lots of food, wine, and women.

• With all this Louis could make any decision he wanted to.

Louis XIV: Reasons for Revolution• Louis XIV contributed to the revolution

in 3 ways.1. Revoked Edict on Nantes. This

document protected the rights of Protestants.

2. Created a huge debt for France (war, parties, construction).

3. Stared too many wars (too many people died) ex. War of Spanish Succession.

• These points upset many people.

• The image shows punishment during the Ancien Régime in France. It was called Supplice de la Roue.

• The people who had some power (wealthy) used punishments as a form of social control.

• All punishments would be public so people could see what would happen to them if they broke the rules.

France and the Ancien Régime

• Ancien Régime means “old system”

• It refers to social classes, wealth, and power.

• In this system the King/monarch had absolute power (his will was law and had to be obeyed).

• This system also guaranteed the king’s divine right (god given) to rule.

• The monarch was seen as god.

• The next class was the nobility (government officials and other very wealthy people).

• The High clergy (religious officials) former the next group.

• The Bourgeoisie (business owners) followed them.

High Clergy Bourgeoisie

• The final and largest class were the commoners (peasants, farmers, low clergy, craftsmen, labourers, journeymen)

King/ MonarchNobility

High ClergyBourgeoisie

Commoners

Represent 90% of France’s population

at the time

The fact that less then 10% of the population controlled the country upset many people.

• The Commoners were very heavily taxed, while the upper classes were not taxed at all.

• The upper classes lived a very expensive lifestyle, paid with tax money.

• The monarch would also use large sums of money to wage wars, also paid with taxes.

Enlightenment or Age of Reason

•Occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries (1600-1700’s).•Enlightenment means, “a time of illumination”•The leaders of the enlightenment were scientists and philosophers (thinkers).•These people used “rational thought” (knowledge and understanding) to explain life’s mysteries.

• The microscope and telescope were created. As well as many math and physics theories.

• The idea of human rights and democracy resurfaced. Political and economic thought was improved.

• The printing press helped spread new ideas.

• These new ideas and inventions got people thinking and questioning the ancien regime and the old rules that governed them, which led to revolution.

Between Louis XIV and the revolution.

• Heavy taxation on the commoners continued, no taxation on the upper classes.

• Louis XV and Louis XVI continued to wage wars and live a very expensive lifestyle (along with the upper classes).

• Enlightenment occurred, therefore, people started to question the Ancien Régime.

• The French revolution began in 1789 and ended in 1799.

• The goal of the French revolution was to completely change society.

• The revolutionaries fought to remove the royal family and nobility from power and give it to the commoners.

• The battles were fought primarily between Louis XVI’s armies and his allies (Prussia, Austria, and Holland) against the Revolutionary army of France.

• The device above is called the Guillotine.

• The Guillotine was invented by Dr. Antoine Louis and built by Tobias Schmidt.

• It is said that Dr. J.I. Guillotin originally suggested the idea.

• The word Guillotine comes from a revolutionary song that makes fun of Dr. Guillotin.

• The Guillotine was created to provide a method of execution that would be used by all, regardless of class.

• The last execution by guillotine in France was in 1939.

• However, this method was used outside of France as well.

• Records show that the Nazis executed almost 17000 (1936-1945) people using their version of the guillotine.

• The last state to outlaw the use of the guillotine was East Germany in 1987.

Cause #1: Government’s lack of money

• The Kings of France spent huge sums of money during the Seven Years war and the American Revolution.

• The luxurious (parties, palaces, etc.) lifestyle of the nobility and royal family.

• The clergy (church) and the nobility did not pay taxes.

Cause #2: Economic Depression• Crop failures and very high taxes

bankrupted many small farms and shops.

• This led to poverty and hunger among the lower classes.

Cause#3: Revolutionary ideas• Ideas were formed during the

Enlightenment and enforced by the American revolution

• The most important idea was the right to elect a government.

The Estates-General• Since the 1302, the population of

France was divided into three estates.1. Clergy

2. Nobility3. Everyone else

• The first two estates did not have to pay taxes.

• In 1789, Louis XVI called a meeting of the estates, called the estates general. (First time in 175 years)

• The King proposed to raise taxes, but was turned down by the Estates.

• The structure in the picture above is the Bastille, in Paris.

• The Bastille was an old fort left over from France's many wars with Britain.

• At the time of the Revolution, the Bastille was being used a a prison and armory.

• This building was seen as a symbol of the people's oppression.

Tennis Court Oath 1789• The meeting angered the third estate.• The third estate decided to form their

own government called the National Assembly.

• This was done at an indoor tennis court near the palace where the Estates general took place.

• This new government successfully overthrew the King and took control of the country.

• The people began to worry about retaliation from other European countries who were allies of Louis XVI.

• This fear was the spark that started the bloodshed that we associate with the French Revolution.

• From this point on many royals, nobles, and those loyal to the king would be killed.

• On July 14, 1789 the people of France stormed the Bastille, a prison, in search of weapons and ammunition.

• This marked the first battle between the French Revolutionaries and those loyal to the King.

• Today July 14 is known as Bastille day in France, it is a national holiday.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

• After the storming of the Bastille the National assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man in August 1789.

• The main features of this declaration were:

All class privileges were endedAll Frenchmen were free and equal

Bill of rights for Frenchmen (freedom of speech, press religion)

Shortcomings of the Declaration

• The Declaration of the Rights of Man excludes women.

• Most of the articles of the declaration only refer to Frenchmen not Frenchwomen.

• The declaration does not outlaw slavery despite the fact that document discusses the freedom and equality of all men.

Trouble with the new government

• By 1791 the National Assembly was dissolved and replaced with the Legislative Assembly.

• The reasons for the dissolution were corruption and members fighting amongst each other.

• The Legislative Assembly made the king a constitutional monarch (no real power).

• In 1792 the Legislative council failed. Again due to fighting and corruption.

• The Legislative Council was replaced by the Convention.

• The period of 1789-1792 many people loyal to the King, mostly nobility, left France.

• These people were called “émigrés.”• The émigrés were trying to convince

other European countries to intervene and restore the king’s throne.

Absolute Monarchy

National Assembly

1789

Legislative Assembly

1791

Convention

1792

Created the constitutional

monarchy

Governments dissolved due to fighting and corruption.

Committee of Public Safety

1793

Directory1795

Napoleon1799

• The tri-color flag was by the revolutionaries in 1794.

• The blue and red represent the colors on the flag of Paris, the capital of France.

• The white represents royalty, introduced by the Marquis de Lafayette.

• The white was included to symbolize the submission of the royal family to the people.

Death of Louis XVI• In 1792 the Legislative Assembly

assigned Louis XVI to be the Constitutional Monarch.

• Louis XVI had the title of King but no power.

• In 1793 he tried to leave France to join the émigrés in a neighbouring country.

• He was caught, put on trial for treason, and guillotined shortly after.

Committee of Public Safety• Due to the threat of powerful

European countries invading France, the Convention established the Committee of Public Safety, 1793.

• This body was responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the country and well as protection and public safety.

• It was headed by Maximilien de Robespierre

Robespierre: The Basics• He was nicknamed “The

Incorruptible” for his strong views on government.

• Politically he belonged to the Jacobin Club, who were strong supporters of the revolution.

• Robespierre was merciless when it came to the revolution.

• He was truly a believer in “if you are not with us your against us” idea.

Reign of Terror• Under the direction of Robespierre,

the Committee of Public Safety guillotined nearly 18 000 people, between 1793-1794.

• Almost 1400 people were executed in Paris alone.

• The people that were executed were usually charged with treason or were considered enemies of the new government.

The Death of Marie Antoinette• Originally from Austria, Marie

Antoinette was given in marriage to Louis XVI.

• Although she was liked at first her popularity began to decline after a series of poor decisions.

• During the revolution she was arrested and sentenced to death as an enemy of the new government.

• She was held at the “Conciergerie” (a prison) until she was guillotined in Paris in 1793 (6 months after Louis XVI)

The end of the Reign of Terror

• The Reign of Terror came to an end when Robespierre himself was accused tyranny and treason.

• Many felt that Robespierre was abusing his power and becoming a dictator.

• On July 28, 1794, Robespierre was guillotined near Paris.

End of the Revolution

• The Committee of Public Safety was dissolved in 1795.

• In the same year (1795) the Directory was created. The Directory consisted of 5 members that ruled France.

• Like other governments the Directory failed.

• In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte, a popular general, built an army and siezed control of the country.

• Napoleon quickly created the Consulate and then declared himself emperor in 1804.