The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

From Louis XVI - Napoleon

Setting the Stage 1788 King Louis XVI needs cash

– France bankrupt • Fighting the British during the 7 Years War

(French and Indian War)• Supported America during the American

Revolution• Upkeep on Palace of Versailles

Background Causes

04/11/23 3

Louis Calls the Estates-General

Estates General– Similar to Parliament– Representatives from each of the 3 classes of

French society1st Estate - Clergy

2nd Estate - Nobles

3rd Estate – Everyone else- bourgeoisie - artists, farmers,

Peasants, city workers etc

Estates General

1st Estate has 300 members and one vote 2nd Estate has 300 members and one vote 3rd Estate has 600 members and one vote

– How do you feel about this if you are in the 3rd Estate???

– WHY?

Demand for Change

3rd Estate wants to change voting procedures.– Want to establish a National Assembly where

EACH representative has a vote.

King Louis XVI’s Response

Get the idea??

NADA!!! No!!, No Way!!! Aint gonna

happen!!!, Forgetaboutit!!! Nope!!! Uh-uh!!! Not on my watch!!! Not here, not

now, not ever!!!

3rd Estate Response

May 1788 -Representatives meet on an indoor tennis court and pledged that they would not leave until the king agrees to their demands– “The Tennis Court Oath”

• Like a big “sit in”

Embarrassing situation for the king– Why?

King finally agrees Establishment of The National Assembly

Bastille Day July 1788 French farmers, peasants do not have enough to eat and are

paying high taxes– Nobles out of touch (“Let them eat cake”)– People can not afford food

Peasants getting a bit rowdy Louis XVI starts assembling troops at Versailles People fear he is planning to attack the new National Assembly and

arrest members

Bastille Day continued People in Paris hear

about the troops– Begin to riot. – July 14, 1788 - Attack

the Bastille – fortress prison in Paris.

• Seen as a symbol of Kings power

• People storm the prison, free the prisoners, take guns and ammo.

Then

Now

The Bastille

Declaration of the Rights of Man

National Assembly votes to eliminate all classes, titles, nobility.– Say nobles and clergy must pay taxes too

Serves as a basis for French Constitution“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

Revolution gets out of hand

Riots soon spread to countryside– Peasants attack nobles in their houses. Kill

many nobles– Nobles and Clergy living in fear

• “A Tale of Two Cities” is set in this time period

Revolution Getting out of Control

King Louis XVI attempts to flee the country with his wife Marie Antoinette

Captured and brought back Radicals (Jacobins) getting more say in

how the government should be run

We better

stop this

This is getting out

of hand

The killed their

King!!!

This is not

good

1792-1793 Other nations of Europe worry that revolution in France will spread to their countries.

Other nations invade France

– Austria, Prussia (Germany), Spain, Britain, wage war on France.

– French fight them off

Radicals in France gain even more power

Rule of Revolution #2

“In the midst of chaos, the one who comes out on top is the one who is most organized and willing to speak out.”

• Mr. J

Radicals Gain Control Maxmilian Robespierre and

the “Committee for Public Safety”– Begin hunting down all those

seen as a threat to the Revolution

– 1793 Louis and Marie sent to the guillotine

“Reign of Terror”

– “Reign of Terror” Begins• Around 30,000 people

eventually sent to the guillotine

• Nobles, peasants, workers - anyone Robespierre saw as a threat to the revolution

End of Reign of Terror

1794 – National Convention feels Robespierre has gone over the line– He is arrested, tried, convicted

and executed

– Don’t you just love the irony of it all???

Impact of the Revolution Monarchy is gone Old feudal customs are gone Slavery in French colonies abolished

France becomes democratic country– The Directory

• 2 house legislature and committee of 5 Directors

– Inefficient, quarrelsome, – It does not really work

France has LARGE, experienced army– Rising young star in that army – Napoleon Bonaparte