CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

The 2nd Estate is so fashionable

1700s, France considered the most advanced country

in Europe. It was the center of the Enlightenment, but

it still used the ideas left over from the middle ages.

In the 1770s, the feudal system, the Old Regime, was

still used in France.

The French Revolution 1789

Overview:In 1789, a financial crisis, an outmoded social system, and an indecisive king burdened France.

Reform was demanded….. Peasants rioted…..France was no longer in control of her king.

ECONOMICECONOMIC

FRENCH TREASURY BANKRUPT

Decadence of King Louis XIV’s Court

Versailles Palace

Large war-related expenditures by King Louis XIV

•7 Years War (a.k.a. French & Indian War)

•American Revolution

•Countless other military expenses

King Louis XVI attempts to revive the French economy through:

•Taxation of the 3rd Estate (peasants & bourgeois)

•Reinstitution of Feudal Dues

•Confiscation of possessions for non-payment

POOR HARVESTSScarcity of food compounded the

poor economic situation

Causes of the

French Revolutio

n

EconomicCrisis

Poor Harvest

Large Debt Tax Reform

Court Spending7 Years WarHelping Amer. With revolution

POLITICAL

Unequal Representation in gave the majority no voice

This allowed 2% of population to control all decisions of the Estates General

Privileges enjoyed by the 1st & 2nd Estates breed

discontent among the members of the 3rd Estate

Grrrrrrrrr….

The Old Regime

Social system dating back to the Middle Ages. Every person was categorized.

The First Estate•Clergy

•Owned 10% of the land

•Tax Exempt

•1 vote in Estates General

•0.5% of the pop.CanI get an

Amen!

The Second Estate•Nobility

•Owned 20% of the land

•Tax exempt

•1 vote in Estates General•1.5% of the pop.

The Third Estate•Bourgeoisie (middle class), rural peasants, & urban workers

•Owned 70% of land

•All paid taxes

•Peasants paid feudal dues

•1 vote in Estates General

•98% of the pop.All work & no

play makes Jacques a dull

boy

1st Estate(Clergy)

2nd Estate(Nobility)

3rd Estate(everyone

else)Ouch

Causes of the

French Revolutio

n

Three Estates

1st: Clergy

2nd: Nobility

3rd:Everyone Else

1% population10% landTax Exempt

2% pop.35% landSpecial treatment, little to no taxes

97% pop.55% landMiddle Class, peasants, urban workers, etc.Taxed

Although wealthy bourgeoisies could buy titles and political office, the best jobs

were reserved for the nobility

City workers were severely underpaid

Only nobles were allowed to hunt game, a prime source of food during a famine

Weak Monarchy Interests were

in life at court

Incapable of strong decisions

Causes of the

French Revolutio

n

IMPACT OF ENLIGHTENED IDEAS

Ideas of Locke and Rousseau regarding the ideal form of government spurred movements for change among the educated Bourgeoisies

The success of the American Revolution used as model for change in the French

government

Age of Enlightenment

Causes of the

French Revolution

Natural Rights of Man

Challenged Absolutism

Influence of Revolutionary

Success in North America

All men are created equal

No taxation without representation

May 5, 1789 - Versailles Called by Louis XVI because of France’s financial crisis

Purpose:

•create a list of grievances

•raise money for the king

Wow! That’s a big room for that many people!

the Estates General the Estates General MeetingMeeting

Vote by order each estate would get 1 vote

this causes…………………ANGER!

The 3rd estate realized they should get more then one vote. So they threatened to leave & they did.

As you know the reason I called all of you here is because

France is in financial trouble.

No thanks to you and

your family

the Estates General the Estates General MeetingMeeting

3rd estate separates & goes to a nearby tennis court

Formed National Assembly & pledged not to separate until an agreement was reached.Two years after they pledged the Constitution of 1791 was signed.

Yes I Pledge I will stay hear until

we have our way

We all should

pledge to stay

The Tennis Court Oath

A baby step to democracy….

This constitution didn’t work too well, but was an act trying to reform France’s government closer to something resembling democracy.

They vowed to meet until they write a sound and

just constitution!

The Tennis Court Oath

The Storming of the BastilleT

July 14, 1789

Members of the 3rd estate attack the Bastille, which is a French prison, looking for gunpowder. This was a step towards democracy, because an important building went from the control of the king to the control of the citizens.

Lets go!

Yah!!

Storming the Bastille

“…we have the power, give us our say.”

14th of July!!

Storming the BastilleSymbolic act =

people want freedom

Video – The Bastille

EconomicCrisis

Poor Harvest

Large Debt Tax Reform

Court Spending7 Years WarHelping Amer. With revolution

Age of Enlightenment

Weak Monarchy Interests were

in life at court

Incapable of strong decisions

Causes of the

French Revolution

Three Estates

1st: Clergy

2nd: Nobility

3rd:Everyone Else

1% population10% landTax Exempt

2% pop.35% landSpecial treatment, little to no taxes

97% pop.55% landMiddle Class, peasants, urban workers, etc.Taxed

Natural Rights of Man

Challenged Absolutism

Influence of Revolutionary

Success in North America

All men are created equal

No taxation without representation

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

DIAGRAM

In October of 1789 6,000 Parisian women marched towards the Palace of Versailles. The women were furious at the King and Queen over the rising bread prices. They rioted and said they wanted Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to go to Paris. Louis finally agreed to go to Paris, and he promised he would get bread for the women. He and his family would never see Versailles again. This was a step towards democracy, because women, who supposedly had hardly any power, got the King and Queen to leave their palace and go to Paris.

We want bread! We want bread!We want bread!

Go to Paris Louis and

Marie!

In October 17 1789, about 6,000 Parisian women marched to the Palace of Versailles to demand bread for the starving masses of Paris. The king made a promise to go back to Paris with the angry mob, but he never would return to Versailles. This act contributed to the rise of democracy because it signaled the change of power and radical reforms to overtake France.

We want bread!

We want bread!

The “Reign of Terror” was the time period in the French Revolution when Robespierre was put in charge of the Committee of Public Safety. Robespierre decided who would be named an enemy of the Republic and executed on treason. Executions were carried out on the guillotine. From July 1793 to July 1794, about 40,000 people were executed, most of them being falsely accused, and 85 percent of them being peasants. The Reign of Terror ended when Maximilian Robespierre lost his head on July 28, 1794. The Reign of Terror did not do anything to help democracy, but it made way for a brilliant leader.

Mommy! I’m scared!

From July 1793 to July 1794 year was known as The Reign Of Terror. Robespierre was the head of the Reign of Terror. Robespierre and his followers set out to build a “republic of virtue.” During this period up to 40,000 people were executed, mostly by the guillotine. You were sent to the guillotine for everything especially treason. Treason is when you speak back to the government. The Reign of Terror ended when Robespierre himself was sent to the guillotine. This helped and hurt the rise of democracy. It hurt the rise of democracy because one person took complete control and had almost an unlimited amount of power. It helped the rise of democracy because someone who was getting out of hand was dealt with.

Next!!Mom, we walked

all the way here for this? We want to

be entertained!

In 1800 Napoleon became the emperor of France. Napoleon had already had military success as a French Military General in the war. Napoleon brought some reforms of the revolution like equal taxation. Napoleon ruled as a military dictatorship. Napoleon created the Napoleonic Code which was a system of laws and rights. The Napoleonic Code took away rights from women, and it took away freedom of speech, among other things that had been gained from the Revolutionary War. Napoleon lost only one major battle, Unfortunately for Napoleon this loss was more important than any of his wins. The Rise of Napoleon was not a major step towards democracy even thought the people voted for him. Napoleon took advantage of the French people and became an absolute

power. I crown myself king!

Napoleon Bonaparte was debatably one of the most brilliant leaders of all time. He was able to take France out of its revolution and he made it one of the largest powers the world has ever seen. Napoleon introduced some reforms of the revolution that stabilized France’s economy, government, and religion. Right after crowning himself emperor, he led conquests into other countries and had great military success. I think it is debatable if Napoleon contributed to democracy or not. Some of his reforms shafted citizens of basic freedoms, something usually done in a dictatorship, but he gave France what it needed to in a time of chaos.

Napoleon was 5’3”

tall!

Nickname -”Little

Corporal”

What contributed

to Napoleon’s downfall?

Napoleon’s power was at a peak, and so was France’s. In an effort to control Europe, Napoleon

invaded Russia. His army was crushed, and so was France’s power in Europe. Soon after,

France’s newly acquired territory was lost, and the old monarchies were restored. A balance of

power was put into effect so no country would ever become too powerful. All of these things

happened at the congress of Vienna. In France, the monarchy was also restored, but this time

as a constitutional monarchy under the rule of King Louis XVIII. Fearing that he would also be

beheaded, he gave up some of his power to the constitution.

www.members.aol.com/agentmess/frenchrev/

www.chnm.gmu.edu/revolution

www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook13.html

www.history.hanover.edu/modern/frenchrv.htm

www.humanities.uchicago.edu/homes/mark/fr_rev.html

www.port.ac.uk/andressd/frlinks.htm

www.txdirect.net/users/rrichard/napoleo1.htm

www.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/History/ /french-rev.htm