French Revoluti

on

Estates

Since the Middle Ages,

French society was divided into social classes called estates.

1st Estate• Made up of Catholic

clergy

• 1% of the population

• Kept the 10% tithe from church members

• Enjoyed very wealthy lifestyle

2nd Estate• Made up of nobility

• About 2% of the population

• Held the highest post in government & military

• Income came from feudal dues they collected from

peasants who lived on their land

3rd Estate• Made up 97% of the people• Had very few political privileges• Bourgeoisie – Middle Class, such

as doctors & lawyers• Artisans – business owners• Peasants – lowest level – farmers• This was the only estate that had to

pay taxes.

Growing Unrest

• Peasants were unhappy with their situation• The growing population was causing the cost of living to increase• People were having to pay more for products, but their wages were not increasing• Nobles were also mad because they wanted more political power

• In 1774 when Louis XVI took the throne, the country was in serious debt.• Louis XIV had been involved in many expensive wars• Louis XV had wasted large amounts of money with his extravagant lifestyle• Louis XVI decided to start taxing the 1st & 2nd estate

Estates General• The Estates General was a group of

representatives from each estate.• The King called them to pass a law requiring

all estates to pay taxes.• The 3rd estate was larger than the other two

combined• The 1st & 2nd knew the 3rd would vote for

everyone to pay taxes• The 1st & 2nd Estates locked out the 3rd

estate from the meeting.

Tennis Court Oath• The members of the 3rd Estate went to

the closest building, an indoor tennis court.

• Here they took an oath & formed the National Assembly.

• Because the majority of the people supported the National Assembly, the king forced the 1st & 2nd Estate to join it.

Call to Revolt• The National Assembly called for

complete social equality

• The Bastille – a debtors prison was a symbol of the injustices toward the 3rd estate.

• On July 14, 1789, a huge mob stormed the prison to try to get weapons to defend the National Assembly.

•The storming of the Bastille started a wave of violence throughout France called the Great Fear.

• In August 1789, In August 1789, nobles finally voted to nobles finally voted to end their privileges. end their privileges.

• The Declaration of the The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Rights of Man and of the Citizen became the Citizen became the French the French Constitution. It was Constitution. It was based on the based on the Declaration of Declaration of Independence and the Independence and the US Constitution.US Constitution.

• The new government The new government created a uni-cameral created a uni-cameral legislature, or one legislature, or one house assembly.house assembly.

King Louis had left Paris & went to his palace in Versailles.He was forced by an angry mob to return to Paris.The king, his wife, and son were virtually being held prisoner.

Church Reforms

•The Catholic Church had been an important part of the old political system.•The revolutionaries felt it also needed to be reformed.•By seizing & selling off church lands, they could fund their revolution.

New Constitution•The new constitution set up a limited monarchy.•The new Legislative Assembly made the following reforms:

•Men over 25 who paid a certain amount taxes could vote.•Only wealthy were elected to be deputies•All government officials were elected

Political radicals & disadvantaged citizens wanted more reform.

The king resisted these changes.

The royal family tried to escape to Austria, but was captured and returned.

• Louis XVI would Louis XVI would later be arrested. later be arrested. This led to war for This led to war for France. France.

• Other European Other European monarchies would monarchies would fear the uprising in fear the uprising in France.France.

• The French The French Revolutionaries Revolutionaries declared war on declared war on Austria.Austria.

• Louis XVI remained on the throne for a year.

• In the spring of 1792 angry citizens declared themselves a commune.

• They took the king captive and called the National Convention to bring about more radical changes.

• Many members began calling themselves the sans-culottes.

• They were ordinary citizens who were leading the revolution.

The First Republic• In September 1792, the newly elected National

Convention began to draft a constitution.• They abolished the monarchy and established

the First French Republic.• Political groups began to develop.• Girondins – wanted reforms, but not so radical

– wanted to keep the king alive.• Jacobins – radical – wanted the king to be

executed.

On January 21, the king was beheaded on the guillotine.

After his death, Austria, Spain, Portugal, and the British declared war on France.

• Because of domestic & internal threats, the National Convention created the Committee of Public Safety.

• It was to direct the war effort.

• Maximilien Robespierre was put in charge.

• This began the Reign of Terror.

Reign of Terror• It lasted from July 1793 – July 1794.

• Over 40,000 people were killed.

• Anyone who did not join the side of the revolutionaries was executed.

• A huge army was created.

• It was very successful against foreign invasion.

• After the threats were eliminated, most people wanted to stop the violence, but Robespierre refused.

•The National Convention feared Robespierre and gathered enough votes to have him executed.

•This ended the Reign of Terror.

The Directory

• With the Reign of Terror over, The National Convention restricted the power of the Committee of Public Safety.

• Churches were allowed to re-open.• Under a new constitution, the Directory was

created.• It was a council of 5 men who would

temporarily rule the country until a permanent government could be created.

• In 1799, Napoleon In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte seized Bonaparte seized power in a coup power in a coup d’etat, quick d’etat, quick seizure of power.seizure of power.

• Napoleon made Napoleon made quick changes in quick changes in the government the government and named himself and named himself Consul for Life.Consul for Life.

• Napoleon wanted to build an empire, Napoleon wanted to build an empire, but he could not defeat the British navy. but he could not defeat the British navy. He would try economic blockades He would try economic blockades against Britain but would fail.against Britain but would fail.

• Many nations conquered by Napoleon Many nations conquered by Napoleon began to have feelings of nationalism, began to have feelings of nationalism, yearning for self rule and began to yearning for self rule and began to revolt.revolt.

• When Russia turned against Napoleon, When Russia turned against Napoleon, it would start the downfall of his empire.it would start the downfall of his empire.

• Napoleon invaded Russia but after a brutal Napoleon invaded Russia but after a brutal Russian winter, only 1/3 of his troops Russian winter, only 1/3 of his troops returned. returned.

• In 1813, Napoleon was defeated, but In 1813, Napoleon was defeated, but regained power for a “Hundred Days.” regained power for a “Hundred Days.”

• In 1815, Napoleon lost at the Battle of In 1815, Napoleon lost at the Battle of Waterloo and was banish to the island of Waterloo and was banish to the island of Saint Helena and died in 1821.Saint Helena and died in 1821.

• In 1814, with In 1814, with Napoleon in exile, the Napoleon in exile, the Congress of Vienna Congress of Vienna was held to restore was held to restore order and stabilize order and stabilize Europe after 25 years Europe after 25 years of war.of war.