The French The French RevolutionRevolution

“It was the best of “It was the best of times, it was the worst times, it was the worst

of times”of times”A Tale of Two CitesA Tale of Two Cites

Impact of the EnlightenmentImpact of the Enlightenment

Direct challenge to Direct challenge to traditional traditional -political models-political models

- divine right absolutism- divine right absolutism- Christianity and religions - Christianity and religions

institutions (Roman Catholic Church institutions (Roman Catholic Church and and traditional Christian teaching traditional Christian teaching and theology)and theology)

- traditional social order and status- traditional social order and status- economic models (mercantilism)- economic models (mercantilism)

The PhilosophesThe PhilosophesVoltaireVoltaire

Challenged religious Challenged religious intoleranceintolerance

Challenged traditional Challenged traditional Christianity (deist)Christianity (deist)

Challenged social mores Challenged social mores and social conventionand social convention

Supported some Supported some political reform but political reform but retained monarchy as retained monarchy as the best modelthe best model

John LockeJohn Locke Government based on Government based on

natural rights (life, liberty, natural rights (life, liberty, property)property)

Government ruled with the Government ruled with the consent of the peopleconsent of the people

Government was Government was responsible for protecting responsible for protecting the rights and liberties of the the rights and liberties of the peoplepeople

Second Treatise on Civil Second Treatise on Civil GovernmentGovernment

MontesquieuMontesquieu

Proposed that the Proposed that the powers of government powers of government needed to be separate needed to be separate and balancedand balanced

Protection of liberties Protection of liberties Guard against tyrannyGuard against tyranny The Spirit of LawsThe Spirit of Laws

RousseauRousseau

Government ruled with Government ruled with the consent of the the consent of the peoplepeople

Government ruled by Government ruled by popular sovereigntypopular sovereignty

General willGeneral will of the of the citizens was absolutecitizens was absolute

The Social ContractThe Social Contract

The structure of French The structure of French SocietySociety

The Three EstatesThe Three Estates

The First EstateThe First EstateClergy and Church Clergy and Church

LeadershipLeadership

The Second EstateThe Second EstateThe AristocracyThe Aristocracy (nobility)(nobility)

The Third EstateThe Third EstateCommoners: Commoners: merchants, craftsmen, merchants, craftsmen, professional people, working class, farmers, professional people, working class, farmers,

peasantspeasants

French MonarchyFrench MonarchyLouis XVI and Marie AntoinetteLouis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles Palace of Versailles Hall of MirrorsHall of Mirrors

Problems on the eve of the Problems on the eve of the RevolutionRevolution

– Debt brought on by war Debt brought on by war – Inability to raise sufficient taxesInability to raise sufficient taxes

Peasants had been overtaxed and the aristocratic Peasants had been overtaxed and the aristocratic class had not been taxedclass had not been taxed

– No central bank or paper currency to bolster No central bank or paper currency to bolster the French economy and move it toward the French economy and move it toward recoveryrecovery

– Bankrupt monarchy- tremendous excess and Bankrupt monarchy- tremendous excess and spendingspending

– Grain shortages and bread shortagesGrain shortages and bread shortages– Inflation Inflation

Social Tensions Social Tensions A call for liberty A call for liberty

and equalityand equality

Social tensions between the Social tensions between the three Estatesthree Estates

The Estates RevoltThe Estates Revolt17891789

A call for political reform A call for political reform among many within the among many within the French nobility and the French nobility and the

Third EstateThird Estate

The Third Estate The Third Estate declared itself the new declared itself the new

National AssemblyNational Assembly

Emmanuel Joseph SieyesEmmanuel Joseph SieyesWhat is the Third Estate?What is the Third Estate?

““What is the Third What is the Third Estate? Estate? Everything. What Everything. What has it been in the has it been in the political order to political order to present? Nothing. present? Nothing. What does it ask? What does it ask? To become To become something.”something.”

The National Assembly The National Assembly The Oath of the Tennis CourtThe Oath of the Tennis Court

June 1789June 1789

The Storming of the Bastille The Storming of the Bastille July 14, 1789July 14, 1789

The Declaration of the Rights of The Declaration of the Rights of ManMan

a new constitutiona new constitution

Based on man’s natural rights (John Based on man’s natural rights (John Locke)Locke)

““Men are born free and remain free and Men are born free and remain free and equal in rights.”equal in rights.”

Liberty, property, securityLiberty, property, security Resistance to oppressionResistance to oppression Due process under the lawDue process under the law Equitable taxationEquitable taxation Freedom of religionFreedom of religion

Women of Paris marched on Versailles Women of Paris marched on Versailles demanding that the king address their demanding that the king address their

demandsdemands

A New Government was A New Government was establishedestablished

17891789 France became a constitutional France became a constitutional

monarchymonarchy Power rested with the AssemblyPower rested with the Assembly The Second Estate was abolishedThe Second Estate was abolished The Assembly seized church landsThe Assembly seized church lands

– New currency backed up by money New currency backed up by money gained from church landsgained from church lands

Many in France fled the countryMany in France fled the country

The king and his family attempted to The king and his family attempted to flee France but were intercepted and flee France but were intercepted and

returned to Parisreturned to Paris

The King and Queen were arrested and The King and Queen were arrested and

returned to Parisreturned to Paris

The Second Phase of the The Second Phase of the Revolution Revolution 1792-17951792-1795

The Establishment of the The Establishment of the French RepublicFrench Republic

17921792“Liberty, equality, brotherhood”“Liberty, equality, brotherhood”

The Establishment of the The Establishment of the CommuneCommune

Ruling factions struggled for control of the Ruling factions struggled for control of the governmentgovernment

Girondists- moderate political groupGirondists- moderate political group Jacobins- political radicalsJacobins- political radicals

– ““War against tyranny.”War against tyranny.” Creation of a new popular cultureCreation of a new popular culture

- Monarchy was abolishedMonarchy was abolished- No ChurchNo Church- No aristocracyNo aristocracy

Louis was forced to Louis was forced to wear the hat of the wear the hat of the Revolution Revolution

Many in Europe were highly critical of Many in Europe were highly critical of the Revolution and its violent the Revolution and its violent

excesses.excesses.

Edmund Burke spoke out Edmund Burke spoke out against the Revolution from against the Revolution from

EnglandEngland

Louis XVI was executed Louis XVI was executed 17931793

Several months later, Marie Antoinette Several months later, Marie Antoinette was tried and executedwas tried and executed

A new religionA new religionwas established was established

The Cult of the Supreme BeingThe Cult of the Supreme Being

A new national calendar was put in place. A new national calendar was put in place. Names of the months were changed to Names of the months were changed to

reflect revolutionary valuesreflect revolutionary values

France at war with EuropeFrance at war with Europe17931793

France declared war on Britain, Holland, and France declared war on Britain, Holland, and SpainSpain

Attempted to create a greater sense of national Attempted to create a greater sense of national pride and unity within France to draw the people pride and unity within France to draw the people together together

The draft was institutedThe draft was instituted France created the largest fighting force in France created the largest fighting force in

EuropeEurope French nationalism and patriotic loyalty grewFrench nationalism and patriotic loyalty grew A young Napoleon Bonaparte began to make a A young Napoleon Bonaparte began to make a

name for himself as a military commandername for himself as a military commander

The Committee of Public SafetyThe Committee of Public SafetyRobespierreRobespierre

17931793

The Committee of Public SafetyThe Committee of Public Safetypoliciespolicies

Government controlled and planned Government controlled and planned economyeconomy

Price controlsPrice controls Rationing of foodRationing of food Quality controls Quality controls Government control of small Government control of small

manufacturing (nationalization of small manufacturing (nationalization of small industry)industry)

Control and requisitioning of raw Control and requisitioning of raw materialsmaterials

Robespierre and The Reign of Robespierre and The Reign of TerrorTerror

(Paris and the Provinces)(Paris and the Provinces)1793-17941793-1794

Thousands were Thousands were accused of being accused of being enemies of the enemies of the Republic and were Republic and were executedexecuted

Attempt by Attempt by Robespierre to Robespierre to eliminate any eliminate any opposition to his opposition to his power and vision for power and vision for France France

The Thermidorian Reaction The Thermidorian Reaction 17941794

Robespierre’s tactics and policies Robespierre’s tactics and policies were called into questionwere called into question

A group of political moderates A group of political moderates plotted his deathplotted his death

Robespierre attempted to commit Robespierre attempted to commit suicide but failedsuicide but failed

Executed in July 1794Executed in July 1794

1794-17951794-1795

Economic controls collapsedEconomic controls collapsed Revolts and riots broke outRevolts and riots broke out Many in France called for a return to Many in France called for a return to

traditional Christianity and the traditional Christianity and the ChurchChurch

The Directory 1795-1799The Directory 1795-1799A new governmentA new government

New government was established New government was established Five leaders were elected by electorsFive leaders were elected by electors War efforts expanded in EuropeWar efforts expanded in Europe Growing discontent with government Growing discontent with government

policiespolicies Economic hardships continued as Economic hardships continued as

economic controls were abolishedeconomic controls were abolished Move back toward a more conservative Move back toward a more conservative

governmentgovernment

The End of the DirectoryThe End of the Directory1799-18041799-1804

The Directory failed to The Directory failed to restore order and calm restore order and calm to Franceto France

A consulate of leaders A consulate of leaders was establishedwas established

Napoleon was elected Napoleon was elected first consul first consul

He began to repeal He began to repeal civil liberties and build civil liberties and build a powerful French a powerful French empireempire

The Legacy of the French The Legacy of the French RevolutionRevolution

Political liberalismPolitical liberalism continued to grow in continued to grow in EuropeEurope

NationalismNationalism continued to increase continued to increase throughout Europe would dominate the throughout Europe would dominate the 1919thth and 20 and 20thth century century

European society continued its move European society continued its move toward toward secularismsecularism

Members of the middle class will come to Members of the middle class will come to dominate European politics and societydominate European politics and society