Reminder of the French Revolution os#the-french-revolution os#the-french-revolution.
The French Revolution
description
Transcript of The French Revolution
The French RevolutionThe French Revolution
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
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 1789 -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”
Embarrassing situation for the king King agrees Establishment of The National Assembly
Bastille Day
July 1789 French farmers, peasants do not have enough to eat and are paying high taxes– Nobles out of touch (“Let them eat cake”)
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, 1789 - Attack the
Bastille – fortress prison in Paris holding political prisoners, debtors, criminals etc.
• Seen as a symbol of Kings power
• People storm the prison and free the prisoners.
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
Revolution Getting out of Control
King Louis XVI attempts to flee the country with his wife Marie Antoinette
Captured and brought back Radicals getting more say in how the
government should be run
Outside Influences
1792-1793 Other nations of Europe worry that revolution in France will spread to their countries.
We better
stop this
This is getting out
of hand
The killed their
King!!!
This is not
good
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 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” Begins
• Around 30,000 people will be sent to the guillotine
• Nobles, peasants, workers, anyone Robespierre saw as a threat to the revolution
Reign of Terror
– “Reign of Terror” Begins• Around 30,000 people will be 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, France has LARGE, experienced army
– Rising young star in that army – Napoleon Bonaparte