THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONTHE FRENCH REVOLUTION

BACKGROUND TO BACKGROUND TO REVOLUTIONREVOLUTION

Leslie Rhinehart/Leslie Rhinehart/ljr316@charter.net Montclair High SchoolMontclair High SchoolThree EstatesThree Estates

11stst Estate Estate-Catholic Clergy -Catholic Clergy (1%) (1%)

22ndnd Estate Estate-Nobles & govt. -Nobles & govt. (2%)(2%)

33rdrd Estate- Estate-everyone else everyone else (97%)(97%)

((merchants & artisans-well merchants & artisans-well educated but no status or educated but no status or power), bourgeousis, urban power), bourgeousis, urban lower class, peasant farmers lower class, peasant farmers

33rdrd ESTATE ESTATE pay all taxes! pay all taxes! (1/2 (1/2

salary)salary)

1st two estates tax exempt.Clergy owns 10% of land & gives 2% of its income to the govt., nobles 20% of land & tax exempt

Economic Economic WoesWoes1.1. 1780s - crop failures –1780s - crop failures –

price of bread price of bread doubles doubles

2.2. American Revolution American Revolution doubles France’s debtdoubles France’s debt

3.3. Unequal Unequal power/money and power/money and tax!tax!

Louis XVIWeak, young &

Indecisive

Marie Antoinette“Madame Deficit”

TAX Crisis – no money! TAX Crisis – no money! Bankrupt!Bankrupt!

Estates-General meet Estates-General meet -Louis tries to tax 2nd -Louis tries to tax 2nd Estate – they refuseEstate – they refuse

33rdrd Estate insists all Estate insists all estates meet & each estates meet & each delegate have a vote, delegate have a vote, but Louis refusesbut Louis refuses

Tennis Court OathTennis Court Oath17891789

33rdrd Estate form Estate form National Assembly National Assembly (representative govt) (representative govt)

Locked out - they meet in indoor tennis court where Locked out - they meet in indoor tennis court where they vow to remain until they write a Constitutionthey vow to remain until they write a Constitution

King sends troops to stop National King sends troops to stop National Assembly, so….July 14Assembly, so….July 14thth Parisians storm the Parisians storm the

Bastille to seize weapons to defend Bastille to seize weapons to defend themselves against the Kingthemselves against the King

The Great FearThe Great Fear

Peasants burn Peasants burn manor houses manor houses

October - 6000 October - 6000 women riot over $ women riot over $ of breadof bread

March to VersaillesMarch to Versailles

seize King & his seize King & his entourage (60,000) entourage (60,000) - return to Paris- return to Paris

Declaration of the Rights of Declaration of the Rights of ManMan

National Assembly adopts Declaration National Assembly adopts Declaration (similar to Declaration of (similar to Declaration of Independence)Independence)

““the aim of all political association is the preservation of the the aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural . . . rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, natural . . . rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.”security and resistance to oppression.”

Freedom of religion & speechFreedom of religion & speech

Creates a constitutional monarchy and Creates a constitutional monarchy and King and 3King and 3rdrd Estate share power! Estate share power!

A State Controlled ChurchA State Controlled Church

To pay France’s debts, Assembly takes To pay France’s debts, Assembly takes church lands to sell, pope loses church lands to sell, pope loses power over French churchpower over French church

WARS WITH EUROPE: WARS WITH EUROPE: European Nobility fear the European Nobility fear the

spread of revolutionary idealsspread of revolutionary idealsAustria/Prussians threaten Austria/Prussians threaten

to destroy Paris if royal to destroy Paris if royal family is harmed . . . family is harmed . . .

mob imprisons royal mob imprisons royal family-execute the king family-execute the king & queen.& queen.

Constitution abolished by Constitution abolished by new new National ConventionNational Convention

Reign of Terror: PHASE IIReign of Terror: PHASE II

Robespierre (head of Robespierre (head of Committee of Public Committee of Public Safety) and Jacobins Safety) and Jacobins behead 40,000 people behead 40,000 people ––

85% peasants, urban 85% peasants, urban poor & middle class poor & middle class

REVOLUTIONARIES GO TOO REVOLUTIONARIES GO TOO FARFAR

Leroy? Name change? No playing cards. No Sundays! New calendar. Churches became museums. The Priests were often forced to marry – no church power!

JACOBINS LOSE POWERJACOBINS LOSE POWER1794 – Robespierre is beheaded!

1795 – A new government called THE DIRECTORY

They hire a young general to fight their wars with Austria and Britain and he wins many battles…

Napoleon Bonaparte: PHASE Napoleon Bonaparte: PHASE IIIIII

1799-coup d’etat by 1799-coup d’etat by Napoleon – gives himselfNapoleon – gives himself

unlimited power and unlimited power and a new constitutiona new constitution

1804 - crowns himself 1804 - crowns himself Emperor Emperor

His military victoriesHis military victories establish a French establish a French

empire!empire!

Napoleonic Code Napoleonic Code No notes!No notes!

Equal TaxationEqual Taxation

Stable EconomyStable Economy

Public EducationPublic Education

Religious tolerationReligious toleration

Govt. control of church lands Govt. control of church lands

Women lose right to sell propertyWomen lose right to sell property

Restriction of free speech & pressRestriction of free speech & press

Restore slavery in French coloniesRestore slavery in French colonies

New World TerritoriesNew World TerritoriesWest Indies & Louisiana West Indies & Louisiana

PurchasePurchase

1803-Napoleon sells 1803-Napoleon sells Louisiana to US for Louisiana to US for $15,000,000 - pays $15,000,000 - pays for war debtsfor war debts

1789 - Toussaint L’Ouverture leads slave revolt in Haiti

NAPOLEON’S 3 BIG MISTAKESNAPOLEON’S 3 BIG MISTAKES

11stst MISTAKE MISTAKE

1806/Continental System 1806/Continental System – – Napoleon blockades continent Napoleon blockades continent from British from British

Portugal and others ignore itPortugal and others ignore it

22ndnd MISTAKE: MISTAKE: PENISINSULAR WAR PENISINSULAR WAR

Angry about the blockade not Angry about the blockade not working - France invades Portugal working - France invades Portugal through Spain – puts his brother on through Spain – puts his brother on Spanish throne!Spanish throne!

1808/Peninsular War infuses 1808/Peninsular War infuses Spaniards with nationalism – otherSpaniards with nationalism – othernations help…loss!nations help…loss!

33rdrd MISTAKE MISTAKE

Napoleon’s invasion of RUSSIA is a Napoleon’s invasion of RUSSIA is a huge failure – thousands die in the huge failure – thousands die in the cold!cold!

Russia employs “scorched earth” Russia employs “scorched earth” policy –policy –10,000 left from almost 450,00010,000 left from almost 450,000

Europe conspires against Napoleon and he is Europe conspires against Napoleon and he is defeated – sent to exile in ELBAdefeated – sent to exile in ELBA

WaterlooWaterloo

Defeated in Belgium in 1815

Napoleon escapes from Elba – crowds cheer him in France and rules for the HUNDRED DAYS…His defeat at Waterloo ends France’s European empire and he is sent to exile in St. Helena

Congress of ViennaCongress of Vienna18151815

Surrounds France with Surrounds France with strong countriesstrong countries

Balance of power/no Balance of power/no country a threatcountry a threat

Restore royal familiesRestore royal families

PEACE LASTS ALMOST PEACE LASTS ALMOST HALF A CENTURYHALF A CENTURY Klemens von Metternich

Austria’s foreign minister

1809-1848

Napoleon’s Empire 1810 Europe 1817