1789

The Tennis Court Oath

Delegates from the Third Estate were elected to go to the Estate General. They wanted to not only solve the financial crisis plaguing France, but also to insist on reform.

Normally each of the three groups got one vote, so the Third Estate always lost, but this time the Third Estate wanted all estates to meet as a single body and count votes by person.

After zero progress was made and there were weeks of stalemates, the delegates of the Third Estate, created a risky new group.

Titled the National Assembly, they stated that they represented the people of France and invited delegates of other estates to help them create a constitution.

Moving to the Tennis Court

The National assembly found their meeting hall locked and guarded; fearing that the king planned to dismiss them, the delegates moved to a nearby tennis court. It was here that the delegates took their Tennis Court Oath. Swearing to “never to separate and to meet wherever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution.

Storming of the Bastille

When word of military occupation of Paris got around. More than 800 Parisians gathered outside of the fortress, the Bastille.

The crowd demanded weapons and gunpowder and were refused and fired upon by the guards inside.

The enraged mob finally broke through the defenses, killed the commander and five guards, but found no weapons.

The Great Fear

During a time of severe famine, rumors ran wild and started off what is now called the “Great Fear.”

Tales of attacks on villages and towns spread panic. Other rumors stated that government troops were seizing what few peasant crops were left.

Revolt

Inflamed by this fear and famine peasants unleashed their anger upon the noble class that was trying to reinstate medieval dues. The peasants attacked the homes of nobles, set fire to old manor records, and stole grain from storehouses.

Though eventually dying down, the attacks showed peasant anger with the current regime.

On to Paris

On October 5, 1789 thousands of women marched from Paris to Versailles. They demanded that the King return to Paris.

Reluctantly the King agreed and the royal family marched back to Paris with the crowd. Using the Tuileris as their new home. For the next few years, Louis XVI was a virtual prisoner.

Napoleon Takes Control

During the turmoil of the revolution, Napoleon quickly prepared himself in the army.

He drove the British out of the French port of Toulon, and won several incredible victories over the Austrians, capturing most of Italy in the process.

He then lead a disastrous campaign against the British in Egypt, but was able to hide his losses from his French supporters.

Reforms of Napoleon

Encouragement of new industry, and infrastructure improvements

System of public schools under strict government control.

Made peace with the Catholic Church but kept it under state control.

He recognized the right of the peasants to the land they bought during the revolution.

Ended class discrimination in jobs

Napoleonic Code

The Napoleonic Code was a new law code that embodied Enlightenment Principles.

Equality of all citizens before the law, religious toleration, and advancement based on merit.

Women lost many rights however, as Napoleon much preferred order and authority over individual rights.

Empire of France

Napoleon was a master commander and drew up new battle plans ever single battle so his enemies could never anticipate his moves.

He annexed areas nearby France straight into the borders of France.

He abolished the Holy Roman Empire and created a German Confederation under French protection and control.

He cut Prussia in half, creating a Polish country in the process. He also put many of his friends and family in control of other countries.

The Congress of Vienna

The Congress met for 10 months and the leaders of the major empires: Austria, Great Britain, Russia, and France, met to restore the balance of Europe

They established several new powerful countries to keep other countries, namely France, under control. Monarchs were also restored to power and revolutionaries removed.

A New France

France lost much of the territory it had fought for in the Napoleonic Wars. French people had decided that they were going to keep their rights and privileges given by Napoleon no matter who was leader.

France was becoming the first true European Republic.

Pre-Revolution

First Estate

Made up of around 130,000 people Immune from taxes Came from noble families They were all part of the Catholic

Church

Second Estate

Made up of around 120,000 people Nobility Formed by people being born into

noble families Special tax exemptions Leading positions in court and society Most were no richer than the lowest of

the French middle class

Third Estate

99% of population formed the Third Estate

Most were peasants 2,000,000 were middle class Backbone of the country Paid the largest share of taxes Had little to no influence on the

Monarch

Economic Troubles

The national treasury had been exhausted by the wars of Louis XIV and his extravagance

The $250,000,000 that it cost France to aid the Americans in the fight for independence was the final straw

Foreign countries refused to lend more money to the French

Societal Troubles

There were disputes between the social classes

The Third Estate was most of the country and they were not happy

The Bourgeoisie were well educated, but had no say in government

The Peasants paid most of the taxes and they wanted to own their own property

The urban poor of Paris were the most politicized group of people because of their high literacy

Reign of Terror

Fall of Louis XVI

Battle disasters made revolutionaries think the King was in league with the invaders

Citizens attacked prison that held nobles and priests accused of political offenses

Backed by Paris crowds, radicals took control of the assembly

Radicals called for the election of a new legislative body called the National Convention

Fall of Louis XVI (cont.)

The National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy and declare France as a republic

They set up a new constitution During the early months of the

republic, the Convention put Louis XVI on trial as a traitor of France.

The king was convicted by a single vote and sentenced to death

Fall of Louis XVI (cont.)

In January 1793 the king was beheaded In October 1793 Marie Antoinette was

also executed

Maximilien Robespierre

Quickly rose to leadership of the Committee of Public Safety

Selfless dedication to the revolution earned him the nickname “the incorruptible”

Enemies called him a tyrant He promoted religious toleration and

wanted to abolish slavery He believed France could achieve a

“republic of virtue” only by using terror

The Reign of Terror

Robespierre was one of the chief architects

Lasted from July 1793 to July 1794 About 40,000 people died About 15% were nobles and clergy Another 15% were middle-class citizens The rest were peasants and sans-

culottes involved in riots or revolts against the republic

End of the Reign of Terror

Within a year, the Reign of Terror consumed itself

Weary of bloodshed and fearing for their own lives, members of the Convention turned on the Committee of Public Safety

On July 27, 1794 Robespierre was arrested After the heads of Robespierre and other

radicals fell, executions slowed down dramatically

The Revolution’s Changes to France

Constitution of 1795

Set up a five man Directory and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens of property.

At this time, the middle-class and professional people of the bourgeoisie were dominant in society.

It brought peace with Prussia and Spain, but the war with Austria and Great Britain kept going.

Constitution of 1795 (cont.)

A lot of corrupt leaders made a lot of money, but still didn’t solve most of the issues around them.

In 1797’s election, people in favor of a monarchy won the majority of seats in the senate.

Politicians knew trouble was near, and in turn used Napoleon Bonaparte who was popular due to his many military victories so they could advance their own ideas.

It backfired, as Napoleon outsmarted them and soon found himself as the ruler of France.

Women’s Rights

A high number of women weren’t happy when the Declaration of Rights for Men didn’t give them equal rights either.

Olympe de Gouges was a journalist that demanded equal rights to women, she was later sent to the guillotine.

Women did end up getting some rights for a period of time.

But these were lost as Napoleon took power.

Changes in the French Daily Life

The old social order had been “dislodged”, the monarchy had been overthrown, and the Church had been brought under state control.

The title “citizen” applied to everybody in France no matter what social class they may belong to.

Nationalism soon spread throughout France. Citizens even attended festivals that were all

about celebrating France and the Revolution that had taken place.

Changes in France (cont.)

Revolutionaries wanted social reform and religious tolerance.

State schools replaced religious schools. Organized systems that would assist the poor, old

soldiers of the army, and war widows. Slavery was even abolished in their Caribbean

colonies. An attempt to de-Christianize France was made by

the Convention. France soon adopted a style of art very similar to

that of Ancient Rome, which was a grand classical style.

France’s Dislike in Europe

Napoleon and France were very hated in all of Europe.

People felt that he and France were trying to force their beliefs and system of government on them.

Many countries all over Europe led revolts from nationalism on France.

France was soon on the battlefields defending themselves from enemies.

Defeat in Russia

Russians burned down French crops so Napoleon wouldn’t be able to feed his soldiers and they would be cold when winter came.

The French army had no choice but to return home from Moscow in defeat.

French general Michel Ney said that Winter and Famine beat the French, not Russia.

The Legacy of Napoleon

After dying in 1821, Napoleon’s legacy still lived on in France.

Many wonder if he was the revolution or if he went against the revolution.

But nobody will argue that he didn’t have an effect on France and Europe.

More people had rights to equal property and had more access to education than the old regime allowed.