French Revolution

Revolutionary Eras

• Historians divide into different phases• Moderate Phase of National Assembly 1789-

1791• Radical Phase-End of Monarchy and reign of

Terror 1792-1794• The Directory-Reaction against extremism

1795-1799

Age of Napoleon 1799-1815

• Happens at the same time as the worst famine ever. Starving peasants roamed the countryside or flocked to the towns. Even people with jobs had to spend most of their income on bread.

• A. Political Crisis Leads to Revolt– A. Rumors ran wild and set off what was later called

the “Great Fear”

• 1. peasants roamed the countryside and attacked nobles causing fear on both sides.

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• B. Paris Commune Comes to Power– 1. A variety of factions competed to gain

power.– 2. Moderates looked to Marquis de Lafayette

for leadership.• A. Headed the National Guard• B. First group to wear the tricolor-(later adopted as

national flag).

• C. Paris Commune Comes to power– 1. Radical group– 2. Replaced the royalist govt. in Paris– 3. Radical groups sprang up everywhere.

• D. National Assembly Acts– 1. August 4, 1789 Nobles voted to end own

privileges. – 2. National Assembly turns into law-key goal

was equality for all males before the law.

• E. Declaration of the Rights of Man– 1. Modeled on American Declaration of

Independence– 2. Males had “natural rights” & equal before

the law.– 3. Established that governments exist to

protect the rights of citizens– Established freedom of religion & taxes

according to ability to pay.

Passed the Declaration of the Rights of Man Document that limited the French monarchy and declared all citizens equal

before the law

• 5.Established French Slogan “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

• 6. Women angered they were left out.– 1. Olympe de Gouges demanded equal rights

for women.– 2. Later imprisoned with other women

protestors.

• F. Louis XVI Resists– 1. Did not accept reforms of National

Assembly– 2. Continued with galas while people starved.

• G. Women march on Versailles– 1. Oct. 5, 6,000 women marched to Versailles

demanding to see the king.– 2. Anger directed at Marie Antoinette.– 3. King and family forced to return to Paris.– 4. Louis was virtual prisoner for next 3 years.

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• H. Church put under State Control– 1. 1790-bishops and priests became elected

officials. – 2. Ended papal authority– 3. Many peasants rejected the changes

• I. Constitution of 1791– 1. Established limited monarchy– 2. Established legislative body– 3. Males 25 and over could vote.– 4. Reformed many laws.– 5. Louis XVI attempted escape but was

apprehended.• A. Looked on as a traitor to revolution.

• J. Radicals take over– 1. Rulers feared the “French Plague”– 2. Nobles and clergy fled France.– K. Declaration of Pilnitz

– 1. Issued by emperor of Austria.– 2. Threatened intervention if King and family were

harmed– 3. France prepared for war.

• L. Radicals Fight for Power

– 1. Economic problems continued

– 2. Sans-culottes pushed revolution to more radical action.

• A. 1791-Demanded a Republic• B. Jacobins-middle class clube pushed republican

cause.

• K. Declaration of War– 1. April 1792- Assembly declared war on

Austria, Prussia, Britain and other states.– 2. Fighting lasted until 1815.

I. French Republic - 1792

A. Radicals took control of Assembly

B. Called National Convention

1. Granted suffrage to all males

2. Declared France a republic

3. Jacobins seized lands of nobles, abolished titles.

a. everyone called citizen

• II. Louis XVI put on trial as a traitor.A. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded as traitors January 1793.

B. France became a Republic.C. 1793- France at war with much of Europe.

1. Uprisings occurred

against govt.

2. food shortages,

rising prices.

3. convention was

bitterly divided

• III. Committee of Public Safety– A. Convention created 12 man group in charge of

reign of terror.– B. Lasted from July 1793-July 1794.– C. Led by Maximilien Robespierre– D. 40,000 executed by guillotine.

1. 15% nobles, 15% middle class, rest peasants and sancoulottes involved in riots and revolts against govt.

2. Many cases of mistaken identity and false accusations3. Method of execution was guillotine.

• IV. Moderates produced 3rd constitution in 1795. – A. Installed a Five man directory and a two

house legislature.• 1. lasted from 1795-1799• 2. Dictatorial but weak• 3. Failed to solve problems.• 4. Some leaders looked to

Napoleon Bonaparte

for help

• V. Women & Revolution– A. Women of all classes participated in

revolution. – B. Declaration of the Rights of Man did not

grant equal citizenship to women.

C. Women did gain some rights.

1. could inherit property

2. divorce was easier

D. rights did not last long

after Napoleon gained power.

By 1799, the French Revolution had dramatically changed France. It had dislodged the old social order, overthrown the monarchy, and brought the Church under state control. Many changes occurred in everyday life:

• New symbols, such as the tricolor, emerged.

• Titles were eliminated.• Elaborate fashions were replaced by

practical clothes.• People developed a strong sense of

national identity. • Nationalism, a strong feeling of pride and

devotion to one’s country, spread throughout France.