French French RevolutionRevolution

Versailles PalaceVersailles Palace

This palace would house France’s royal family from 1682-1789.

The palace was built by Louis XIV in order to move the royal family away from Paris.

This was done to avoid corruption and conspiracy (plot against) among the court.

Louis XIV: The BasicsLouis XIV: The BasicsLouis became His Most Christian Majesty at the Louis became His Most Christian Majesty at the age age

of 5of 5 in 1643. in 1643.

He did not assume power until he was 23 in 1661.He did not assume power until he was 23 in 1661.

He was supreme ruler of France until his death in He was supreme ruler of France until his death in 1715. He was 77. 1715. He was 77.

He referred to himself as the He referred to himself as the Sun KingSun King because he because he felt the court and France should revolve around him. felt the court and France should revolve around him.

Louis XIV: PoliticsLouis XIV: Politics

• Louis didn't rule as a child. He ruled under an Italian,

Cardinal Mazarin, and his mother until the age of 23.

The Enlightenment paved the The Enlightenment paved the way for the way for the French RevolutionFrench Revolution

Examples of Enlightenment Ideas:Examples of Enlightenment Ideas:

People should be equal and free, and take part in public life.

People of all faiths should be accepted as equals.

People should be allowed to publicly criticize the government or the press without fear of being arrested or killed.

Against torture

Wanted education to be widely available.

The English Revolution

In the late 17th century, King James II tried to establish an absolute monarchy (king has total control).

British law makers (Parliament) felt threatened by this and decided to draft the Bill of Rights.

This document would limit the king’s powers.

James II was overthrown and fled to France.

Parliament offered the throne to Mary (king’s daughter) if she agreed to the Bill of rights.

Importance of English Revolution:Importance of English Revolution:

• Monarchs no longer had Monarchs no longer had absolute powerabsolute power..

• Parliament would make all of the important Parliament would make all of the important decisions.decisions.

• They had to respect They had to respect habeas corpus habeas corpus and the and the Bill Bill of Rightsof Rights (set of laws). (set of laws).

HABEAS CORPUS: HABEAS CORPUS:

People have the basic freedom People have the basic freedom not to be imprisoned without a not to be imprisoned without a trial.trial.

Anyone who is arrested has the Anyone who is arrested has the right to know why they are being right to know why they are being arrested and what the charge is.arrested and what the charge is.

They can be released on bail They can be released on bail and must be brought before a and must be brought before a judge within 3 days.judge within 3 days.

The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

• Before the F.R., France operated under a social system in which there were 3 classes of people: the clergy, the nobility and the commoners (lowest).

• Members of this lowest estate, called the Third Estate, paid all the taxes.

France and the France and the Ancien RégimeAncien Régime

It refers to social classes, wealth, and power that existed in France before the Revolution.

The king had absolute/total power.

Frenchmen believed it was the king’s divine right (god given) to rule.

French society dividedFrench society divided

First EstateFirst Estate

•The First Estate was the clergy, who were people, including priests, who ran both the Catholic church and some aspects of the country.

• In addition to keeping registers of births, deaths and marriages, the clergy also had the power to levy a 10% tax known as the tithe.

•They paid no taxes

Second EstateSecond Estate

• The Second Estate consisted of the nobility of France, including members of the royal family, except for the king.

• Members of the Second Estate did not have to pay any taxes.

• They were also awarded special privileges, such as the wearing of a sword and hunting.

• Like the clergy, they also collected taxes from the Third Estate.

King Louis gave his nobles King Louis gave his nobles pointless titlespointless titles..

Although his nobles had Although his nobles had no real powerno real power, they were , they were happy and remained loyal to him.happy and remained loyal to him.

To To distract the nobilitydistract the nobility the king threw lavish the king threw lavish parties at the palace of Versailles.parties at the palace of Versailles.

With all this, With all this, Louis could make any decision he Louis could make any decision he wanted towanted to. .

Third EstateThird Estate

• The Third Estate was made up of everyone else, from peasants to the bourgeoisie – the wealthy business class.

• While the Second Estate was only 1% of the total population of France, the Third Estate was 96%, and had none of the rights and privileges of the two other estates.

• High unemployment

•They paid all the taxes!

Significance of this Significance of this cartooncartoon

Direct causes of the Direct causes of the revolutionrevolution

1. Inequalities between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Estates.

2. France was bankrupt due to too much (excessive) spending

• The monarchy ran France to the ground with its reckless spending .

• That’s why Louis XVI called the Estates-General in hopes of ending the debt crisis

3.3. Hunger and povertyHunger and poverty

• Bad harvests meant that majority of people were Bad harvests meant that majority of people were broke and hungry. This led to food riots!broke and hungry. This led to food riots!

4.4. Reform fails! Reform fails! Estates-General dead-locked and can Estates-General dead-locked and can not agree on issue of voting.not agree on issue of voting.

Indirect causes of the French Indirect causes of the French RevolutionRevolution

• Enlightenment ideas of John Locke:

• It is the elected government’s responsibility to protect the people’s natural rights.

• The people have the right to overthrow that government if it fails to do this.

• American Revolution ideas of liberty and equality.

• *(U.S. Constitution was signed 2 years before, in 1787)

The Enlightenment of the 3The Enlightenment of the 3rdrd Estate Estate

• Many members of the Third Estate Many members of the Third Estate were inspired by were inspired by Enlightenment Enlightenment ideasideas..

• They wanted They wanted representation in representation in governmentgovernment

• They no longer believed monarchs They no longer believed monarchs had had “divine right“divine right” – ruler’s power ” – ruler’s power comes from God.comes from God.

• They were also They were also inspiredinspired by the by the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

King Louis XVIKing Louis XVI

•This king was spoiled and weak.

•He led France deeply into debt (spent more money than he had)

•He had to call on the Estates-General to help fix some problems, but his reforms failed.

Louis calls the Estates-Louis calls the Estates-General meetingGeneral meeting

• The last time it was called into session was in 1614!

Estates-general Estates-general

• King told the Estates-General to make a list of all their problems.

• Third Estate’s main problem is representation

It was the largest group with only one vote in the Estates-General.

Third Estate wanted each person’s vote to count.

The 1st or 2nd Estates did not want to hear what the 3rd Estate had to say or compromise on voting fairly.

• 3rd Estate also demanded a constitution. This was a set of rules which would limit the king’s power and give them a say in running France.

The Estates-General The Estates-General meeting FAILS!meeting FAILS!

• The king would not accept their demands.

• On the morning of 20 June, the deputies were shocked to discover that the chamber door was locked and guarded by soldiers.

• In anger the 3rd Estate went off to a nearby Tennis Court and formed a new government called the National Assembly.

• It is in this court that the Assembly would stay together until the king agreed to a constitution. It became known as the Tennis Court Oath!

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

• On On July 14, 1789July 14, 1789 the people (3 the people (3rdrd Estate) Estate) stormed stormed the Bastillethe Bastille, a prison, , a prison, in search of gunpowder & in search of gunpowder & weapons.weapons.

• They acted on a rumor that the king was going to use military force to dismiss (send away) the National Assembly AND that foreigners were coming to attack Paris.

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

The great fear: peasant revolt The great fear: peasant revolt (July 20, 1789)(July 20, 1789)

• Rumors that the king and the nobles were sending their military to attack peasants, pillage their land and put down the revolt.

What about King Louis’ European allies?What about King Louis’ European allies?

The 3The 3rdrd Estate worried that Louis’ allies Estate worried that Louis’ allies would send in an army to help him would send in an army to help him restore his throne.restore his throne.

From this point on, any supporter of the From this point on, any supporter of the king, royals, nobles would be seen as a king, royals, nobles would be seen as a treat.treat.

One way to eliminate this treat is to kill One way to eliminate this treat is to kill as many of them as possible.as many of them as possible.

Map of Europe at the time of the Map of Europe at the time of the French Revolution French Revolution (1789)(1789)

Declaration of the Declaration of the Rights of ManRights of Man

• After the storming of the Bastille the National After the storming of the Bastille the National Assembly issued the Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Declaration of the Rights of ManMan in in August 1789August 1789..

The main features:The main features:

1.1. Class privileges were endedClass privileges were ended - - (no more “estates”)(no more “estates”)

2.2. FrenchFrenchmenmen were free and equal were free and equal

3.3. Bill of rights for Frenchmen (freedom of speech, Bill of rights for Frenchmen (freedom of speech, press, religion, etc.) press, religion, etc.)

Shortcomings of the DeclarationShortcomings of the Declaration

It It excludes womenexcludes women..

It It does not outlaw slaverydoes not outlaw slavery despite the fact that despite the fact that document discusses the freedom and equality of all document discusses the freedom and equality of all men. men.

Legislative Assembly

By 1791, the Legislative Assembly replaced the National Assembly.

It wanted to keep the king but limit his powers.

This is called a constitutional monarchy (king has no real power).

Louis secretly hated this idea but had no choice to accept it.

How did members of the How did members of the Legislative Assembly Legislative Assembly feel about having a feel about having a constitutional monarchyconstitutional monarchy??

1. Extreme radicals were the sans-culotte.

• They push the revolution into the radical phase

• They demanded a republic – NO MONARCHY!

2. Moderates wanted a Constitutional Monarchy!

3. Extreme conservatives were the émigrés. (royals, clergy and nobles)

• They wanted the king to have absolute power

Radicals create the Radicals create the National National ConventionConvention

• The legislative Assembly eventually gave up the idea The legislative Assembly eventually gave up the idea of forming a of forming a constitutional monarchyconstitutional monarchy and was forced and was forced to turn control over to the radicalsto turn control over to the radicals

• The radicals formed a new governing body & called The radicals formed a new governing body & called itself the itself the National Convention (1791).National Convention (1791).

Goals:Goals:

1.1.Create a republic (vote for leaders)Create a republic (vote for leaders)

2.2.Abolish the monarchy!Abolish the monarchy!

France declares France declares war on Prussia war on Prussia and Austria in and Austria in

1792!1792!• Why? Both empires had

been helping French nobles (called émigrés) who had fled from France.

• Les émigrés had convinced Prussia to send in an army and crush the revolution. By doing so, Louis’ power would be restored and the nobles would have all of their privileges back.

The king’s escape attempt The king’s escape attempt backfires! (1792)backfires! (1792)

Louis XVI had the title of King but no power.

In June 1791, the king and his family tried to escape from Paris to join members of the army at Metz.

The plan failed and they were captured in Varennes.

They were forced to return to Paris through silent and angry crowds.

The people of France feel betrayed by the king’s attempt to escape and see him as a traitor.

France becomes a republic in 1792France becomes a republic in 1792

• The National Convention abolished the monarchy after Louis’ escape attempt and declares France a Republic.

• King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette are put on trial for treason, found guilty and executed shortly after.

RobespierreRobespierre

Nicknamed “The Incorruptible”.

Belonged to the Jacobin Club, who were strong supporters of the revolution

He was merciless.

He became president of the Committee of Public Safety.

Its role was to protect the newly established republic against foreign attacks and internal rebellion (traitors).

The next day, 28 July 1794, Robespierre was guillotined without trial in the Place de la Révolution. When clearing Robespierre’s neck the executioner tore off the bandage that was holding his shattered jaw in place, producing an agonised scream until the fall of the blade silenced him. Together with those executed with him, he was buried in a common grave at the newly opened Errancis cemetery (cimetière des Errancis) (March 1794 – April 1797) (now the Place de Goubeaux). Between 1844 and 1859 (probably in 1848), the remains of all those buried there were moved to the Catacombs of Paris.

The night before his execution, Robespierre tried to kill himself with a pistol, but he was unsuccessful. He merely shattered his jaw.

The TerrorThe TerrorUnder the direction of Robespierre, the Committee

of Public Safety guillotined nearly 18 000 people, between 1793-1794.

The people that were executed were usually charged with treason or they did not agree with the drastic actions of the Committee of Public Safety.

Georges-Jacques Danton Georges-Jacques Danton 

Georges-Jacques Danton  Georges-Jacques Danton   (Oct.26, 1759 – Apr.5, 1794 (Oct.26, 1759 – Apr.5, 1794

• Georges Danton, French Revolutionary leader and orator, often credited as the chief force in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the First French Republic (September 21, 1792). He later became the first president of the Committee of Public Safety, but his increasing moderation and eventual opposition to the Reign of Terror led to his own death at the guillotine.

The end of the Reign of TerrorThe end of the Reign of Terror

• Many victims were fellow radicals who had upset Robespierre; including members of his own club

• Robespierre was eventually arrested and executed for treason.

End of the RevolutionEnd of the Revolution

The Committee of Public Safety was removed in 1795.

It was replaced by the Directory in the same year.

The Directory consisted of 5 members that ruled France.

The Directory failed too.

In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte, a popular general, built an army and seized control of France.

The directoryThe directory

• Soon after Robespierre’s execution, a group of moderate minded men seized power and ruled from 1795 to 1799 under a new government called the Directory.

• The Directory had little success.

• In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup d’etat and seized power.

A new generalA new general

•Though corrupt, the Directory did provide France with a period of order.

•They also found the right general to command France’s armies: Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon (1769-1821)Napoleon (1769-1821)

• He was an officer under Louis XVI and had become a general at 24.

• He led the French army into many successful battles.

MORE POWER!MORE POWER!

Napoleon (1769-1821)Napoleon (1769-1821)

• In 1799, he returned to France and joined the Directory, but when Austria, Russia, and Britain for a coalition to attack France and end the Revolution, Napoleon staged a coup (to overthrow the government)

• He overthrew the Directory, imposed a new constitution, and made himself first consul.

• In 1802, he became consul for life and in 1804 crowned himself emperor.

France under NapoleonFrance under Napoleon

• He brought stability to France.He brought stability to France.

• Napoleonic code = He established the Civil Code Napoleonic code = He established the Civil Code of laws which further stabilized France.of laws which further stabilized France.

• He confirmed many of the moderate policies of the He confirmed many of the moderate policies of the National Assembly but removed many measures National Assembly but removed many measures passed by the more radical Convention.passed by the more radical Convention.

• He affirmed the political and legal equality of all He affirmed the political and legal equality of all adult men.adult men.

• He made peace with the Catholic Church.He made peace with the Catholic Church.

Napoleon as AuthoritarianNapoleon as Authoritarian

• He limited free speech and used censorship of newspapers.

• He established a secret police force and detained thousands of political opponents.

• He manipulated public opinion through systematic propaganda.

• He surrounded himself with loyal military officers.

• He set his family above and apart from the French people.

End of Napoleon’s empireEnd of Napoleon’s empire• In 1812, Napoleon decided to invade Russia,

believing that the Russians were siding with the British.

• Napoleon and his “Grand Army” of 600,000 soldiers captured Moscow, but the Russians refused to surrender.

• Instead, Russians used the “Scorched-Earth Policy” = burned their cities, leaving Napoleon without food, supplies or shelter.

• Napoleon was forced to retreat.

• He was defeated by “General Winter)

• Only 30 000 soldiers made it back to France.

WaterlooWaterloo

• 1815: Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo.

• The Battle of Waterloo was The Battle of Waterloo was fought thirteen kilometres fought thirteen kilometres southsouth of of BrusselsBrussels between between the French, under the the French, under the command of Napoleon command of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Allied Bonaparte, and the Allied armies commanded by the armies commanded by the Duke of WellingtonDuke of Wellington from from Britain and General Blücher Britain and General Blücher from Prussia.from Prussia.

End of Napoleon’s empireEnd of Napoleon’s empire

• The coalition restored the French monarchy and exiled Napoleon to the island of Elba, near Corsica.

• In March 1815, Napoleon escaped, returned to France, and reconstituted his army.

• This time the British defeated him at Waterloo and banished Napoleon to the remote island of St. Helena in the south Atlantic.

• He died in 1812.

Effects of the French RevolutionEffects of the French Revolution

•Both the King and Queen were beheaded!

•The French Monarchy was no more.

• In addition to the Royal family, 17 000 people were executed with the guillotine.