The French Revolution

1789

• Causes of the Revolution• Absolute Monarchy– On the eve of the revolution France was an Absolute

Monarchy–Most people were denied basic rights

• Social Inequality– Three Classes of Society called ESTATES• First Estate – The Clergy• Second Estate – The nobility• Third Estate – Bourgeoisie (middle class), poor city workers,

and rural peasants– This group was heavily taxed– Extremely discontent

Causes Continued

• Economic Injustice– The government was spending more than it made

• Enlightenment– 1600s – 1700s thinkers were critical of France’s

government

Stages of the Revolution

• In 1789, King Louis XVI called for a body of representatives of all three classes (Estates General) to meet.

• National Assembly– The Third Estate, the only elected group in the

Estates General, declared itself a National Assembly

• Seizure of the Bastille–Working class people rioted over the price of bread– Stormed the prison Bastille on July 14, 1789– Rioting spread: Peasant began attacking the nobles

• Moderates in Power– The frightened King agreed to allow the National

Assembly to begin reforms

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen– Abolished the privileges of the First & Second

Estates– Adopted the Declaration

• Limited Monarchy– Constitution of 1791 defined the role of

government• Set up a limited monarchy with a representative

assembly• Declared people had natural rights that must be

protected by the gov.• Put the Church under state control

• Reaction in Europe–Many European rulers feared what was happening

in France– Threatened to intervene by military force to save

the French Monarchy– France declared war on Austria, Prussia and Great

Britain in 1792

• Radical in Power– 1792 Radical took power from the King– Declared France a Republic (No King)– 1793 the King was executed for treason

Reign of Terror

• Maximilien Robespierre– Radical leader during the Reign of Terror– Wrote: “It is necessary to annihilate enemies”

• Georges-Jacques Danton– Radical leader with Robespierre

• Tens of thousands of people were executed• 1794 Danton declared the Reign of Terror had met

its goal• Robespierre had Danton & his followers executed• Robespierre was finally arrested and executed in

1794

• Moderates Return– 1795 a Five-man “Directory” supported by a

legislature took power• They were weak and inefficient• Riots broke out over the price of bread• A new leader stepped in to take control

• Napoleon Bonaparte– 1799 overthrew the Directory– Organized new government with himself in charge– 1802 declared himself “Emperor of the French”– France was again under absolute rule

• Napoleon’s Empire– Conquered much of Europe– Replaced monarchs with his friends

• Napoleon’s Fall– Inspired nationalism across Europe to revolt against

France–Most of Napoleon’s army was lost in attempted invasion

of Russia• Scorched Earth• Russian winter

– Napoleon stepped down in 1814 but returned in 1815– He was finally defeated by the alliance of Great Britain

and Prussia– He lived the rest of his life in exile

Congress of Vienna 1814-1815

• The meetings were dominated by the powers of Europe: Great Britain, Prussia, Russia & Austria

• Peter Metternich of Austria helped establish a Balance of Power.

• The map of Europe changed• Louis XVIII becomes King of France

Workbook

• Pages 174 to 179

• What were the causes of the French Revolution?

• What is the significance of the French Revolution?

• Absolute Monarchy• Limited Monarchy• Republic– Reign of Terror (Radicals)–Moderates take over• Create a 5 man directory

– Riots b/c they were ineffective

• Emperor • Republic• Limited Monarchy

Latin American Independence

• Toussaint L’Ouverture– Led a rebellion to liberate Haiti from French rule

• José de San Martin– Liberated Argentina & Chile from Spain

• Simon Bolivar– Liberated Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, &

Bolivia from Spanish rule

• Miguel Hidalgo– Began a failed rebellion in Mexico in 1810 (would

gain independence in 1821)

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution

• Followed the Agricultural Revolution• Began in Great Britain– Factors of Production

• Land• Coal• Iron Ore• Rivers

– Provided transportation– Water Power

• Harbors– Encouraged trade

• The Textile Industry–Weaving of Cloth• Automatic machinery was used

– Reason: Demand could not be met by hand.

• Steam Engines, Iron & Steel– Early machines were driven by water• Although effective it had problems

– Had to be near water– Often this was not near the raw materials– Water varied from season to season

– The Steam Engine was invented• Early machines exploded

– Problem: Iron could not stand the high pressure

• Henry Bessemer– Developed an cheaper way to make steel– Called Bessemer Process

– Communication• Samuel Morse – Morse Code

– The Factory System• Machines made job easier• Woman & Children could now work the same jobs

– The Middle Class• Managers who kept the industries running emerged during this

time

– Capitalism• A system where individuals or corporations control the means

of production.

– Corporations• Business Groups where people can buy stock in the company• Made it easier to raise money• Shared Profits & Risks

• Effects of the Industrial Revolution– Laissez Fair Economics• Business allowed to operate without government

regulation

– Rise of Big Business• To acquire money business owners sold stock or shares

in their companies

– New Class Structure• Upper Class – very rich industrialists• Upper Middle Class – business professionals, doctors

lawyers• Lower Middle Class• Poor – factory workers & peasants

– Urbanization• Move from small villages to big cities.

–Working Conditions• Factory work hours were long• Child labor• Many machines were dangerous

– Improved Transportation• Roads & Canals• Steam Locomotive – RR• Steam Engines powered ships

• Competing Philosophies– Laissez Fair Capitalism– Social Darwinism – the rich are naturally selected– Social Reformism – belief that government should

intervene to improve people’s lives– Socialism – concentrated on the interest of society.

Believed capitalism had created to big a gap between rich & poor.• Utopian Socialists

– Belief that there should be no ownership of property– Everything is equally shared & worked.

Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels

• Marxist Socialism– Karl Marx promoted a more radical theory. Marx &

Friedrich Engels wrote The Communist Manifesto & explained: » History was a class struggle b/n capitalists & the working

class (proletariat) » Capitalists took advantage of the proletariat to make

profit.» The proletariat would eventually rise up & revolt.» The proletariat would take control of the means of

production in a classless communist society.

• The difference b/n Communism & Capitalism, is who controls the means of production– Capitalism – individuals control it– Communism – the government controls it.