The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

Before the Revolution…Before the Revolution… The ways of the The ways of the

Ancien Regime were Ancien Regime were entrenched in entrenched in societysociety

The Enlightenment, The Enlightenment, of which French of which French philisophes were at philisophes were at the forefront, the forefront, radically altered radically altered people’s perceptions people’s perceptions of society.of society.

France was on the outside France was on the outside looking in...looking in...

Enlightened DespotsEnlightened Despots Constitutional MonarchiesConstitutional Monarchies

The American Revolution The American Revolution (1775-1783)(1775-1783)

Revolution based on Revolution based on the ideals of the ideals of prominent prominent Enlightened figures Enlightened figures like Locke, Paine and like Locke, Paine and Rousseau.Rousseau.

The French assist The French assist America in their America in their victory- unnecessarily victory- unnecessarily draining their draining their bankrollbankroll

The state of rural France before the The state of rural France before the RevolutionRevolution

Increased taxes weighed heavily on Increased taxes weighed heavily on the peasants of France as the upper the peasants of France as the upper estates demanded more and more estates demanded more and more from them. Less was left for the from them. Less was left for the family and poverty was forever family and poverty was forever casting a shadow on their lives.casting a shadow on their lives.

Unemployment increased due to new Unemployment increased due to new agriculture techniques.agriculture techniques.

Urban CentersUrban Centers The division The division

between the rich between the rich and poor was ever and poor was ever increasing in the increasing in the cities. The mob cities. The mob was restless.was restless.

Louis XVILouis XVI The ill state of France has much to The ill state of France has much to

do with the monarchy.do with the monarchy. Louis XVI takes over in 1774 (20 Louis XVI takes over in 1774 (20

years old). His reign is a series of years old). His reign is a series of disappointments.disappointments.

Even though his ministers tried to Even though his ministers tried to lead him to reform, Louis XVI quickly lead him to reform, Louis XVI quickly bankrupts France.bankrupts France.

Marie Antoinette does not Marie Antoinette does not improve the situation... improve the situation...

“Madame Deficit”“Madame Deficit”

The Eve of the RevolutionThe Eve of the Revolution By 1788 France was By 1788 France was

almost completely almost completely bankrupt due to the bankrupt due to the American American Revolutionary war.Revolutionary war.

The Monarchy has The Monarchy has to call on the to call on the Estates-General to Estates-General to raise taxes due to raise taxes due to the dire situationthe dire situation

The Eve of Revolution con’tThe Eve of Revolution con’t The Estates General agrees on a The Estates General agrees on a

number of issues:number of issues: Hereditary monarchyHereditary monarchy Representative assembly to supervise Representative assembly to supervise

gov’tgov’t Proportional taxationProportional taxation Decentralized gov’tDecentralized gov’t

Disagreement came about when the Disagreement came about when the 33rdrd Estate wanted consideration of a Estate wanted consideration of a constitution and opportunity in the constitution and opportunity in the government.government.

Each Estate only had one vote- the 1Each Estate only had one vote- the 1stst and 2and 2ndnd always voted together. always voted together.

When the disagreement further When the disagreement further escalated, Louis locked the 3escalated, Louis locked the 3rdrd Estate Estate out of the meeting hall.out of the meeting hall.

The Tennis Court Oath The Tennis Court Oath June 20June 20thth 1789 1789

The 3The 3rdrd Estate Estate gathered in a tennis gathered in a tennis court and swore court and swore themselves in as themselves in as the true National the true National Assembly of France.Assembly of France.

The oath pitted The oath pitted national will against national will against the monarchy.the monarchy.

Civil Disorder in FranceCivil Disorder in France In the streets of Paris it was believed In the streets of Paris it was believed

that the King was going to bring in that the King was going to bring in troops.troops.

In an effort to arm themselves the In an effort to arm themselves the mob stormed the Bastille for mob stormed the Bastille for weapons, but it turned into weapons, but it turned into something much more.something much more.

Storming the BastilleStorming the Bastille July 14, 1789: a July 14, 1789: a

crowd stormed and crowd stormed and burned the Paris burned the Paris prison (a symbol of prison (a symbol of state oppression). state oppression). Power was now in Power was now in the streets.the streets.

National Constituent AssemblyNational Constituent Assembly The 3The 3rdrd Estate now has full control over Estate now has full control over

the country.the country. The first wave of Aristocracy leave the The first wave of Aristocracy leave the

country. Feudal privileges of the country. Feudal privileges of the Ancien regime are surrendered.Ancien regime are surrendered.

The monarchy is moved from Versailles The monarchy is moved from Versailles to Paris.to Paris.

A new constitution is written- A new constitution is written- The The Declaration of the Rights of ManDeclaration of the Rights of Man

Changes made by the NCAChanges made by the NCA France divided by active and passive France divided by active and passive

citizenscitizens-Active citizens: 25yrs. and up, pay taxes, -Active citizens: 25yrs. and up, pay taxes,

could serve in National Guard, could votecould serve in National Guard, could vote-Passive citizen: Children, women, criminals-Passive citizen: Children, women, criminals Provincial boundaries changedProvincial boundaries changed Intendants were replaced by elected Intendants were replaced by elected

officials.officials.