The French Revolution Begins

Motto of the French Revolution: “United in a Republic:

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity or Death”

King Louis XVI had a Problem . . . NO MONEY!!!

No more taxes on peasants because they‘d revolt

Besides, they didn’t have more money!

Called Estates General to meetConvention of 3 estates,

to advise kingLast called in 1614King told estates what to

talk aboutMajority of estates vote =

binding

Louis XVI

Meeting of the Estates-General Since 1614,

bourgeoisie had gained power, $$$

Instead of considering new tax demand of king, the 3rd Estate challenged the way decisions were made at the meetingsWanted one big

meeting, each delegate with 1 vote

King rejected idea Third estate declared

itself the National Assembly, took Tennis Court Oath

1st and 2nd Estates ridingOn the backOf the 3rd

Estate

Storming of the Bastille, July 14, 1789

Louis XVI sent troops to disperse National Assembly

Parisian poor reacted by attacking Bastille prisonPrison a symbol of king’s

authority7 prisoners released

Nobles across the country FLED!!!

National Assembly Reforms August 1789: NA

abolished feudalism Published Declaration of

Rights of ManDefined rights of all

estatesTransition to constitutional

monarchy 1790: Confiscated

church lands

Establishment of Constitutional Monarchy

King Louis XVI, family attempted to escape France

Captured at eastern border of France

Returned to Paris and forced to sign a new Constitution in Sept. 1791, sharing power with Nat’l Assembly

Louis XVI and family are returned to Paris

Wars of RevolutionJacobins (radical

revolutionaries) take over NA

King, moderate NA declared war on Austria and PrussiaKing figured war

would make him popular, get rid of power sharing

NA wanted to export revolution

End of Monarchy (and Louis XVI)

French forces got beat, badly (lost parts of France!)

August 1792: Jacobins arrest king

Sept. 21, 1792 – monarchy abolished, republic declaredLegislative power to NAExecutive power to

“Committee of Public Safety”

January 21, 1793: King Louis XVI sentenced to death (361-360)

King’s execution led to more wars with European countries, appalled atexecution of King

The Revolution Goes Radical France, on the brink

Execution of Louis XVI led to war between France and rest of Europe (Austria, HRE, Great Britain, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, French Royalists, Italian states)

Massive inflationSans culottes (poor

laborers), Jacobins riot

Anti-revolution movements start

Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety

Jacobins seize power, led by Robespierre Follower of Rousseau Bourgeoisie lawyer Head of CPS

Unleashed “the Terror” About 40,000 people were

executed under the guillotine for “counter-revolutionary activities”

Effort by Jacobins to replace French traditions w/ revolutionary ones

CPS “saved” revolution Levee en masse Internal repression

Rise of the Directoire Eventually, Robespierre

ordered most radical and moderate Jacobins executed (no legislative, popular support)

July 27, 1794: Robespierre arrested by moderates, tried, and executed July 28

1795: New constitution written (Directory – 5 person executive)

Rise of Napoleon

Army suppressed serious royalist coup attempt, 1795Napoleon led troops

vs. royalists, in Paris“Whiff of grapeshot”

dispersed royalists (1400 dead)

Napoleon promoted, hailed as hero of Rev.

Successes of the Directory 1795: French armies

conquered Netherlands

1796-98: Napoleon conquered Italy, the Papal States1798: Imprisoned

popeConfiscated church

lands in Italy Attempted invasion of

Ireland