THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

LESSON 1THE OLD REGIMELesson

Essential Outcomes

I will be able to identify the impact of rulers on society.

I will be able to make some predictions of the French Revolution.

Review

In the late 1700’s, Paris was buzzing with new ideas. People came together to talk about these ideas at social gatherings.

Listening to philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, Rouseau, and Montesquieu made people think that things could be different.

The Enlightenment brought new ideas about: Natural rights The rights of man Religious tolerance Freedom of speech

and of the press Political freedom to

choose your own leaders

Vocabulary

Louis XIV: The Sun King (1643 – 1715) Louis XV: “Apres moi, le deluge” Louis XVI: The end of the Old Regime Versailles: Palace build by Louis XIV Monarchy: System of government with

king or queen in power. Marie Antoinette: Wife of Louis XVI Prediction: Educated guess

King Louis XIV

The Sun King

The most powerful monarch in Europe.

Believed he was God’s representative and ruled by divine right.

Built the magnificent palace at Versailles.

Reigned for 72 years and made France one of the most prosperous European nations.

King Louis XV

“Apres moi, le deluge”

Great grandson of the Sun King. He was ineffective and more interested

in having fun than governing. He was unable to control his ministers. Reigned for almost 60 years. French and Indian War happened

during this time when France lost colonies to North America and India.

Heavily taxed the poor. Left France in a financial crisis. Mistress, knowing there needed to be

reform said; “Apres moi le deluge”.

King Louis XVI

The end of the Old Regime

The last absolute monarch of France. Kind and generous but had trouble

making decisions. Enjoyed hunting more than taking care

of the affairs of his country. He was shy and awkward during a time

when France needed a strong leader. Married Marie Antoinette when he was

15 (she was 14, eeek). When he took the throne Louis XVI

said: “I feel like the universe is going to fall on me.”

Marie Antoinette

Wife of King Louis XVI

Her greatest weakness was that she liked to spend $$$ and have a good time.

She wasn’t well educated and not interested in the affairs of the state unless they were gossip or scandal.

She had the largest allowance any queen had received and was still in debt.

She spent nearly 2 million dollars a year (in today’s money) on clothes.

Had a “peasant village” built on the grounds of Versailles so she could pretend to be a peasant.

How would you feel living under the conditions of the Old Regime?

Discussion

Discuss with your shoulder partner:What do you think caused the French Revolution and what do you think happened during the French Revolution?

Prediction

Write down in your journal your predictions of the French Revolution and compare them to that of your shoulder partner.

Journal

LESSON 2THE THREE ESTATES

Essential Outcomes

I will be able to understand the differences between the Three Estates and gain an understanding of their roles in the French Revolution.

Vocabulary

Estates: Social classes of France Clergy: leaders of the Church in France

(1st estate) Nobles: members of the elite who were

born into their status in society (2nd estate)

Bourgeoisie: members of the middle class and below with little rights (3rd estate)

The Three Estates

1st Estate:

Churchman, Clergy.

2nd Estate:

•Nobleman, Nobility.

3rd Estate:

•Peasants, everybody else.

Simulation

Write your reaction to this simulation in your journal based on the estate you were in.

Journal

LESSON 3EVENTS OF1789Lesson

Essential Outcomes

I will be able to summarize the main events of 1789 in relation to the French Revolution.

Vocabulary

Tennis Court Oath: 3rd estate pledge to work together

Bastille: armory and prison that was stormed by peasants in order to arm themselves against the kings army.

National Assembly: 3rd estate members who formed together against the Estates General.

Estates General: special meeting of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Estates due to the taxation of the 2nd Estate.

More Vocabulary

Women’s March on Versailles: October 5th, women march to Versailles to bring the king and queen into Paris to prevent them from leaving the country.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: document written by the National Assembly declaring the need for equality, right to fair trial, and freedom of religion.

The Estates General originated in medieval times before the kings had absolute power, and its original purpose was to give advice to approve new taxes. The nobles thought that a meeting of the Estates General could push through some changes of their own.

Depiction of the famous scene of the deputies taking the oath as a heroic and glorious moment – the beginnings of the revolution.

The Tennis Court Oath

The Bastille, which had symbolized the absolute power of the French kings, fell on July 14, 1789. Within one year, it was completely torn down and its bricks sold as souvenirs.

The Storming of the Bastille

The Declaration of Rights of Man was not only about the rights of French citizens. It claimed that all people had natural rights.

Issued on August 27, 1789

Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

A deputy said: “ For a constitution to be a good one, it must be based on the rights of man and must protect these rights; we must understand the rights which are granted to all men by natural justice; we must recall all the principles which are at the base of any human society.”

The market women wanted the king in Paris to solve the problem of the shortage of bread. Others wanted the king in Paris so they could keep an eye on him.

Women’s March on Versailles

Discuss with your shoulder partner which event during 1789 you feel was the most significant.

Discussion

Write in your journals your feelings on the significance of these events and compare them to your partners thoughts.

Journal

LESSON 4LIBERTY, EQUALITY,

AND FRATERNITYLesson

Essential Outcomes

I will be able to analyze the ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in relation to historical events.

I will be able to work in a group to come up with ideas and examples of where these words are used today.

Vocabulary

Your turn! Get in groups of 3 Each student will have a piece of paper. Fold this piece of paper into thirds. At the top of each third write one word. Liberty – Equality – Fraternity Define each word and use the word in a

sentence.

Lesson

Answer this question:How would the ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity better your life now?

Journal

LESSON 5TRIAL OF LOUIS XVI AND

THE REIGN OF TERRORLess

Essential Outcomes

I will be able to identify people and events in the Reign of Terror.

I will be able to construct a narrative describing the events and emotions of the Reign of Terror.

Vocabulary

Napoleon Bonaparte: Military leader and eventually emperor of France.

Jacobin Club: group led by Robespierre during the Reign of Terror.

Maximilian Robespierre: Revolutionary leader of the Jacobin Club.

Committee of Public Safety: powerful committee responsible for the death of thousands during the Reign of Terror.

More Vocabulary

Reign of Terror: 1794, lasting one year, a period of time when suspicious actions led to the death of 40,000.

Coup d’ etat: a sudden overtaking of government by a group, usually backed by the military.

King Louis XVI

King Louis XVI tried to escape France and go to Austria where the Queen’s brother was emperor.

He was hoping to persuade the emperor to invade France to restore the monarchy to its old powers.

His plan to escape failed. They were discovered,

captured, and brought back to Paris in humiliation.

The king had lost his power and the love and trust of his people.

From this time on he was prisoner in his palace of the Tuileries.

Louis was found guilty of conspiracy against the nation. After 3 days of debate the vote was taken and the verdict was announced: The king must DIE!

Trial of King Louis XVI

On January 21, 1793 Louis was driven in a carriage to the guillotine. He calmly climbed the steps placed his head beneath the heavy blade and said: “I die innocent…” The blade fell and the crowd cheered “Long live the Republic!” The king was dead and the queen would soon follow.

Death of Louis XVI

The Reign of Terror

People that were enemies of the revolution were killed by guillotine.

If a woman wept because her husband was killed, if a young man chopped down a tree, if they were rumored to say “they did not care a fig”, if they slipped and said something incorrectly they were thought to be “suspect”

The Reign of Terror

One of the most radical political clubs.

Demanded the death of Louis and Marie Antoinette and insisted on going to war with Austria.

Many people disagreed with the Jacobins.

Jacobins would take control of the government.

Established to solve the problems of traitors trying to overturn the revolution.

In July 1973 Maximilien Robespierre took control of this committee whose name has ever since been associated with terror.

Jacobins The Committee Of Public Safety

Maximilien Robespierre

Small man who rarely smiled. Fanatical in his dedication to the

revolution. Believed he had to root out all of the

opposition. Terror was his method. Eventually turned on Jacobins and

accused some deputies as “suspect”.

They had grown tired of the blood and before Robespierre could speak the deputies said “Down with the tyrant!”

Robespierre was now facing the fate he had put so many others through.

The End of Terror

New constitution was passed that gave control to a Directory of five members.

In October 1795 the royalists wanted to restore the old regime.

Napoleon Bonaparte (26 yrs old) was called on to defend the National Convention.

He ordered his troops to fire cannons into groups of people killing hundreds.

He put an end to the uprising and became famous.

Napoleon Bonaparte

By 1799 the people were losing faith in the Directory and they wanted strong leadership.

Napoleon took this moment and used his popularity to gain power.

This marked the end of the French Revolution.

In 1800 the French gave ruling power to Napoleon.

He became consul for life in 1802 and had the power of dictator.

In 1804 he was voted as Emperor.

The End of an Era

The French Revolution and the era of Napoleon had a dramatic effect on Europe and the world.

The world had witnessed one of the bloodiest revolutions in history. A revolution that resulted in the fall

of the French monarchy and the rise of the middle class.

The 1800’s would be marked by a series of revolutions as the ideals of liberty and equality spread to old and new nations.

Place yourself in 1790’s France. Pretend your neighbor was recently taken away by the police for aligning themselves with Robespierre. Answer the following questions: What are you going to do to make sure you are not next? What are you feeling about the Revolution? Was it better when the King was still in charge?

Journal

FINAL PROJECT

Essential Outcomes

I will be able to review my notes and correctly identify people and key events that happened during the French Revolution.

I will be able to work in a group and we will be able to write and organize a newspaper covering topics during the French Revolution.

Create a Newspaper