The French Revolution

“Roots of the French Revolution”

The King and Finances

King Louis XV-Inherits debt from

Louis XIV- Expensive Habits

King Louis XVI-Debts grow

-Taxes 1st /2nd Estate

-France nearly bankrupt

-Needs approval of Estates General for

new taxes

Marie-Antoinette-Austrian nobility- Dislike by French

-French people resent her

involvement in French politics

The Old Regime

1st Estate Clergy (less than 1%) owned 20% of the land paid no taxes (2% income gift)

2nd Estate Nobility (2-4% of population) owned 25% of the land & paid no taxes 3rd Estate

Middle Class, Peasants, Merchants (about 95% of the population) paid all the taxes!!

Problems & Discontent BeginCause: French population Rises

Effect: Food Demand Rises & Prices Rise

Cause: Bourgeoisie prosper in 1700’sEffect: Want Political Power

Cause: 3rd Estate Share Ideas of ReformEffect: Enlightenment ideas of liberty & equality)

Result: panic & riots across the countryside (The Great Fear)

Meeting of the Estates General

1789 New Idea:Represent “the people” NOT the three social classes!Tennis Court Oath: goal for the adoption of a written

constitution for FranceOutcome: 3rd Estate declares itself the National Assembly

Past Practice:Three estates meet separately & each cast one

voteOutcome: 1st & 2nd Estate outvote 3rd Estate

MARKS THE START OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION!

Notes:Chapter 12 Section 2

The National Assembly (1789-1799)

The French Revolution StartsA. Louis XVI allows Estates General to meet together

1. Moves troops to Paris and Versailles2. Storming of the Bastille: July 14, 1789 angry mobs protesting soaring bread prices seize the Bastille

Importance: symbolic act against royal tyranny

Outcome: new government is formed called the National Assembly

B. New Government forms in Paris1. General Lafayette- French hero;

forms people’s army called the National Guard

C. Emigres- French nobles who flee France and plot to overthrow the revolution

D. Declaration of Rights of Man- a document that proclaimed all men had natural rights (liberty, equality, and fraternity)

“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

- freedom of speech - freedom of press

- freedom of religion- all people had right to hold public office- right to a fair trial

E. Reforms of the National Assembly1. Election of all officials2. Seized church land and ended church tax3. Removed privileges of 1st & 2nd Estate

F. French Constitution of 17911. Constitutional Monarchy est.2. Govt. divided into 3 branches

a. Legislative Assembly (has the real power)

G. King Louis XVI agrees to limited powers1. tries to flee France and is arrested

Turning point in Revolution: people no longer trust the king

(1791-1792)and

(1792-1795)National Convention

Legislative Assembly

I.) Conflicts Cause DivisionsA. The Legislative Assembly:

Conservatives (Right)- supported the king Radicals (Left)- distrusts the king; more change

(Sans-culottes: demand a more radical revolution) (Jacobins: want to overthrow monarchy & create a Republic ( Girondins: involve France in war to spread revolutionary

ideas across Europe) Moderates (Center)- took on either side based on issue at hand

B. April 1792: War!1. Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria,

then Prussia, then Britain!2. War goes bad for France and lasts till 1815!!!

II.) The National ConventionC. Summer 1792: Radicals take control of Paris Commune and seize control of the assembly

1. new governing body created (National Convention) 2. September Massacres: radicals execute thousands of

royalistsEnd of 1st Revolution__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Start of 2nd Revolution

C. National Convention:- drafts a new constitution- France becomes a “Republic”- brands the “Girondins as counterrevolutionaries”

D. Leaders of National Convention:- Jean-Paul Marat- doctor, writer, and leader of

the radical Jacobin Club

- Georges Danton- Jacobin revolutionary leader; supported Paris’s poorest citizens

E. Execution of the King1. Louis XVI charged with treason by National Convention2. Found guilty & beheaded by “guillotine”

F. Foreign Reaction:1. England, Spain, Holland, & Sardinia join Prussia & Austria in

alliance against France; converge on France

Maximillien Robespierre- a Jacobin; gains control of National Convention and becomes leader of “Committee of Public Safety” to defend France and the revolution!

Outcome: Robespierre is virtually France’s dictator

………….The Reign of Terror!G. Period in the Revolutionary Tribunal executed anyone considered an

enemy of the Republic 1. Most Famous Executions:

- Marie Antoinette (widow of Louis XVI)

- Danton (Jacobin leader) - Charlotte Corday (assassinated

Marat)

H. Outcomes:1. 40,000 executed in France2. 85% were peasants or members of the middle class!!!

I. Thermidorian Reaction1. National Convention reasserts authority2. Robespierre is executed (Reign of Terror ends on July 28, 1794 )

Importance: Ends Radical Phase of the French Revolutionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYLnzAtQoTk