Monarchy and the French Revolution

World Studies

Review: what is a monarchy?Power is in the hands of a single person

(monarch/King or Queen)Absolute monarchy- ruler has total controlLimited monarchy- some restrictions placed

upon monarch. Power is hereditary, passed through

bloodlines. Most believed in divine right, or that their

power came from God.

Monarchy in EuropeDuring the Middle Ages, power was in the

hands of many small lords who each controlled a relatively small area.

By the 1500’s, monarchs began to consolidate power, controlling larger areas of land and more people.

Great Britain, France, and Spain all had various forms of monarchy during this time period.

FranceA case study of

France will provide us with an excellent example of the excess of monarchy and a revolution against it.

The French MonarchyFor hundreds of years France was an

absolute monarchy.During the 1770’s, France was ruled by King

Louis XVI (16th) and Queen Marie Antoinette.They live at the palace of Versailles, about 15

miles outside of Paris (away from the “common” people)

Both were out of touch with the needs and struggles of the French people.

Marie and Louis

Versailles

France before the RevolutionOutside of the monarchy, everyone in France

belonged to one of three classes (aka Estates.)

1st Estate=Clergy (1% of population, paid no tax)

2nd Estate=Nobles (2%, paid no tax)3rd Estate=everyone else (97%, paid all taxes)

The 3rd EstateMade up of three main partsBourgeoisie- Middle class professionals,

usually well- educated, did not have same opportunities as nobles.

Peasants- rural farmers.Urban workers- poorest of the poor.All of these groups were unhappy with the

inequality and uncertainty of life.

France in debt…why?1. Government is spending more $$$ than it

takes in (palaces, wars)2. Poor harvests=no wheat=no flour=no

bread=the poor begin to starve!3. The wealthy(1st and 2nd Estates) pay no

taxes!This economic crisis takes it biggest toll on

the 3rd Estate, specifically the poor!

CartoonWhich person

represents which estate?

This leads to…REVOLUTION!!!!

The Estates General Louis XVI called the Estates General into session because he needed

money to solve France’s financial problems. Usually each estate got one vote each. The First and Second Estates

usually voted together making the Third Estates vote useless. This time however, the Third Estate said no to the traditional method

of voting. The Third Estate demanded that each deputy (representative) get one

vote each. The King refused and the Third Estate declared itself to be the

National Assembly. In a tennis court, they pledged to create a constitution for the nation.

The Revolution Begins!July 14th, 1789An angry Parisian mob gathers outside of

the Bastille, on old fortress used as a prison.

The prison guard opens fire on the mob but eventually they enter the prison, kills the guards, and free the prisoners.

This is regarded as the first action of the French Revolution!

The Tennis Court Oath

The Storming of the Bastille

The Rise of the 3rd Estate

Outcomes of the French Revolution