“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