The French Revolution

The French Revolution drew on The French Revolution drew on Enlightenment ideas.Enlightenment ideas.

It was more radical than the It was more radical than the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Americans retained British law Americans retained British law and social heritage, but…and social heritage, but…

French Revolutionaries sought French Revolutionaries sought to replace existing society with to replace existing society with new institutions and overturn new institutions and overturn the Ancien Regime!the Ancien Regime!

IntroductionIntroduction

First Estate - 100,000 Catholic First Estate - 100,000 Catholic clergyclergy ( (largest landowner in largest landowner in FranceFrance))Second Estate - 400,000 noblesSecond Estate - 400,000 nobles ((held political rights without held political rights without paying taxespaying taxes))Third Estate - 24 million Third Estate - 24 million bourgeoisie, urban lower class, bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and peasants and peasants (the (the bourgeoisie bourgeoisie resented power of nobilityresented power of nobility))

The Three EstatesThe Three Estates

Louis XVI was a weak monarch Louis XVI was a weak monarch who presided over a feudalistic who presided over a feudalistic social systemsocial system

1780s: a financial crisis 1780s: a financial crisis develops due to royal spending, develops due to royal spending, war debts, heavy taxation, and war debts, heavy taxation, and crop failures.crop failures.Louis’ funding of the American Louis’ funding of the American Revolution nearly doubled the Revolution nearly doubled the national debt. He raised taxes.national debt. He raised taxes.Louis couldn’t raise more Louis couldn’t raise more taxes from peasants so he tried taxes from peasants so he tried to increase taxes on the to increase taxes on the nobility.nobility.The nobility forced Louis to call The nobility forced Louis to call the Estates General into session the Estates General into session in May 1789.in May 1789.

The Estates GeneralThe Estates General

Fearing being out-voted by the Fearing being out-voted by the other two estates, the Third other two estates, the Third Estate broke away from the Estate broke away from the Estates General and formed the Estates General and formed the National AssemblyNational Assembly..June 1789: Louis tried to lock June 1789: Louis tried to lock out the Third Estate delegates.out the Third Estate delegates.

In a nearby tennis court, In a nearby tennis court, delegates pledged to stay until delegates pledged to stay until they had drawn up a new they had drawn up a new constitution. Theconstitution. The Tennis Court Tennis Court Oath.Oath.

The National The National AssemblyAssembly

Louis tried to appease the Third Louis tried to appease the Third Estate, but also sent his Swiss Estate, but also sent his Swiss Guards into the streets of Paris.Guards into the streets of Paris.

Angry crowds sought weapons Angry crowds sought weapons and gunpowder to defend Parisand gunpowder to defend Paris

They knew they could find They knew they could find these by storming a royal these by storming a royal prison called…prison called…

July 14, 1789July 14, 1789

The BastilleThe Bastille

Conservative backlash 1794-Conservative backlash 1794-1799: The Directory, rise of 1799: The Directory, rise of NapoleonNapoleon..

Radical Period 1792-1794: Radical Period 1792-1794: Beheadings, Robespierre, Beheadings, Robespierre, Jacobins.Jacobins.

Phases of the Phases of the RevolutionRevolution

Moderate Period 1789-1791: Moderate Period 1789-1791: limited power of the Church, limited power of the Church, land reformland reform..

August 1789: The National August 1789: The National Assembly adopts the Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Declaration of the Rights of Man.Man.It stated the Enlightenment It stated the Enlightenment ideals of justice and freedom ideals of justice and freedom although women were although women were excluded.excluded.Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Liberty, Equality, Fraternity became the slogan of the became the slogan of the revolution!revolution!

Moderate Period Moderate Period 1789-17911789-1791

Sept. 1791: new constitution Sept. 1791: new constitution adopted.adopted.

Actions of the National Actions of the National Assembly from 1789 To 1791 Assembly from 1789 To 1791 restructured French societyrestructured French society..Constitutional monarchy Constitutional monarchy formed. Louis forced to leave formed. Louis forced to leave VersaillesVersailles..Legislative authority resided in Legislative authority resided in the National Assembly.the National Assembly.

ReformsReforms

The Catholic Church loses The Catholic Church loses lands and political lands and political independence (angers independence (angers peasants).peasants).

French nobility began to flee. French nobility began to flee. Louis had attempted escape but Louis had attempted escape but was caught.was caught.This drove the French people to This drove the French people to support the radical support the radical revolutionaries.revolutionaries.Monarchy abolished and Monarchy abolished and France declared a republic.France declared a republic.

A new National Convention A new National Convention formed. Invaded by radicals on formed. Invaded by radicals on May 31, 1793May 31, 1793

Radical Period 1792-Radical Period 1792-17941794

Summer 1792: Austria and Summer 1792: Austria and Prussia invade France hoping to Prussia invade France hoping to restore Louis.restore Louis.Despite initial setbacks, the Despite initial setbacks, the French hold off the invaders.French hold off the invaders.

Jacobin Club (violent radicals) Jacobin Club (violent radicals) influenced the National influenced the National Convention to execute Louis.Convention to execute Louis.Louis beheaded by guillotine in Louis beheaded by guillotine in January 1793.January 1793.

Convention power in France Convention power in France deteriorated. Maximilien deteriorated. Maximilien Robespierre and the radical Robespierre and the radical Jacobians in control.Jacobians in control.““Reign of Terror” used to Reign of Terror” used to promote restructuring of promote restructuring of French society.French society.About 40,000 were executed About 40,000 were executed and 300,000 imprisoned.and 300,000 imprisoned.

Extreme measures enacted Extreme measures enacted against the Church.against the Church.

The French Army had defeated The French Army had defeated invaders on the battlefield.invaders on the battlefield.

With victory, French citizens With victory, French citizens less willing to accept less willing to accept repression.repression.Robespeirre blamed for the Robespeirre blamed for the excesses of the regime and excesses of the regime and executed in 1794. The Reign of executed in 1794. The Reign of Terror was over.Terror was over.

Conservative backlash Conservative backlash 1794-17991794-1799

The Bourgeois emerged as The Bourgeois emerged as leaders of the country in the leaders of the country in the reaction against Robespeirre.reaction against Robespeirre.

1795: A new constitution 1795: A new constitution drafted. It is more moderate drafted. It is more moderate and placed power in the hands and placed power in the hands of the upper class.of the upper class.The DirectoryThe Directory: bicameral : bicameral legislature and a five-man legislature and a five-man executive committee.executive committee.With France still under attack, With France still under attack, the Directory appoints a young the Directory appoints a young general….general….

Napoleon Bonaparte!Napoleon Bonaparte!