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The French RevolutionThe French Revolution
The CausesThe Causes
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The 4 Stages of the French Revolution• 1st Stage “Moderate Phase” (1789 – 1791)
– Meeting of Estate General– Fall of the Bastille– Development of a Constitution and Bill of Rights
• 2nd Stage “Radical Phase” (1792 – 1794)– Execution of Louis XVI– Rise of Maximilien Robespierre– Reign of Terror
• 3rd Stage “Conservative Phase” (1795 – 1799)– Period of reaction against the violence of the revolution– Establishment of the Directory
• 4th Stage “Napoleonic Phase” (1799 – 1815)– Rise of Napoleon: Dictator to Emperor– France builds an empire– Collapse of Napoleon’s Empire
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What would cause you to revolt What would cause you to revolt against an established institution?against an established institution?
Causes of French RevolutionCauses of French Revolution
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Europe 1789Europe 1789
Bourbon Family
Louis XVI+
Hapsburg Family
Marie Antoinette
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Political and Social InequalitiesPolitical and Social InequalitiesIntroduction• French society was divided into estates = Large social classes• 1300’s - The social classes began meeting as the Estates General “Old Regime”
– French institution similar to early English Parliament
1st Estate• Highest level church officials (NOT parish priests)
– Under 1% of population, but owned 10% of land– Paid virtually NO taxes (2% of income)– Hated Enlightenment ideas
2nd Estate• Rich Nobles: Office holders of army, government, courts, and middle
level church officials– Less than 2% of population, but owned 20% of land– Paid NO taxes – This really furthered revolution– Disagreed with Enlightenment ideas
3rd Estate• Bourgeoisie / Lower Class / Peasants
– Paid vast majority of taxes (50+% of income)– Differed greatly in economic conditions BUT all had reasons to hate the Old Regime– Embraced Enlightenment ideas
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Bourgeoisie (Middle Class)Bourgeoisie (Middle Class)
• Well educated professionals– Lawyers, doctors, manufacturers ,
bankers, merchants, and shopkeepers
• Some were very wealthy, but had NO political or social standing– Paid very high taxes
– Dressed like nobles wearing wigs, waistcoats, and culottes
• Tight fitting knee breeches
• Strongly believed in Enlightenment ideals
"People under the Old Regime""People under the Old Regime"
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Lower ClassesLower Classes
• Workers of France’s cities– Butchers, brewers, weavers,
tanners, peddlers, cooks, servants
• Much poorer & less educated than Bourgeoisie– Embodied frugality, thrift, hard
work, and honest devotion
• Sans-culottes– Those who are without knee
breeches
• Often went hungry– Diet consisted of 3 pounds of
bread per day and very little else
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Peasant FarmersPeasant Farmers
• Largest group of the 3rd Estate– 80% of total population
• Very faithful to Catholic Church & local priests• Lost over ½ their income to taxes
– Often went hungry
• Required to perform free work for government for set number of days every year– Nevertheless, French peasants lived better than
peasants elsewhere in Europe
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Awakening of the Third EstateAwakening of the Third Estate
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Influence of the Enlightenment & Influence of the Enlightenment & American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
• Enlightenment thinkers inspired French people to question the Old Regime & go against their king– Major challenge to absolute monarchy
• Success of American Revolution encouraged French to fight for freedom, equality, and liberty
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Weak RulersWeak Rulers• Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette were weak
and indecisive rulers– Put off dealing with France’s economic
problems until it was an emergency• “Protect us lord for we reign too young”
Louis XVI
• Louis was more interested in hunting than public affairs– Had a history of hiring/firing financial
advisers when they run into opposition
• Marie = “Madame Deficit”– She was hated by the French people
• From the royal family of Austria
– Dedicated to absolute monarchy principle
• 1788 – A bread shortage caused the price of bread to double – “Do you know why there are so many
needy people? Because your elegant existence devours in 1 day the substance of 1,000 men.” – Robespierre
Louis XVILouis XVI Marie Marie AntoinetteAntoinette
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Bankruptcy of the GovernmentBankruptcy of the Government• France went into deep debt to pay for the 7 yrs War &
American Revolution– American Revolution price tag = 200 million livre
• Enough to house and freed 7 million French citizens for a year
• Louis’s established financial reforms– Raise taxes on 3rd Estate = Increased cost of living
• Loaf of bread = One months earnings
• By 1788 – France was almost bankrupt– 50% government’s income went to pay interest on debt– 13% to support royal family’s lifestyle
• Result: Riots start to spread across France
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Bankruptcy of the GovernmentBankruptcy of the Government• 1788 - Louis was forced to hire Jacques Necker
– Believed in the ideals of the Enlightenment• Believed it was the governments duty to make sure
there was enough beard for everyone
• Necker introduced financial reforms– Reduce court spending, reform government, and
improve trade– Proposed taxing the 1st and 2nd estates
• Result: King tried to tax 1st and 2nd estates
• The 1st and 2nd Estates forced Louis to call the Estates General