The French The French RevolutionRevolution

The French Revolution drew on Enlightenment The French Revolution drew on Enlightenment ideas.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 to replace French Revolutionaries sought to replace existing society with new institutions and existing society with new institutions and overturn the Ancien Regime!overturn the Ancien Regime!

IntroductionIntroduction

First Estate - 100,000 Catholic clergyFirst Estate - 100,000 Catholic clergy ( (largest largest landowner in Francelandowner in France))

Second Estate - 400,000 noblesSecond Estate - 400,000 nobles ( (held held political rights without paying taxespolitical rights without paying taxes))

Third Estate - 24 million bourgeoisie, urban Third Estate - 24 million bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and peasants lower class, and peasants (the (the bourgeoisie bourgeoisie resented power of nobilityresented power of nobility))

The Three EstatesThe Three EstatesLouis XVI was a weak monarch who presided Louis XVI was a weak monarch who presided over a feudalistic social systemover a feudalistic social system

1780s: a financial crisis develops due to royal 1780s: a financial crisis develops due to royal spending, war debts, heavy taxation, and crop failures.spending, war debts, heavy taxation, and crop failures.

Louis’ funding of the American Louis’ funding of the American Revolution nearly doubled the national Revolution nearly doubled the national debt. He raised taxes.debt. He raised taxes.

Louis couldn’t raise more taxes from Louis couldn’t raise more taxes from peasants so he tried to increase taxes on the peasants so he tried 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 other two estates, the Third Estate Fearing being out-voted by the other two estates, the Third Estate broke away from the Estates General and formed the National broke away from the Estates General and formed the National AssemblyAssembly..

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

The National AssemblyThe National Assembly

Louis tried to appease the Third Estate, but also Louis tried to appease the Third Estate, but also sent his Swiss Guards into the streets of Paris.sent his Swiss 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 these They knew they could find these by storming a royal prison called…by storming a royal 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, Jacobins.Beheadings, Robespierre, Jacobins.

Phases of the RevolutionPhases of the Revolution

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 Assembly adopts August 1789: The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man.the Declaration of the Rights of Man.

It stated the Enlightenment ideals of It stated the Enlightenment ideals of justice and freedom although women were justice and freedom although women were excluded.excluded.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Liberty, Equality, Fraternity became became the slogan of the revolution!the slogan of the revolution!

Moderate Period Moderate Period 1789-17911789-1791

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

Actions of the National Assembly from 1789 To Actions of the National Assembly from 1789 To 1791 restructured French society1791 restructured French society..

Constitutional monarchy formed. Constitutional monarchy formed. Louis forced to leave VersaillesLouis forced to leave Versailles..

Legislative authority resided in Legislative authority resided in the National Assembly.the National Assembly.

ReformsReforms

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

French nobility began to flee. Louis had attempted escape French nobility began to flee. Louis had attempted escape but was caught.but was caught.

This drove the French people to This drove the French people to support the radical revolutionaries.support the radical revolutionaries.

Monarchy abolished and France Monarchy abolished and France declared a republic.declared a republic.

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

Radical Period 1792-Radical Period 1792-17941794

Summer 1792: Austria and Prussia invade France hoping Summer 1792: Austria and Prussia invade France hoping to restore Louis.to restore Louis.

Despite initial setbacks, the Despite initial setbacks, the French hold off the invaders.French hold off the invaders.

Jacobin Club (violent radicals) influenced Jacobin Club (violent radicals) influenced the National Convention to execute Louis.the National Convention to execute Louis.

Louis beheaded by guillotine in Louis beheaded by guillotine in January 1793.January 1793.

Convention power in France deteriorated. Maximilien Convention power in France deteriorated. Maximilien Robespierre and the radical Jacobians in control.Robespierre and the radical Jacobians in control.

““Reign of Terror” used to promote Reign of Terror” used to promote restructuring of French society.restructuring of French society.

About 40,000 were executed and About 40,000 were executed and 300,000 imprisoned.300,000 imprisoned.

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

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

With victory, French citizens less With victory, French citizens less willing to accept repression.willing to accept repression.

Robespeirre blamed for the excesses of the regime Robespeirre blamed for the excesses of the regime and executed in 1794. The Reign of Terror was over.and executed in 1794. The Reign of Terror was over.

Conservative backlash Conservative backlash 1794-17991794-1799

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

1795: A new constitution drafted. It is more 1795: A new constitution drafted. It is more moderate and placed power in the hands of the moderate and placed power in the hands of the upper class.upper class.

The DirectoryThe Directory: bicameral legislature : bicameral legislature and a five-man executive committee.and a five-man executive committee.

With France still under attack, the With France still under attack, the Directory appoints a young general….Directory appoints a young general….

Napoleon Bonaparte!Napoleon Bonaparte!