the french revolution and napoleonsection 1 today’s warm up answer on your warm up/exit ticket...

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

Today’s Warm Up

• Answer on your warm up/exit ticket sheet:

• Respond to the famous quote by the French writer Victor Hugo: “No army can withdrawal the strength of an idea whose time has come.” How does this quote relate to what we have just learned about the Age of Enlightenment?


Today’s LEQ

• How did the ideas of the Enlightenment lead to revolution in France?

Main Idea

Problems in French society led to a revolution, the formation of a new government, and the end of the monarchy.

The French Revolution Begins


Causes of the Revolution

Long-standing resentments against the monarchy

• Inequalities in society

– Existing social and political structure

– Called the Old Order, or ancient régime

• King at the top and estates under him

– King Louis XVI, shy and indecisive

– Unpopular, self-indulgent queen, Marie-Antoinette

– Rest of French society divided into three classes, called estates


Varied widely in what they contributed in terms of work and taxes

• Roman Catholic clergy

• One percent of the population

• Exempt from taxes

• Owned 10 percent of the land– Collected rents and

fees– Bishops and other

clergy grew wealthy

First Estate

• Nobility

• Less than 2 percent of the population

• Paid few taxes

• Controlled much wealth

• Held key positions– Government– Military

• Lived on country estates

Second Estate

• Largest group—97% of the population

• Bourgeoisie—city-dwelling merchants, factory owners, and professionals

• Sans culottes—artisans and workers

• Peasants—poor with little hope, paid rents and fees

Third Estate

The Three Estates


• Severe economic problems affected much of the country

• France in debt, spending lavishly, borrowing money, and facing bankruptcy

• Hailstorm and drought ruined harvest; harsh winter limited flour production

• People hungry and angry; clergy and nobility no help

A Financial Crisis

• Inspiring new ideas from Enlightenment philosophers

• Great Britain’s government limiting the king’s power

• American colonists rebelled successfully against British king

• New ideas changed government and society in other countries

Enlightenment Ideas

Further Causes


By 1789, no group happy• Clergy and nobility lost power to

monarchy • Bourgeoisie resented

regulations

• Poor worse off

Storming of the Bastille• King brought in troops• People of Paris armed

themselves• Searching for weapons, a mob

stormed the Bastille

Estates General meets

• Desire for reforms• Voting process a problem• Third Estate proclaimed

themselves National Assembly

• Tennis Court Oath

Great Fear spread• King to punish the Third Estate

with foreign soldiers • Rumors of massacres• Peasants destroyed records

and burned nobles’ houses

First Events of the Revolution


RAFT Summary

• Role: Advisor to King Louis XVI

• Audience: King Louis XVI

• Format: Letter

• Topic: Advise King Louis XVI on how to prevent revolution in France. Be sure to provide detailed problems France was facing and offer solutions.


Today’s Exit Ticket


• Why would the privileged members of the First and Second Estate want revolution in France?


Today’s Warm Up


• Explain why the Third Estate broke away from the Estates General and formed the National Assembly.

• Turn in your homework (Letter to Louis)


• Louis tried to protect his throne

• Angered the common people

• Prices still high; mob broke into the palace demanding bread (Fearsome Fish Ladies!)

• Royal family seized; National Assembly took bolder steps further restricting the power of both the King and the Catholic Church

Restrictions on Power

• Feudal dues eliminated

• Declaration laid out “liberty, equality, fraternity”

• Inspired by the English Bill of Rights, American Declaration of Independence, and the writings of Enlightenment philosophers

• Men are born equal and remain equal under the law

• The rights did not extend to women

Legislating New Rights

Creating a New Nation


•In 1791, the Legislative Assembly is formed; Constitutional Monarchy!

•Voting rights extended, but rights were not universal.

•King’s Power restricted; monarchy feels threatened

• Austria warned against harming monarchs

• Austrian army defeats French

• Financial strain of war, food shortages, and high prices

• King blamed; action demanded

Foreign Powers

Formation of a New Government

• August 10, 1792 royal family imprisoned by mob

• Radical faction took charge with National Convention

• Monarchy abolished; France declared a republic

End of Monarchy


Reign of Terror!• Read Chapter 6, Section 2 &

complete the section review.

• Be sure to record important terms, people, and ideas within your class notes.


Today’s Exit Ticket


• Write a 3 sentence protest speech explaining why the Reign of Terror went too far and contradicted the original reasons for the revolution.

the french revolution and napoleonsection 1 today’s warm up answer on your warm up/exit ticket...

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