The French Revolution pt. I

Causes for a Peasant Revolt against the King

Causes of the French Revolution

Concept: Social Classes

The Old Regime was a very unequal social class structure

• First Estate – The Church or Clergy1% of population, owned 5-10% of land, paid little taxes

• Second Estate – The Nobles or Lords2% of population, owned 25% of land, paid little taxes

• Third Estate – Bourgeoisie or Middle Class, Peasants, Workers and Serfs97% of pop., owned 40% land, paid high taxes, little representation

POPULATION

1ST

2ND

3RD

LAND OWNERSHIP

1ST

2ND

3RD

UnownedLand

Causes of the French Revolution

• Concept: Absolute Monarchy

1. The King had unlimited control over the affairs of the state.

2. Did not need the people’s approval to pass laws, make wars, or levy taxes.

3. The people had no representation in government

Causes of the French Revolution

• Concept: Enlightenment Philosophy

1. The old Greco-Roman ideas of law, reason, equality were become popular to the masses

2. People were demanding representation in government

3. People wanted fairer laws, social equality, and protection of their natural rights

ESTATES GENERAL MEETING

• By 1789, France was in financial debt because of on-going wars with Europe and unchecked spending by the royal family.

• King Louis XVI called for a meeting of the Estates General, an old system to get public opinion. Each Estate was represented but only allowed one vote per estate.

• Louis asked the estates to come up with solutions to the debt crisis.

Estates General Meeting

• Two Major Problems with this meeting

1. the 3rd Estate (peasants) was always outvoted by the 1st and 2nd Estates (Clergy and Nobles), their solutions went unheard.

2. King Louis also held the power to Veto and used it against any solution that threatened to limit his power

The National Assembly

• The 3rd Estate was so frustrated with the Estates General Meeting, they decided to meet separately

• June 20, 1789, the leaders of the 3rd Estate swore a Tennis Court Oath and– Created the National Assembly-a new legislature to

represent the majority of French citizens– Pledged to write a new social contract for France

and limit the King’s Power

The Peasant Reaction• Word spread across France that the King’s power was being

challenged.

• Two Major Uprisings Happened

1. The Storming of the Bastille - French citizens stormed the old prison in search of gun powder (July 14, 1798)

2. The March on Versailles- Women stormed the Palace of Versailles, home to Louis and Marie Antoinette to demand affordable bread (October, 1789)

As a result of these, the King and Queen were forced to leave Versailles and return to Paris, the capital.

A Political Revolution Begins

• Answer the following questions

1. Why was the social class system a cause of the French Revolution?

2. Why was the Estates General meeting unfair to the majority of French citizens?

3. What did the National Assembly vow to do and how did it help contribute to the French Revolution?

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• 1789-1791• The new government called the National

Assembly • Declaration of the Rights of Man that guaranteed

rights, liberties, and freedoms. • They couldn’t solve financial problems because

they were involved in wars and had too many political divisions.

• A Limited Monarchy was created with a Constitution in 1791.

Political Spectrum Divisions

Radicals Liberals Moderates Conservatives Reactionary

End Monarchy Kill the King

King is a figurehead with

no power

Republic - King as an advisor

King limited powers Restore Monarchy

Peasants Bourgeoisie

Clergy Nobles

REIGN OF TERROR IN THE “REPUBLIC”

1792-1794 •Maximilien Robespierre and the other radicals known as the Jacobins, execute Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

•The radicals took control of the National Assembly and created a new legislative body called the National Convention.

The Guillotine

REIGN OF TERROR IN THE “REPUBLIC”

• A Committee of Public Safety was created to deal with the threats to France.

• Forty thousand French people in two years were executed by guillotine.

• The National Convention turned on their leader and executed Robespierre July 1794.

• The Reign of Terror ends when a group of moderates write a new constitution and create a five man Directory to run the country.

NAPOLEON

• 1799-1814

• Napoleon overthrows the Directory and rule France as a dictator, and emperor, for 15 years…

Nationalism• Napoleon’s reign over other countries in

Europe created Nationalism

• A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country, a celebration of the nation, a strong national identity to defend the nation against foreigners and the leaders encourage loyalty to the nation.

The Congress of Vienna

The meeting restored stability and peace after the revolutions and Napoleon's war in Europe

The Countries at the meeting included:

Austria & Prussia (Germany), Russia, France and Britain

Goals of the Congress of Vienna

1. Create a Balance of Power in Europe

Redrew the map of Europe to keep France contained “Containment”

Boundaries were redrawn without any consideration for national cultures

Goals of the Congress of Vienna

2. Restore the Monarchs in Europe

They wanted to create governments that would be recognized as legal or legitimate “Legitimacy” (Louis XVIII in France)

3. Created a wartime AllianceAustria, Russia, Prussia, Great Britain

French Revolution Ideas Spread to other Countries

• Fair taxation• Middle class having more say in government• Getting rid of feudal privileges • Equality of all citizens• People govern themselves – democracy• Inalienable rights• Rejection of the divine right• Government answers to all the people• Freedom of the press• Government protects the rights of the people