2. WHAT WAS THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION?
• A period of political chaos and
civil unrest in France. The result
was the overthrow of the French
Monarchy and a period of
dictatorship known as the Reign
of Terror.
3. WHAT CAUSED THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION?
• At this point in time, France was
nearing bankruptcy. It was heavily
in debt from the costs of the
French and Indian War, and the
American Revolutionary War.
• This crisis was especially hard for
the Third Estate—the term for
the lowest social class (peasants).
Peasants could no longer afford
the rising cost of bread, and
people were starving.
• After being thwarted by the King
in their attempts at a National
Assembly, and being largely
ignored by King Louis XVI, the
peasants revolted by storming the
Bastille fortress in Paris.
4. SIGNIFICANCE REGARDING THE
US
• By the time Napoleon came to
power, the country was still in
financial and political ruin from
the revolution. This combined
with the expenses involving his
future conquests convinced him
to sell the Louisiana Territory to
the US—a purchase now known
as the “Louisiana Purchase”
