French Revolution the Assignment 06.05

Before the revolution, France’s society was divided into three classes: The First Estate made up of the clergy (high ranking officials—including priests—and the wealthy) Second Estate consisting of the nobility the rest of the French population made up the Third Estate (more than 95% of the population) the "Ancien Regime"

Before the revolution, France’s society was divided into three classes:

The First Estate made up of the clergy (high ranking officials—including priests—and the wealthy)

Second Estate consisting of the nobility

the rest of the French population made up the Third Estate (more than 95% of the population)

Social Tensions Although the Third Estate was compromised of the majority of the French population, it held little political power as whereas… The First and Second Estates had a stranglehold on politics and did not have to pay taxes. With droughts damaging the harvests, nobility ignoring spending restrictions, & the serious debts from recent major wars, Louis XVI needed to raise taxes so… He called for a meeting of the Estates General.

Although the Third Estate was compromised of the majority of the French population, it held little political power as whereas…

The First and Second Estates had a stranglehold on politics and did not have to pay taxes.

With droughts damaging the harvests, nobility ignoring spending restrictions, & the serious debts from recent major wars, Louis XVI needed to raise taxes so…

He called for a meeting of the Estates General.

The Estates General was first established in 1302 as a legislative body representing the three social estates of France. This group of representatives hadn’t met in some 175 years before Louis XVI had called for it in 1789. Estates-General

The Estates General was first established in 1302 as a legislative body representing the three social estates of France.

This group of representatives hadn’t met in some 175 years before Louis XVI had called for it in 1789.

At the meeting, the representatives of the 2 nd estate arrived in hopes to gain favors from the king in the form of political power and greater freedoms in the form of a new constitution. Representatives of the 3 rd Estate wanted greater freedom, referring to Britain’s former colonies in America. They went as far to suggest that the Estates General meet under one roof. However, the top court in Paris, the parliament, ruled in favor of the nobility & ordered the estates to meet separately and vote by order. Estates-General (cont.)

At the meeting, the representatives of the 2 nd estate arrived in hopes to gain favors from the king in the form of political power and greater freedoms in the form of a new constitution.

Representatives of the 3 rd Estate wanted greater freedom, referring to Britain’s former colonies in America. They went as far to suggest that the Estates General meet under one roof.

However, the top court in Paris, the parliament, ruled in favor of the nobility & ordered the estates to meet separately and vote by order.

Frustrated at the strong possibility of being shut out of the new constitution by the other two Estates, the Third Estate declared themselves as the National Assembly on June 17, 1789 national assembly

Frustrated at the strong possibility of being shut out of the new constitution by the other two Estates, the Third Estate declared themselves as the National Assembly on June 17, 1789

Tennis Court Oath In it, the majority swore “never to separate, and to meet wherever circumstances demand, until the constitution of the kingdom is established and affirmed on solid foundations”. The King was unwilling to use force and eventually ordered the first and second estates to join the new National Assembly. The Third Estate had won. The King had rejected the activities and ideas of the Third Estate as the National Assembly The opposition of Louis XVI led to the National Assembly meeting on June 20, 1789 in a tennis court at Versailles. There, they took an oath.

In it, the majority swore “never to separate, and to meet wherever circumstances demand, until the constitution of the kingdom is established and affirmed on solid foundations”.

The King was unwilling to use force and eventually ordered the first and second estates to join the new National Assembly. The Third Estate had won.

The King had rejected the activities and ideas of the Third Estate as the National Assembly

The opposition of Louis XVI led to the National Assembly meeting on June 20, 1789 in a tennis court at Versailles. There, they took an oath.

Fall of the Bastille The dismissal of Finance Minister Jacques Necker in July 1789 sparked the violent retaliation of the third Estate. The Bastille was targeted because of its secrecy and terror, holding prisoners considered enemies of the king without proper trial. All 7 prisoners were freed and every guard was killed. The fall of the Bastille became a symbol of the fight against the tyranny and injustices of France’s absolute monarchy – July 14, 1789

The dismissal of Finance Minister Jacques Necker in July 1789 sparked the violent retaliation of the third Estate.

The Bastille was targeted because of its secrecy and terror, holding prisoners considered enemies of the king without proper trial.

All 7 prisoners were freed and every guard was killed.

The fall of the Bastille became a symbol of the fight against the tyranny and injustices of France’s absolute monarchy

“ The Great Fear” After the siege of the Bastille, a series of riots continued to break out amongst the peasants in the countryside. Targets of the riots included nobles’ châteaux, monasteries, and buildings that housed public records—especially those containing records of their feudal obligations.

After the siege of the Bastille, a series of riots continued to break out amongst the peasants in the countryside.

Targets of the riots included nobles’ châteaux, monasteries, and buildings that housed public records—especially those containing records of their feudal obligations.

Declaration of the Rights of Man Drafted by, the of the National Assembly in August of 1789, it is a document recognizing natural rights and based on the ideas of the Enlightenment, The American Declaration of Independence, and particularly the writing of Jean-Jacque Rousseau. It was widely copied and distributed across Europe top push forward the ideas of freedom, equality, and rule of law.

Drafted by, the of the National Assembly in August of 1789, it is a document recognizing natural rights and based on the ideas of the Enlightenment, The American Declaration of Independence, and particularly the writing of Jean-Jacque Rousseau.

It was widely copied and distributed across Europe top push forward the ideas of freedom, equality, and rule of law.

Civil Constitution of the Clergy The National Assembly’s solution for the financial crisis. Created July 12, 1790. Placed the church under control of the State and seized the lands because the Church was the largest landowner in France. Caused the new government to lose support of Catholics—which made up much of the French. population

The National Assembly’s solution for the financial crisis. Created July 12, 1790.

Placed the church under control of the State and seized the lands because the Church was the largest landowner in France.

Caused the new government to lose support of Catholics—which made up much of the French. population

Constitution of 1791 Declared France to be a constitutional monarchy Legislative powers went to a single Legislative Assembly, which alone had the power to declare war and raise taxes. Monarch had limited powers (could only implement a suspensive veto ) Monarch could not control the army, Legislative Assembly, or local government. It only lasted for one year.

Declared France to be a constitutional monarchy

Legislative powers went to a single Legislative Assembly, which alone had the power to declare war and raise taxes.

Monarch had limited powers (could only implement a suspensive veto )

Monarch could not control the army, Legislative Assembly, or local government.

It only lasted for one year.

Committee of Public Safety & Robespierre Maximilien Robespierre was the head of the Committee of Public Safety, the executive committee of the National Convention. Robespierre along with the radical Jacobins was also the leader of the Reign of Terror after the death of Louis XVI in 1793. The Reign of Terror was a period under the rule of the conventions that focused on the elimination of economic and political threats of any degree within France. Up to 50,000 French citizens were guillotined.

Maximilien Robespierre was the head of the Committee of Public Safety, the executive committee of the National Convention.

Robespierre along with the radical Jacobins was also the leader of the Reign of Terror after the death of Louis XVI in 1793.

The Reign of Terror was a period under the rule of the conventions that focused on the elimination of economic and political threats of any degree within France.

Up to 50,000 French citizens were guillotined.

The Thermidorian Reaction After the arrest of Robespierre, moderates that were repressed under the Reign of Terror appeared back in the National Convention of 1794. Jacobins’ prisoners were freed, the power of the Committee for Public Safety was neutralized, and Robespierre’s affiliates were executed. In an attempt to fix the economy, the Convention printed more money and got rid of price controls—causing inflation.

After the arrest of Robespierre, moderates that were repressed under the Reign of Terror appeared back in the National Convention of 1794.

Jacobins’ prisoners were freed, the power of the Committee for Public Safety was neutralized, and Robespierre’s affiliates were executed.

In an attempt to fix the economy, the Convention printed more money and got rid of price controls—causing inflation.

The Directory After the Reign of Terror, the constitution of 1795 brought a new, more conservative government made up of 5 officers. It had no legislative power, but it had the authority to appoint people to fill the other positions within the government. The Directory had to get rid of the Jacobin influence and prevent royalists from taking advantage of the disorganization to reclaim the throne. Focused more on keeping progressive members out rather than addressing the economic crisis. This paranoia of a counter-revolution weakened the group.

After the Reign of Terror, the constitution of 1795 brought a new, more conservative government made up of 5 officers.

It had no legislative power, but it had the authority to appoint people to fill the other positions within the government.

The Directory had to get rid of the Jacobin influence and prevent royalists from taking advantage of the disorganization to reclaim the throne.

Focused more on keeping progressive members out rather than addressing the economic crisis.

This paranoia of a counter-revolution weakened the group.

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory and replaced it with the Consulate in November 1799—marking the true end of the revolution He soon assumed the position of First Consul, with near dictatorial powers. Helped abolish the feudal system for good and established a meritocracy. Reestablished the Church At first brought peace to the French in domestic and foreign affairs But would soon push France to war again in 1803

Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory and replaced it with the Consulate in November 1799—marking the true end of the revolution

He soon assumed the position of First Consul, with near dictatorial powers.

Helped abolish the feudal system for good and established a meritocracy.

Reestablished the Church

At first brought peace to the French in domestic and foreign affairs

But would soon push France to war again in 1803

Bibliography Websites http:// www.historyguide.org /intellect/lecture11a.html http:// www.historywiz.com /oldregime.htm http:// www.helium.com /items/1086965-what-is-the-imporance-of-bastille-day http:// www.sparknotes.com /history/european/frenchrev/section5.rhtml Books: Armstrong, Monty, Daniel David, and Kanarek Abby. Cracking the AP World History Exam . New York: Random House, Inc., 2006.