1) Peasants in France constituted 80% of the population but lost half their income to taxes and feudal dues paid to nobles and the church. Government debt from wars and spending by previous kings left France facing bankruptcy in 1789. 2) The Estates General was convened for the first time since 1614 to address the financial crisis. The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly against aristocratic privilege of the first two estates. 3) Key events of the French Revolution included the storming of the Bastille prison, publication of the Declaration of the Rights of Man, and the women's march on Versailles which forced the royal family to relocate to Paris.

1. Magister Ricard AP Euro CH 21 The Revolution in Politics

2. The Old Regime The French Revolution and Napoleon 1789-1815

3. Peasants constituted 4/5 of population Lost half of income to taxes Dues were paid to nobles, church, the crown Paid a land tax (taille) and performed forced labor (corvee) Grain shortage increased price of bread Peasant Distress

4. Overspending by Louis XVI and previous kings left massive public debt Half of tax revenue used to pay interest on debt Funding of wars increased debt Seven Years’ War (against England) American Revolution Government Debt

5. Nobles (2nd estate) exempt from paying taxes Resisted all attempts to reform tax system Aristocratic Resistance

6. Louis XV (r. 1715-1774) weak and indecisive Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (r. 1774-1792) unpopular, scandalous Parlement assumed right to approve royal decrees – eroded absolute monarchy Royal Weakness

7. The Estates General The French Revolution and Napoleon 1789-1815

8. France was facing bankruptcy in 1789 Louis XVI’s tax reform was refused by Assembly of Notables King forced to convene Estates General First time since 1614 Convening the Estates General

9. 1st Estate – Clergy Held about 20% of land Paid no taxes, instead gave a kickback of about 2% of income to crown 2nd Estate – Nobility Comprised 2-4% of population Held about 25% of land 3rd Estate – Everyone Else Comprised 95% of population Resented aristocratic privilege Diverse group of professionals to peasants The Three Estates

10. 3rd Estate proposed all three estates to assemble together 1st and 2nd Estates assumed that each would get one vote, push through their agenda Led by Abbe Sieyes, this was rejected King refused proposal 3rd Estate declared itself the true National Assembly Locked out, met in nearby tennis court Declared oath not to disband until constitution was drafted The Tennis Court Oath

11. The National Assembly (1789-1791) The French Revolution and Napoleon 1789-1815

12. Reasserting royal authority, Louis XVI orders Swiss army towards Paris and Versailles Angry mobs already protesting over prices of bread then storm the Bastille Mob frees prisoners and seizes weapons and munitions Fall of Bastille becomes a symbol against royal despotism and tyranny Storming the Bastille

13. All men were “born and remain free and equal in rights” Rights to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression Provides for freedom of religion, speech, and press, the right to petition government and innocence until proven guilty Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

14. Gained right to inherit property and divorce Did NOT gain right to vote or hold political office Mary Wollstonecraft (A Vindication of the Rights of Women) argues women not inferior to men Women’s Rights

15. October 5, 1789 March to Versailles to demand cheap bread Insist the royal family move to Paris King complies, National Assembly also moved to Paris Women’s March to Versailles

16. August 1790 Passed by National Assembly Confiscated lands owned by Catholic Church Bishops and priests are to be elected by the people, paid by the state Clergy required to take oath to support the state Pope Pius VI condemns the act Half of active clergy refuse to comply Alienated Catholics become opponents to French Revolution Civil Constitution of the Clergy

17. Created a constitutional monarchy Divided France into 83 departments, each governed by an elected official Abolished guilds Established use of metric system Reforms of the National Assembly

18. The Legislative Assembly (1791-1792) The French Revolution and Napoleon 1789-1815

19. Conservatives sat on the right Moderates sat in the center Radicals (distrusted king) sat on left Jacobins – wanted a republic and dispose of monarchy Jean-Paul Marat, Georges-Jacques Danton, Maximilien Robespierre Girondists wanted to involve France in war to discredit monarchy and spread revolutionary ideals across Europe Factions in the Legislative Assembly

20. Leopold II (Austria) and Frederick William II (Prussia) want to see restoration of absolutism in France Declaration of Pillnitz (August 1791) Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria and Prussia (April 1792) – War of First Coalition Summer of 1792, Prussian and Austrian forces were advancing towards Paris War with Austria and Prussia

21. Recruits rush to enlist, singing the Marseillaise Replenished French forces stop the advance of Prussia/Austria Prevent return to monarchy Sans-culottes (“without breeches”) take control of Paris Commune, force Legislative Assembly to depose Louis XVI Call for election of national convention and democratic form of government Sans-culottes commit “September Massacres” to prevent betrayal by royalists The 2nd French Revolution

22. The National Convention(1792-1795) The French Revolution and Napoleon 1789-1815

23. National Convention abolishes monarchy, declares France a republic Girondists favored imprisonment of Louis XVI Jacobins favored execution National Convention condemns Louis XVI to death The resolution, reached after debate, passed by one vote Sans-culottes and Jacobins brand Girondists as counter-revolutionaries Ousted from National Convention The Execution of Louis XVI

24. At first, liberals supported French Revolution Moderates (England’s Edwin Burke) warned mob rule would lead to anarchy and military dictatorship September Massacres, execution of Louix XVI confirmed these views European Reaction

25. Foreign Threats England, Spain, Holland join Prussia/Austria coalition Spring 1793 First Coalition armies converge on France Domestic Threats Girondists and royalist Catholics rebel against radical Jacobins Foreign and Domestic Threats

26. National Convention establishes Committee of Public Safety to deal with foreign/domestic threats Defend France and the Revolution Led by Robespierre (Jacobin) and exercises dictatorial power carrying out Reign of Terror Robespierre executes Marie Antoinette, political rivals, and enemies deemed “dangerous” The Reign of Terror

27. Reign of Terror crushes domestic threats Robespierre decrees a levy of military service for all men between 18-40 Levee en masse creates a national military based on mass participation; first time state completely mobilizes for war Motivation for French recruits was patriotism, fighting to protect revolutionary ideals Lead by talented officers, not aristocracy Defeats First Coalition forces France in Arms

28. Committee of Public Safety defends against threats domestic (Reign of Terror) and abroad (First Coalition) Robespierre fanatically continues to pursue creation of Republic of Virtue National Convention, fearing further chaos, condemns and executes Robespierre Robespierre’s death ends radical phase of Revolution July was Thermidor on new revolutionary calendar The Thermidorian Reaction

29. The Directory(1795-1799) The French Revolution and Napoleon 1789-1815

30. Government consists of two house legislature and 5 man executive panel known as The Directory Directory was corrupt and unpopular Overseen by rich bourgeoisie Bourgeoisie Misrule

31. Directory failed to deal with inflation, food shortages, corruption November 9, 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte overthrows Directory and seizes control in a coup Fall of The Directory

32. Napoleon and the Consulate(1799-1804) The French Revolution and Napoleon 1789-1815

33. Napoleon is named first consul as a result of his coup Holds all power and made all decisions Restores order, stimulates prosperity, and defeats Second Coalition forces His rule is heavily endorsed; uses democratic process to dispose of democratic rule Enacted policies he felt would transform France into an efficient modern state Seems to embody concepts of philosophes’ enlightened despot The First Consul

34. Consolidates hundreds of law codes into a uniform legal code Still serves as basis for French law Protected achievements of French Revolution Equality, freedom of religion, protection of property rights Increased authority of husbands within families Women and children legally dependent on husband/father The Napoleonic Code

35. Granted special status to Catholic Church as the popular religion of France Pope regained the right to confirm church officials appointed first by French government, depose French bishops, and reopen religious seminaries Pope recognizes French (revolutionary) government and accepts loss of property confiscated Concordat of 1801

36. Napoleon censors the press Suppressed all political opposition Loss of individual liberties France gained security, stability, and prosperity Napoleon declares himself emperor on December 2, 1804 Surrendering Liberty

37. The Napoleonic Empire(1804-1815) The French Revolution and Napoleon 1789-1815

38. 1805-1807 Napoleon defeats Austria, Prussia, and Russia Victory at Austerlitz significant military achievement; solidifies Napoleon’s military reputation 1808 French rule extended from North Sea to Spain and Italy English naval victory (Trafalgar) prevented French control of seas and Napoleon’s intended invasion of Great Britain “Europe Was At My Feet”

39. Napoleon dissolves the Holy Roman Empire Previously independent German states were consolidated into a Confederation of the Rhine Controlled by France Napoleon abolishes feudalism and grants peasants freedom from duties People at first viewed the French as liberators Began to view the French as exploiters Inadvertently stirs nationalism throughout Europe Reorganization of Germany

40. Three major mistakes The Continental System 1806 Napoleon closed all European ports to British ships and goods Guerrilla Warfare in Spain 1808 Napoleon deposed Spain’s Bourbon rulers; installs brother Joseph – angers Spanish Spanish guerrilla fighters ambushed French troops France lost nearly 300,000 men; wore down French forces Invasion of Russia Tsar Alexander I refused to abide Continental System Napoleon invades Moscow, but Alexander refused to surrender Bitter cold, disease, and attacks decimate French forces far from supply lines Fall of Napoleon

41. Great Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria (Grand Alliance) defeat Napoleon at Battle of Nations October, 1813 Grand Alliance enters Paris March, 1814 Napoleon abdicates, exiled to Elba March 1815, Napoleon escapes and forms new army Grand Alliance defeats Napoleon at Waterloo June, 1815 Napoleon abdicates a 2nd time; exiled to St. Helena and dies in 1821 One Last Roar