Here are 3 causes and 3 effects of the French Revolution: Causes: 1. Economic troubles including high taxes on the Third Estate to fund wars and the lavish lifestyle of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette left the people in poverty. 2. Social inequality between the privileged nobility and clergy (First and Second Estate) and the majority Third Estate who had few rights. 3. Inspiration from Enlightenment ideas of equality, liberty, and popular sovereignty which raised demands for political reform that the King was unwilling to consider. Effects: 1. Overthrow of the French monarchy and establishment of a republic, demonstrating that a revolution was possible against an absolute monarchy. 2. Spread of

1. Ch.23 French Revolution
The Storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789

2. Let’s Think About It
 Why do you think people have overthrown
their government?
 What would it take for Americans to
overthrow their government?
 Make a Prediction: What are some of the
causes of the French Revolution?

3. Section 1
 Main Idea: Economic and social inequalities
in the old regime (absolute rulers) help cause
the French Revolution
 3 social classes (Estates)
– First Estate: Catholic clergy, pay few taxes
– Second Estate: Rich nobles, 2% of population
– Third Estate: 97% of the population, few
privileges and pay heavy taxes (Want Change!)

4. 1%
2%
97%
1st Estate
2nd Estate
3rd Estate

5. Causes/Forces for Change
 Enlightenment Ideas
– Inspire third estate
 Economic Troubles
– High taxes/ Hunger Issues upset 3rd estate
– Funding the American Revolution causes large debts/
Luxurious lifestyle of Marie Antoinette led to more debt
 Weak and Unpopular Leader
– Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
 3rd estate had little representation in government
 Desire for a middle class from those who felt they did
not belong in the 3rd estate Ex: doctors, lawyers, etc.

6. Dawn of the Revolution
 National Assembly: created by 3rd estate to attempt
to make change and have their voices be heard.
 Tennis Court Oath: Refused to stop fighting for
reform until the king would make changes and a new
constitution was written
– Significance: vowed to not give up until they could achieve
reforms
 Louis XVI tries to destroy the national
assembly but the 3rd estate rebel and take
over the Bastille.
– Gun Powder and Supplies/ Beginning of the Revolution

7. Spread of Great Fear
 Before the Rebellion spread, rumors spread that the
nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize the peasants
– Peasants attack the nobles with pitchforks and destroy the
legal documents that required them to pay feudal dues (had
to pay nobles for protection)
– A mob of women who were angry about high bread prices
march to Versailles and forced the king and queen to move
to Paris
 Significance: symbolizes the change in power and
beginning of massive reforms in France

8. Storming of the Bastille
 Video Clip

9. Sec.2 Reform and Terror
Main Idea: the revolutionary government of
France makes reforms but also uses terror
and violence to retain power.

10. Reforms
 The Rights of Man (French Declaration of
Independence)
– Natural rights for all citizens
– Ended special rights for 1st and 2nd estates
 Decreased the power of the church: Lose
their land and political independence and
now had to be elected members.
– sold off church land to pay off France’s debt!
 Limited Monarchy (No more absolute ruler)
– Legislative Assembly: created to pass laws

11. Louis XVI and Mary try to escape!
 Changes make Louis fear for his future and
he tries to escape!
 Caught by revolutionary enemies

12. Divisions Develop
 Problems to Fix: debt and food shortages
 France splits into different groups with
different desires
– Emigres: Nobles who flee the country and want to
restore the old regime (absolute power)
– Sans Culottes: Lower Class who want more
change from the revolution

13. War Breaks Out In Europe
 Absolute rulers around Europe feared revolutions in
their country
– Austria and Prussia want Louis back in power
– Legislative Assembly responds by declaring war
 Prussia dominated the war and had Paris
surrounded.
– Threatened to destroy Paris if the royal family was hurt
– Citizens in Paris were outraged and stormed the palace
where the king and queen were imprisoning them
– Break into Jails and kill over 1,000 supporters of the king

14. Assembly Dissolved
 The chaos created by the mobs caused the
assembly to step down
– Dissolve themselves and the king
 Create an election for a new form of
government
– French Republic is formed

15. Jacobins
 Radical political group that took office
– Called for the death of all those who still
support the king
– Convicted Louis of treason and had him
beheaded
– Guillotine: machine designed to behead people
– Jacobins order a draft of 300,000 to reinforce
the army
 Significance: Create several armies and
split the supporters of the revolution in half

16. Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
 Gains power within the Jacobins and
becomes the leader of the Public Safety
Committee
 Rules sort of as a dictator and the period
becomes known as the Reign of Terror
– Job was to protect the revolution from enemies
– Often killed off anyone who opposed the
revolution
– 1,000’s were killed on weak charges

17. End of Terror
 Robespierre was arrested by the Jacobins
(Leaders of Government) who were in fear of
their own lives
– Executed
– Reign of Terror: Radical phase of the revolution
– Terror shifts public opinion away from radicals
– Moderates gain support and form new constitution
 Two house legislature and a 5 man executive branch
(directory)
 Brought order and peace to France

18. Today’s Goals
 Who took power in France after Robespierre?
 What is a coup d'état
 What were two positive reforms made by
Napoleon?
 Why couldn’t Napoleon take over Russia?

19. Section 3: Napoleon creates an Empire
Main Idea: Napoleon Bonaparte was a military
genius who seized power in France and
makes himself emperor

20. Napoleon Gains Popularity
 Went to military school and joins the army
 Directory place him in power of the armies
 Hero of the Hour (1795)
– Defeats royalist rebels who were attacking the national
convention (Called Savior of the Republic)
 Reminder: Austrians and other European nations were
still at war with France
– Gains popularity through victories in Italy against Austrian
troops

21. Government Loses Support
 Revolutionary governments had created little
security and change for the 3rd estate.
 Directory and two house system lose
people’s support
 1799: Napoleon Seizes power: Used his
troops to take over the government in what is
known as a coup d’ etat: Seizure of power

22. Napoleon Focuses on Issues at Home
Made changes based on the goals of the revolution
Plebiscite: vote of people: approve a new constitution
– Fixes Economy: Set up a banking system and Made taxes
more fair and equal
– Removed corrupt government workers
– Lycees: government run schools to improved education for
the 3rd estate
– Concordat: agreement with pope to restore Catholicism/
Gave church some of their power back
– Napoleonic Code: New Laws: equal rights for all citizens,
but limited free speech and renewed slavery in French
Colonies

23. Napoleon Creates an Empire
 Loss of American Territories
– Gave them up and focused on expanding in Europe
– Sells Louisiana Territory to the United States in 1803 for 15
Million. (Probably would regret it today!)
 Conquering Europe
– Britain, Russia, Austria, Sweden join against Napoleon
– European nations feared his growing power in France and
attacked
– Napoleon crushes enemy forces and force them into peace
agreements

24. French Empire
 Battle of Trafalgar: Napoleon’s expansion is
finally stopped by the British
– Shows British Naval Superiority
– If he would have won he would have taken over
Britain as well
 Empire: Controls most of Europe
– Had puppet rulers (Satellites) who swore their
alliance to him

26. Collapse of the Empire
 Napoleon’s love of power becomes his
downfall!
 3 mistakes
– Desire to crush Britain
– Making his brother the king of Spain
– Attempt to conquer Russia (Biggest Mistake)

27. Desire to Crush Britain
 Wanted to hurt their economy
– Stopped all trade with them but it failed
 Europeans in his territories were secretly still buying
their goods
 Britain responds by blockading Europe with
their powerful navy
– Hurts France’s economy
Remember: Money is needed for a powerful
army and country. No economy= no money

28. Napoleon’s Brother as King of Spain
 Problem: Spain was loyal to their current king
 With the help of Britain they push back
Napoleon’s invasion
 Significance: He loses 300,000 soldiers
weakening his army

29. Attempts to overtake Russia
 Successful in reaching Moscow but the Russians had
burned everything valuable
– No food or resources for French troops
 Winter was coming so he ordered his troops back to
France
– Poor traveling conditions and Russian attacks caused
thousands to die and thousands to be deserted!
– Significance: Other countries see how weak Napoleon's army
has become and attack him and defeat him in Germany
– Russia’s HARSH CLIMATE/WINTER has served as a natural
defense for them for various wars and attacks

30. Congress of Vienna
 Goals:
– Attempts at a peace agreement for all of Europe
– Ensure France would not attack again
– Balance of power so no one nation became
superior
– Put kings back in charge (restore the monarchy)

31. Congress of Vienna
 Kings and Princes regained power across
Europe
– Did not take on enlightenment ideas (equality)
 Citizens still believed in enlightenment ideas
and would later successfully fight for their
rights

32. Impact of French Revolution
 Although it was not completely successful it
inspired other citizens and colonies to break
away
– Spanish Colonies in America break away from Spain
– Nationalism grows: pride in one’s country and beliefs
 Italy, Germany, and Greece would rebel from their empires
and form new countries
– Middle Class gains political influence
 FRENCH REVOLUTION CHANGED POLITICS
ALL OVER THE WORLD

33. Identify 3 causes of the French
Revolution

34. Identify and describe 3 effects of
the French Revolution