The French Revolution was a series of revolutions from 1789 to 1799 that transformed France and had widespread effects across Europe. It established the foundations of modern liberal democracy based on the principles of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty. The Revolution began with the storming of the Bastille prison and led to increasing radicalization through the Reign of Terror under Robespierre. It established France as a republic and had immense consequences worldwide, exporting revolutionary ideals and inaugurating the modern era.

1. The French RevolutionThe French Revolution
-Key Concepts--Key Concepts-

2. I. Revolutionary IdeasI. Revolutionary Ideas
-Ideological Foundation for-Ideological Foundation for
Political Liberalism-Political Liberalism-

3. A. LibertyA. Liberty
 The notion of individualThe notion of individual
human rightshuman rights
 A new type ofA new type of
government in which thegovernment in which the
people are sovereignpeople are sovereign
 The importance of aThe importance of a
representative assemblyrepresentative assembly
 The importance of aThe importance of a
written constitutionwritten constitution
 The notion of self-The notion of self-
determinationdetermination
 Freedom to accumulateFreedom to accumulate
propertyproperty

4. B. EqualityB. Equality
 Equality of rights and civil libertiesEquality of rights and civil liberties
 Equality before the lawEquality before the law
 No special privileges for the richNo special privileges for the rich
 Equality of opportunityEquality of opportunity
 ““Careers Open to Talent”Careers Open to Talent”
 Inherent tension between liberty andInherent tension between liberty and
equalityequality

5. II. Roots of LiberalismII. Roots of Liberalism
 Judeo-Christian andJudeo-Christian and
Greek rootsGreek roots
 EnlightenmentEnlightenment
FoundationFoundation
 Locke’s Notion of theLocke’s Notion of the
Rights of EnglishmenRights of Englishmen

6. III. “A Dual Revolution”III. “A Dual Revolution”
 The French Revolution was the inauguralThe French Revolution was the inaugural
European revolutionEuropean revolution
 The French Revolution and the IndustrialThe French Revolution and the Industrial
Revolution together transformed the westernRevolution together transformed the western
worldworld
 This “Dual Revolution” changed everythingThis “Dual Revolution” changed everything
politically, socially and economicallypolitically, socially and economically
 Triumph of European states and economiesTriumph of European states and economies
globallyglobally
 The Modern Era was inaugurated by the DualThe Modern Era was inaugurated by the Dual
RevolutionRevolution

7. IV. “The Atlantic Revolution”IV. “The Atlantic Revolution”
 French Revolution was a part of a wholeFrench Revolution was a part of a whole
series of revolutions which took placeseries of revolutions which took place
during the late 18during the late 18thth
centurycentury
--Political agitation in England, Ireland,--Political agitation in England, Ireland,
Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy,Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy,
Germany, Hungary, Poland and theGermany, Hungary, Poland and the
American coloniesAmerican colonies
 One big movement of revolutionaryOne big movement of revolutionary
agitationagitation

8. A. British North AmericaA. British North America
 ““All Men are CreatedAll Men are Created
Equal”Equal”
 The significance ofThe significance of
the Americanthe American
constitutionconstitution
 The influence of theThe influence of the
American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
 The impact of theThe impact of the
American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

9. B. Central and South AmericaB. Central and South America
 Independence fromIndependence from
Spanish ruleSpanish rule
 Simon Bolivar, the fatherSimon Bolivar, the father
of Latin Americanof Latin American
independenceindependence
 Continued dominance ofContinued dominance of
the white minoritythe white minority
 The abolition of the slaveThe abolition of the slave
trade is set in motiontrade is set in motion
--United States abolished--United States abolished
this trade in 1808this trade in 1808

10. C. The French RevolutionC. The French Revolution
 More fundamental and profoundMore fundamental and profound
consequences than the Americanconsequences than the American
RevolutionRevolution
 France = most powerful and populousFrance = most powerful and populous
state in Europestate in Europe
 Massive social revolutionMassive social revolution
 Worldwide impactWorldwide impact
 Becomes model for future revolutionsBecomes model for future revolutions

11. How Should We Look atHow Should We Look at
the French Revolution?the French Revolution?
““Series of revolutions which becameSeries of revolutions which became
more radical as leadership cascadedmore radical as leadership cascaded
down through French society.”down through French society.”

12. V. The Events of theV. The Events of the
French RevolutionFrench Revolution
Watch for the different revolutionsWatch for the different revolutions
within the Revolution!within the Revolution!

13. A. OriginsA. Origins
 Began as a revolt ofBegan as a revolt of
the aristocracythe aristocracy
 Attempt to capitalizeAttempt to capitalize
on the financial woeson the financial woes
of the monarchyof the monarchy
 Only solution = taxOnly solution = tax
reform and a directreform and a direct
tax on all propertytax on all property
 Aristocracy refusedAristocracy refused
and forces the issueand forces the issue

14. B. The Estates-GeneralB. The Estates-General
 An old feudal assemblyAn old feudal assembly
that had not met sincethat had not met since
16141614
 Three Estates: Clergy,Three Estates: Clergy,
Nobility, All OthersNobility, All Others
 The significance of theThe significance of the
voting procedurevoting procedure
 The miscalculation andThe miscalculation and
lack of social awarenesslack of social awareness
of the aristocracyof the aristocracy

15. C. The Third EstateC. The Third Estate
 Who were they?Who were they?
 Third Estate wasThird Estate was
dominated by the middledominated by the middle
classclass
 Blending of aristocraticBlending of aristocratic
and bourgeois classes byand bourgeois classes by
17891789
 Middle class = BigMiddle class = Big
WinnersWinners
 Revolutionary goals ofRevolutionary goals of
the middle classthe middle class

16. D. An Agenda of ClassicalD. An Agenda of Classical
LiberalismLiberalism
 RepresentativeRepresentative
government did notgovernment did not
mean democracy ormean democracy or
“mob rule”“mob rule”
 Estates-GeneralEstates-General
became the Nationalbecame the National
Assembly in June ofAssembly in June of
1789 with the power1789 with the power
to frame a constitutionto frame a constitution
--Tennis Court Oath--Tennis Court Oath

17. E. “Revolutionaries in the Streets”E. “Revolutionaries in the Streets”
 Who were they?Who were they?
 ““Sans-culottes”Sans-culottes”
(without knee(without knee
britches)britches)
 Picked up the ideasPicked up the ideas
and slogans of theand slogans of the
Revolution from theRevolution from the
more educatedmore educated
leadership of lawyersleadership of lawyers
and journalistsand journalists

18. What were the Motivations of theseWhat were the Motivations of these
Revolutionaries?Revolutionaries?
 Poverty and HungerPoverty and Hunger
 Low wages and fear ofLow wages and fear of
unemploymentunemployment
 Heightened expectationsHeightened expectations
and the exposure to aand the exposure to a
political perspectivepolitical perspective
-- “Cahiers”-- “Cahiers”
 Strong dislike for andStrong dislike for and
distrust of the wealthydistrust of the wealthy
 The role of conspiracyThe role of conspiracy

19. F. A Case Study: Storming theF. A Case Study: Storming the
BastilleBastille
 Events of the night of JulyEvents of the night of July
13, 178913, 1789
 Reasons for the attack onReasons for the attack on
the Bastille the nextthe Bastille the next
morningmorning
 The stubbornness of theThe stubbornness of the
governor of the fortressgovernor of the fortress
 Celebrations on the nightCelebrations on the night
of July 14of July 14thth
 Sparks tremendousSparks tremendous
popular revolution all overpopular revolution all over
FranceFrance

20. G. “The Great Fear”G. “The Great Fear”
 IndependentIndependent
revolutionary agitation inrevolutionary agitation in
the countrysidethe countryside
 Rumors of Royalist troopsRumors of Royalist troops
becoming wanderingbecoming wandering
vandalsvandals
 Fear breeds fear andFear breeds fear and
peasants start marchingpeasants start marching
 Within 3 weeks of JulyWithin 3 weeks of July
14, the countryside of14, the countryside of
France had beenFrance had been
completely changedcompletely changed
 Abolition of the NobilityAbolition of the Nobility

21. Declaration of the Rights of Man—Declaration of the Rights of Man—
August 27, 1789August 27, 1789

22. H. The Court Returns to ParisH. The Court Returns to Paris
 Mounting unemploymentMounting unemployment
and hunger in Paris in theand hunger in Paris in the
fall of 1789fall of 1789
 ““October Days”October Days”
-- “The point is that we-- “The point is that we
want bread!”want bread!”
 Women nearly killed theWomen nearly killed the
QueenQueen
 The Royal Family returnsThe Royal Family returns
to Paris on October 6,to Paris on October 6,
17891789

23. I. The Consolidation of the LiberalI. The Consolidation of the Liberal
RevolutionRevolution
 Events from October, 1789 throughEvents from October, 1789 through
September, 1791September, 1791
 Abolition of the French nobility as a legalAbolition of the French nobility as a legal
orderorder
 Constitutional Monarchy establishedConstitutional Monarchy established
 Economic centralizationEconomic centralization
 Nationalization of the ChurchNationalization of the Church
--Stage set for subsequent civil war--Stage set for subsequent civil war

24. J. Popular Political MobilizationJ. Popular Political Mobilization
 Revolutionary TalkRevolutionary Talk
--More than 500 new--More than 500 new
newspapersnewspapers
--Oath of Loyalty--Oath of Loyalty
-- “Liberte, Equalite,-- “Liberte, Equalite,
Fraternite!”Fraternite!”
 Revolutionary SymbolsRevolutionary Symbols
 Revolutionary ClubsRevolutionary Clubs
--The Jacobins--The Jacobins
 Revolutionary LeadersRevolutionary Leaders

25. K. Growing RadicalismK. Growing Radicalism
 Reasons:Reasons:
--Snowball Effect--Snowball Effect
--Unsatisfied--Unsatisfied
ExpectationsExpectations
--Outbreak of War--Outbreak of War
 Results:Results:
--Increasing Violence--Increasing Violence
--Change in Political--Change in Political
LeadershipLeadership

26. L. Robespierre’s Reign of TerrorL. Robespierre’s Reign of Terror
 The Committee ofThe Committee of
Public SafetyPublic Safety
 The Concept of “TotalThe Concept of “Total
War”War”
 Maximum priceMaximum price
ceilings on certainceilings on certain
goodsgoods
 Nationalization ofNationalization of
Small WorkshopsSmall Workshops

27. L. The Reign of Terror (cont)L. The Reign of Terror (cont)
 Execution of 40,000Execution of 40,000
“Enemies of the Nation”“Enemies of the Nation”
 Stress on radicalStress on radical
definition of equalitydefinition of equality
 Wanted a legal maximumWanted a legal maximum
on personal wealthon personal wealth
 Wanted a regulation ofWanted a regulation of
commercial profitscommercial profits
 End of Robespierre’sEnd of Robespierre’s
dictatorship on July 28,dictatorship on July 28,
17941794

28. M. The Directory and NapoleonM. The Directory and Napoleon
BonaparteBonaparte
 The Directory (1794-The Directory (1794-
1799)1799)
 Napoleon’s Rise to PowerNapoleon’s Rise to Power
 The Napoleonic CodeThe Napoleonic Code
 Establishment of theEstablishment of the
Bank of FranceBank of France
 Reconciliation with theReconciliation with the
Catholic ChurchCatholic Church
--Concordat of 1801--Concordat of 1801
 Heavy CensorshipHeavy Censorship
 Napoleon’s “Art of War”Napoleon’s “Art of War”

29. VI. Legacies of the FrenchVI. Legacies of the French
RevolutionRevolution
 A revolutionary modelA revolutionary model
 A Mass politicalA Mass political
consciousnessconsciousness
 Varying interpretations ofVarying interpretations of
the Revolutionthe Revolution
--Conservative View:--Conservative View:
Edmund BurkeEdmund Burke
--Liberal View: Thomas--Liberal View: Thomas
JeffersonJefferson
 Conflict within the LiberalConflict within the Liberal
TraditionTradition
 ““Libertarianism” vs.Libertarianism” vs.
“Egalitarianism”“Egalitarianism”