1. The French Revolution

2. The French Revolution drew onThe French Revolution drew on
Enlightenment ideas.Enlightenment ideas.
It was more radical than the AmericanIt was more radical than the American
RevolutionRevolution
Americans retained British law and socialAmericans retained British law and social
heritage, but…heritage, but…
French Revolutionaries sought to replaceFrench Revolutionaries sought to replace
existing society with new institutions andexisting society with new institutions and
overturn the Ancien Regime!overturn the Ancien Regime!
IntroductionIntroduction

3. First Estate - 100,000 Catholic clergyFirst Estate - 100,000 Catholic clergy
((largest landowner in Francelargest landowner in France))
•Second Estate - 400,000 noblesSecond Estate - 400,000 nobles ((heldheld
political rights without paying taxespolitical rights without paying taxes))
•Third Estate - 24 million bourgeoisie,Third Estate - 24 million bourgeoisie,
urban lower class, and peasantsurban lower class, and peasants (the(the
bourgeoisie resented power of nobilitybourgeoisie resented power of nobility))
The Three EstatesThe Three Estates
Louis XVI was a weak monarch whoLouis XVI was a weak monarch who
presided over a feudalistic social systempresided over a feudalistic social system

4. •1780s: a financial crisis develops due to1780s: a financial crisis develops due to
royal spending, war debts, heavy taxation,royal spending, war debts, heavy taxation,
and crop failures.and crop failures.
•Louis’ funding of the AmericanLouis’ funding of the American
Revolution nearly doubled the nationalRevolution nearly doubled the national
debt. He raised taxes.debt. He raised taxes.
•Louis couldn’t raise more taxes fromLouis couldn’t raise more taxes from
peasants so he tried to increase taxes onpeasants so he tried to increase taxes on
the nobility.the nobility.
The nobility forced Louis to call theThe nobility forced Louis to call the
Estates General into session in May 1789.Estates General into session in May 1789.
The Estates GeneralThe Estates General

5. Fearing being out-voted by the other twoFearing being out-voted by the other two
estates, the Third Estate broke away fromestates, the Third Estate broke away from
the Estates General and formed thethe Estates General and formed the
National AssemblyNational Assembly..
•June 1789: Louis tried to lock out theJune 1789: Louis tried to lock out the
Third Estate delegates.Third Estate delegates.
In a nearby tennis court, delegatesIn a nearby tennis court, delegates
pledged to stay until they had drawn up apledged to stay until they had drawn up a
new constitution. Thenew constitution. The Tennis Court Oath.Tennis Court Oath.
The National AssemblyThe National Assembly

6. Louis tried to appease the Third Estate,Louis tried to appease the Third Estate,
but also sent his Swiss Guards into thebut also sent his Swiss Guards into the
streets of Paris.streets of Paris.
Angry crowds sought weapons andAngry crowds sought weapons and
gunpowder to defend Parisgunpowder to defend Paris
They knew they could find these byThey knew they could find these by
storming a royal prison called…storming a royal prison called…
July 14, 1789July 14, 1789

7. The BastilleThe Bastille

8. Conservative backlash 1794-1799: TheConservative backlash 1794-1799: The
Directory, rise of NapoleonDirectory, rise of Napoleon..
Radical Period 1792-1794: Beheadings,Radical Period 1792-1794: Beheadings,
Robespierre, Jacobins.Robespierre, Jacobins.
Phases of the RevolutionPhases of the Revolution
Moderate Period 1789-1791: limited powerModerate Period 1789-1791: limited power
of the Church, land reformof the Church, land reform..

9. August 1789: The National AssemblyAugust 1789: The National Assembly
adopts the Declaration of the Rights ofadopts the Declaration of the Rights of
Man.Man.
It stated the Enlightenment ideals ofIt stated the Enlightenment ideals of
justice and freedom although womenjustice and freedom although women
were excluded.were excluded.
Liberty, Equality, FraternityLiberty, Equality, Fraternity became thebecame the
slogan of the revolution!slogan of the revolution!
Moderate Period 1789-1791Moderate Period 1789-1791
Sept. 1791: new constitution adopted.Sept. 1791: new constitution adopted.

10. Actions of the National Assembly fromActions of the National Assembly from
1789 To 1791 restructured French society1789 To 1791 restructured French society..
Constitutional monarchy formed. LouisConstitutional monarchy formed. Louis
forced to leave Versaillesforced to leave Versailles..
Legislative authority resided in theLegislative authority resided in the
National Assembly.National Assembly.
ReformsReforms
The Catholic Church loses lands andThe Catholic Church loses lands and
political independence (angers peasants).political independence (angers peasants).

11. French nobility began to flee. Louis hadFrench nobility began to flee. Louis had
attempted escape but was caught.attempted escape but was caught.
This drove the French people to supportThis drove the French people to support
the radical revolutionaries.the radical revolutionaries.
Monarchy abolished and France declaredMonarchy abolished and France declared
a republic.a republic.
A new National Convention formed.A new National Convention formed.
Invaded by radicals on May 31, 1793Invaded by radicals on May 31, 1793
Radical Period 1792-1794Radical Period 1792-1794

12. Summer 1792: Austria and Prussia invadeSummer 1792: Austria and Prussia invade
France hoping to restore Louis.France hoping to restore Louis.
Despite initial setbacks, the French holdDespite initial setbacks, the French hold
off the invaders.off the invaders.
Jacobin Club (violent radicals) influencedJacobin Club (violent radicals) influenced
the National Convention to execute Louis.the National Convention to execute Louis.
Louis beheaded by guillotine in JanuaryLouis beheaded by guillotine in January
1793.1793.

13. •Convention power in France deteriorated.Convention power in France deteriorated.
Maximilien Robespierre and the radicalMaximilien Robespierre and the radical
Jacobians in control.Jacobians in control.
““Reign of Terror” used to promoteReign of Terror” used to promote
restructuring of French society.restructuring of French society.
•About 40,000 were executed and 300,000About 40,000 were executed and 300,000
imprisoned.imprisoned.
Extreme measures enacted against theExtreme measures enacted against the
Church.Church.

14. •The French Army had defeated invadersThe French Army had defeated invaders
on the battlefield.on the battlefield.
With victory, French citizens less willingWith victory, French citizens less willing
to accept repression.to accept repression.
Robespeirre blamed for the excesses ofRobespeirre blamed for the excesses of
the regime and executed in 1794. Thethe regime and executed in 1794. The
Reign of Terror was over.Reign of Terror was over.
Conservative backlash 1794-1799Conservative backlash 1794-1799

15. •The Bourgeois emerged as leaders of theThe Bourgeois emerged as leaders of the
country in the reaction againstcountry in the reaction against
Robespeirre.Robespeirre.
1795: A new constitution drafted. It is1795: A new constitution drafted. It is
more moderate and placed power in themore moderate and placed power in the
hands of the upper class.hands of the upper class.
The DirectoryThe Directory: bicameral legislature and a: bicameral legislature and a
five-man executive committee.five-man executive committee.
With France still under attack, theWith France still under attack, the
Directory appoints a young general….Directory appoints a young general….

16. Napoleon Bonaparte!Napoleon Bonaparte!