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The French Revolution The French Revolution 1789-1799 Context What was France like in the 1600s and 1700s? What was happening: -Inside of France -Around the world Context Recall: Internally: ● France was governed by an absolute monarchy- Louis XIV (the “Sun King”) had built up his own power ● France’s economy had prospered through mercantilism Externally: ● France had colonies in North America (New France- Quebec and Louisiana), the Caribbean, and was involved in trade with India ● Involved in the North American fur trade, Caribbean sugar trade, and African slave trade ● France competed with the British for power and influence- lost the Seven Years’ War to Britain= lost colonies in North America Context and Causes ● While it appeared to be wealthy and prosperous on the surface, France had several issues leading up to the French Revolution (1789-1799): ○ Social tensions ○ Economic issues ○ Environmental issues ○ Political issues ○ New Inspiration/Ideas Challenged the status quo Context and Causes: Social Issues ● The “Old Regime”- the old social order- divided French society into 3 social classes (“estates”): ○ First Estate- Church clergy- 1% of population, owned 10% of land, paid almost no taxes ○ Second Estate- Nobles- 2% of population, owned 20% of land, paid almost no taxes ○ Third Estate- 97% of population- paid HIGH TAXES, lacked privileges. The Third Estate included: ■ Bourgeoisie- wealthy upper middle class (bankers, factory owners, merchants, professionals) ■ City workers (poorest group)- laborers, servants ■ Peasants (80% of population)- paid half of income to nobles, Church tithes, king’s agents These sharp class distinctions caused resentment among lower classes! Context and Causes: Economic Issues ● By the 1780s, France’s economy was in decline ● Crushing tax burden on the Third Estate (97% of the population) ● High taxes= hard for businesses to be profitable (hurt the bourgeoisie) ● Rising cost of living, stagnant wages= people struggling ● Huge debt from wars and extravagant spending ● By 1786, bankers refused to loan the government more money= govt started running out of money! Context and Causes: Environmental Issues ● Bad weather in 1780s= crop failures= shortage of grain= not enough bread! (Bread was a staple of poorer French people)- price of bread doubled- this led to social unrest and starvation (CRISIS!) Context and Causes: Political Issues ● France’s new king, Louis XVI, was weak and indecisive ● Marie Antoinette, from Austria, was seen as a foreigner and would often interfere with politics (also, her lavish lifestyle added to the debt) Context and Causes: New Ideas/Inspiration ● Enlightenment views spread among the Third Estate, especially the bourgeoisie ● Britain had limited their monarch’s power ● The success of the American Revolution inspired the Third Estate Buildup to the Revolution: 1789 ● Louis XVI tried to increase nobles’ taxes- nobles (Second Estate) forced him to call a meeting of the Estates-General (an assembly of representatives from all 3 estates) to approve the tax ● Current rules gave each estate equal voting power- the privileged estates could outvote the Third Estate ● Third Estate wanted this changed- wanted each delegate to have a vote (giving the edge to the Third Estate) ● Louis XVI sided with the nobles (keep current voting rules) The Revolution Begins: June 1789 ● The Third Estate decided to form the National Assembly and pass laws in the name of the French people- proclaimed the end of absolute monarchy (beginning of French representative government) ● The other two estates locked the Third Estate out of their meeting room- the Third Estate went to an indoor tennis court and swore to form a new constitution (the Tennis Court Oath) ● Louis XVI gathered an army- revolutionaries gathered weapons to defend Paris- stormed the Bastille (a medieval prison) for gunpowder These were the first deliberate acts of revolution! Early Stages of the Revolution: 1789-1791 ● Rebellion spread fear and chaos around the countryside ● August 1789: National Assembly swept away privileges of the first two estates, adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen- stated natural rights, freedom of speech and religion ● October 1789: French women marched to Versailles- ordered Louis and Marie Antoinette to follow them to Paris (they did) ● The National Assembly ended independence of the Church- said clergy were to be elected as state officials, also sold land owned by the Church ● 1791- National Assembly adopted a new constitution- established a limited constitutional monarchy and created the Legislative Assembly The Revolution Continues: 1791-1793 ● The French Revolution alarmed other European neighbors- Austria and Prussia ordered the French to reinstall Louis- France declared war on them ● 1792: Under pressure from the most radical revolutionaries (Jacobins), the Constitution of 1791 was set aside- the monarchy was completely removed, and a new legislature, the National Convention, was created. This new plan declared France a republic. Males were given the right to vote. ● Louis XVI was taken prisoner- stood trial for treason- sentenced to death (he and Marie Antoinette were guillotined in 1793) ● Britain, Holland, and Spain also declared war on France The Revolution Turns Radical: 1793-1794 ● The revolution turned radical under the Jacobins, led by Maximilien Robespierre- he said the revolution’s ideas needed to be protected from “enemies”- anyone who objected needed to die- this was called the Reign of Terror ● Robespierre led the Committee of Public Safety- organization formed to protect the revolution from “enemies”- led to about 40,000 being executed (85% were peasants) ● Attempted to wipe out traces of France’s past- strongly believed in reason over religion- changed the calendar, closed churches ● Eventually, people grew weary of the Terror- Robespierre himself was guillotined The End of the Revolution: 1795-1799 ● A more moderate government was put into place after the Reign of Terror- a new plan for government called for a 2-house legislature and an executive body of 5 men called The Directory ● While it did lead to more stability, the Directory eventually lost public confidence- Napoleon Bonaparte, a popular general, seized power in a coup d’etat (blow to the state)- while he had the support of the people, he assumed power of a dictator WHAP HW ● Enlightenment Philosopher Social Media Profile Assignment due MONDAY! Instructions are on the website- make sure you turn in a physical product! ● Finish reading and taking notes over Ch. 16 by Wednesday!.
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