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Home , Absolute monarchy, French Revolution

The French

1789-1799 Context

What was like in the 1600s and 1700s?

What was happening:

-Inside of France

-Around the world Context Recall:

Internally:

● France was governed by an absolute - Louis XIV (the “Sun ”) had built up his own power ● France’s economy had prospered through

Externally:

● France had colonies in North America (New France- Quebec and ), 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’ 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 (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 ○ 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: ■ - wealthy upper (bankers, factory owners, merchants, professionals) ■ City workers (poorest group)- laborers, servants ■ (80% of population)- paid half of income to nobles, Church , king’s agents

These sharp class distinctions caused resentment among lower classes!

Context and Causes: Economic Issues

● By the , France’s economy was in decline ● Crushing 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 and extravagant spending ● By 1786, bankers refused to loan the 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 )- 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 ● , from , was seen as a foreigner and would often interfere with (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 ’s power ● The success of the 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 -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 and pass in the name of the French people- proclaimed the end of (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 and swore to form a new (the ) ● Louis XVI gathered an - gathered weapons to defend - stormed the (a medieval prison) for gunpowder

These were the first deliberate acts of revolution!

Early Stages of the Revolution: 1789-1791

● spread fear and chaos around the countryside ● August 1789: National Assembly swept away privileges of the first two estates, adopted the Declaration of the of Man and Citizen- stated natural rights, 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 officials, also sold land owned by the Church ● 1791- National Assembly adopted a new constitution- established a limited and created the Legislative Assembly

The Revolution Continues: 1791-1793

● The French Revolution alarmed other European neighbors- Austria and ordered the French to reinstall Louis- France declared war on them ● 1792: Under pressure from the most radical revolutionaries (), the Constitution of 1791 was set aside- the monarchy was completely removed, and a new , the , was created. This new plan declared France a . Males were given the right to vote. ● Louis XVI was taken prisoner- stood trial for - sentenced to death (he and Marie Antoinette were guillotined in 1793) ● Britain, Holland, and also declared war on France

The Revolution Turns Radical: 1793-1794

● The revolution turned radical under the Jacobins, led by - he said the revolution’s ideas needed to be protected from “enemies”- anyone who objected needed to die- this was called the Reign of ● Robespierre led the Committee of Public Safety- organization formed to protect the revolution from “enemies”- led to about 40,000 executed (85% were peasants) ● Attempted to wipe out traces of France’s past- strongly believed in 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 - a new plan for government called for a 2-house legislature and an executive body of 5 men called The Directory ● While it did to more stability, the Directory eventually lost public confidence- 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!