1. The French Revolution and Napoleon (1789-1815)
Chapter 7

2. The French Revolution Begins
Section 1

3. Key Idea
Economic and social inequalities in the “Old Regime” helped cause the French Revolution

4. The Old Order in France Old Order: 3 Estates (social classes):
Social and political system in France
3 Estates (social classes):
First Estate
Second Estate
Third Estate

5. First Estate Small percentage of Population
Owned 10 Percent of land in France!
Mostly members of Roman Catholic Church

6. Second Estate Two percent of population
Owned 20 Percent of land in France
Paid almost nothing in taxes
Mostly rich nobles

7. Third Estate 97 Percent of Population! Three Groups:
Bourgeoisie (Bur zhwah ZEE)
Middle Class
Well Educated and wealthy
Paid high taxes
No social privileges
Believed in Enlightenment ideas

8. Third Estate Three Groups (cont’d): The Workers The Peasants
Received low wages
Paid high taxes
Often out of a job
Would attack food suppliers if they couldn’t afford food
The Peasants
80 Percent of France’s population!
Paid half their income in taxes to the wealthy

9. The Forces of Change Enlightenment Ideas: Economic Troubles:
Members of Third Estate were spreading these ideas; inspired by American Revolution
Economic Troubles:
Despite better production and trade, debt and cost of living was increasing

10. The Forces of Change A Weak Leader:
Louis XVI (16th) was indecisive on these matters
Imposed taxes on Second Estate Nobles
Second Estate forced him to call a meeting called the Estates General

11. The Estates-General (1789)
An assembly of representatives from all three of France’s Estates met
First time since the middle ages
In years past, each Estate met separately and had ONE vote
Third Estate (97 Percent of population) didn’t like this
The other two estates could outvote them!

12. The Estates-General (1789)
The Bourgeoisie members of Third Estate wanted a National Assembly instead
Delegates from all Three Estates would meet together in one room instead of three
This would give Third estate huge advantage since they would have more delegates

13. The Estates-General (1789)
On June 17, 1789 the delegates of the Third Estate voted to create a National Assembly
This proclaimed an end to Absolute Monarchy in France
First act of Revolution
Three days later, Third Estate was locked out of their meeting room
Met in an indoor tennis court instead, promising not to leave until a new constitution was written
Became known as the “Tennis Court Oath”

14. Tennis Court Oath (1789)

15. King Louis XVI Reacts
Orders his mercenary Swiss guards to surround Versailles
People in Paris hear about this:
Start to gather weapons in fear of an attack on the city by Louis and his mercenary army
On July 14, 1789 a mob stormed a Paris prison called the Bastille, looking for weapons

16. Storming the Bastille Mob took control of the prison
Killed many of its guards
Paraded around Paris with heads on pikes
Considered French version of our July 4th
Great symbol of revolution

17. The Great Fear A panic spreads throughout France Mobs attack nobles
Angry women, upset about the cost of bread in Paris, storm the palace of Versailles and demand the king and queen go to Paris to fix the problem.
The king and queen leave Versailles and never return!

18. What We Learned Today:
France was a country full of citizens who did not enjoy equal status
These inequalities led to the beginning of the French Revolution
How did the Enlightenment affect these changes towards revolution in France?

19. Revolution Brings Reform and Terror
Section 2

20. Key Idea
The revolutionary government of France made reforms but also used terror and violence to retain power.

21. The National Assembly (1789)
Ends privileges of First and Second Estates
All French men received equal rights
Reduced power of Catholic Church (First Estate)
These laws divided revolutionary supporters
Some supported the church
Some supported the state

22. King Louis XVI As the National Assembly assumed more power:
Louis became fearful for his life
He and his wife, Marie Antoinette, tried to escape to the countryside
They were caught, brought back to Paris, to live under guard night and day

23. The Legislative Assembly (1791)
The National Assembly drew up laws that gave the king and queen very little power
Soon, they handed over power to a new group:
The Legislative Assembly
This became divided
Some wanted to end the revolution
Some wanted more radical changes

24. Threats from Outside France
European countries feared the French Revolution would spread to their countries too
Many sent in troops to restore power to Louis XVI
The French people thought the king and queen were trying to help these soldiers
Mobs often attacked nobles in retaliation

25. The National Convention (1792)
Government takes strong steps to protect the country
Takes away all of king’s powers
New government, The National Convention, declared Louis a common citizen
Allowed them to put him to death!
Ordered thousands of French men into the army

26. The Guillotine

27. Death of Louis XVI

28. Maximilien Robespierre (1793)
Takes over rule of France
Made many changes to keep France safe
Took away a lot of rights and freedoms
Known as the “Reign of Terror”
Ended in 1794, when Robespierre was put to death
French people were tired of violence and wanted peace and stability
A new and strong leader would step in to provide this…