1. CAUSES EVENTS AND RESULTS
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
CAUSES EVENTS AND
RESULTS

2. Why
Why did the French Revolution last so long?

3. FRANCE UNDER THE OLD REGIME
THE GOVERNMENTAL & SOCIAL SYSTEM THAT LASTED UNTIL THE REVOLUTION (1789)
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM WAS ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
SOCIAL ORDER BASED ON A RIGID CLASS SYSTEM
CLASSES KNOWN AS ESTATES

4. THE 3 ESTATES THE FIRST ESTATE: THE CLERGY
THE SECOND ESTATE: THE NOBLES
THE THIRD ESTATE:
PEASANTS
URBAN POOR
BOURGEOISIE

5. THE FIRST ESTATE MADE UP OF CLERGY THE SMALLEST OF 3 ESTATES
MADE UP 0.5% OF POPULATION
OWNED 10% OF THE LAND
COLLECTED THE TITHE (10% OF ANNUAL INCOME PAID TO THE CHURCH)
PAID NO TAX TO THE STATE

6. SUPERVISED EDUCATION
MAINTAINED RECORDS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES
CLERGY COULD NOT BE TRIED IN CIVIL LAW COURTS
CHURCH OFFICES COULD BE BOUGHT (SIMONY)

7. THE SECOND ESTATE
COMPOSED OF NOBILITY & MADE UP 2% OF FRENCH POPULATION
PAID NO TAX TO STATE
OWNED 20% OF LAND
COLLECTED FEUDAL DUES FROM PEASANTS
CONTROLLED LAW COURTS & THWARTED ANY ATTEMPT AT TAX REFORM

8. HELD ALL HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICES & WERE MILITARY OFFICERS
RESENTED MONARCHY, BUT WANTED TO HAVE SAME KIND OF POWER FOR ITSELF

9. THE THIRD ESTATE COMPRISED 98% OF POPULATION OF FRANCE
PAID 100% OF TAXES TO THE STATE
OWNED APPROXIMATELY 55% OF LAND
MORE THAN 80% OF FRANCE’S TOTAL POPULATION WAS PEASANTS
BOURGEOISIE (MIDDLE CLASS) AND THE CITY WORKERS/URBAN POOR WERE ALSO INCL IN 3RD ESTATE

10. THE BOURGEOISIE BROUGHT IDEAS OF ENLIGHTENMENT TO REST OF 3RD ESTATE
THE BOURGEOISIE HAD EDUCATION & MONEY TO LEAD REVOLUTION
PEASANTS & URBAN POOR WERE READY, BUT NEEDED TO BE LED

11. PROBLEMS OF THE OLD REGIME
ABSOLUTE MONARCY
FAILING ECONOMY
RISING POPULATION
3 ESTATES
ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS
WEAK KING
SUCCESS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION

12. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY NO CHANGE ALLOWED BY KING & THE KING CANNOT BE WRONG
PEOPLE HAVE NO POLITICAL VOICE & NO HOPE FOR FUTURE
ALLOWS FOR ABUSES OF THE PEOPLE BY IGNORING THEIR RIGHTS & THE LAW

13. FAILING ECONOMY
BAD WEATHER LED TO REPEATED CROP FAILURES & POOR HARVESTS
SMALL HARVESTS LED TO LITTLE MONEY FOR THE PEASANTS TO PAY TAXES & GOV’T INCOME DECLINED
PRICE OF BREAD DOUBLED DUE TO RISING INFLATION
GUILDS STILL CONTROLLED MANY TYPES OF BUSINESSES

14. FRANCE OWED HUGE DEBTS TO OTHER NATIONS
NOBLES REFUSED TO ACCEPT TAX REFORM & LOANS CONTINUED TO DRAIN FRANCE
LOUIS XVI & MARIE ANTOINETTE CONTINUED SPENDING THAT HAD BEGUN WITH LOUIS XIV & VERSAILLES

15. FRANCE’S LOSSES IN WARS HAD COST THEM MEN, TERRITORY & MONEY
FRENCH INVOLVEMENT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HAD NEARLY DOUBLED FRANCE’S NATIONAL DEBT

16. RISING POPULATION 1715: 18 MILLION PEOPLE 1789: 25 MILLION PEOPLE
BUT FOOD PRODUCTION LEVELS WERE DROPPING OFF IN THE YEARS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION

17. 3 ESTATES
UNFAIR CLASS SYSTEM CREATED TENSION & HATRED AMONG THE 3 CLASSES
LACK OF POLITICAL VOICE FOR THE 3RD ESTATE MADE TENSION WORSE

18. ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS
ENLIGHTENMENT BROUGHT IDEAS CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT THE CHURCH AND THE OLD REGIME

19. IDEAS LIKE LOCKE’S NATURAL RIGHTS LED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD CHANGE THEIR COUNTRY
PEOPLE DESIRED FREE SPEECH AND PRESS, FREE RELIGION, PUBLIC TRIALS & AN END TO TORUTRE

20. WEAK KING LOUIS XIV WAS NOT INTERESTED IN GOVERNING
RELIED TOO LITTLE ON HIS ADVISERS & TOO MUCH ON HIS WIFE

21. WEAK KING SPENT TOO MUCH TIME HUNTING & PLAYING
DID NOT FORCE NOBLES TO ACCEPT TAX REFORM

22. SUCCESS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
IT’S RIGHT TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST TYRANNY
ALL MEN SHOULD HAVE FREEDOM
IF THE AMERICANS CAN HAVE SUCCESS, THEN SO CAN THE FRENCH

24. THE EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION
LOUIS CALLS FIRST MEETING OF ESTATES GENERAL IN 175 YEARS (NOW THEY’VE GOT HIM!!)
LOUIS COULD HAVE AVOIDED TROUBLE WITH A FEW REFORMS, BUT WAS FORCED TO CALL ESTATES GENERAL FOR MONEY

25. UNDER THE RULES, EACH CHAMBER HAD ONLY 1 VOTE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY MEMBERS WERE THERE
WHAT IF THE 3RD ESTATE COULD GET THE ESTATES GENERAL TO ACCEPT ONE VOTE PER MAN?

26. IN RESPONSE TO THE ABBE SIEYES QUESTION, THE 3RD ESTATE DEMANDED TO BE SOMETHING AND DECLARED THEMSELVES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON 17 JUNE 1789

27. THE 3RD ESTATE WAS LOCKED OUT OF THE ESTATES GENERAL & MOVED TO THE TENNIS COURT NEXT DOOR
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SWORE THE TENNIS COURT OATH: THEY WOULD NOT STOP THEIR WORK UNTIL THEY HAD GIVEN FRANCE A CONSTITUTION

28. THE TENNIS COURT OATH

29. THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE
14 JULY 1789
LONG REGARDED AS A SYMBOL OF THE MONARCHY (LARGE, IMPOSING, VERY STRONG & HAD NO SIGNS OF WEAKNESS) BASTILLE WAS A PRISON & ARSENAL
THE PRESENCE OF SWISS MERCENARIES MADE THE POWDER & WEAPONS A NECESSITY FOR THE PEOPLE

30. THE SURRENDER OF THE BASTILLE WAS ORDERED BY THE PEASANTS & THE ARMY REFUSED

31. THE BASTILLE WAS ATTACKED & IT FELL TO THE PEASANTS

32. THIS WAS A DIRECT ATTACK ON THE KING & MONARCHY & THERE WAS NO GOING BACK NOW

33. THE GREAT FEAR
FEARING THE KING WOULD RESPOND TO THE BASTILLE W/ THE MERCENARIES, THE PEASANTS ATTACKED NOBILITY & OTHERS IN FRANCE IN SUMMER & FALL 1789

34. THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN & CITIZEN
ISSUED 26 AUGUST 1789
WAS TO PRODUCE EQUALITY & TO ABOLISH CLASS SYSTEM IN FRANCE

35. THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN & CITIZEN
CALLED FOR FREE SPEECH, RELIGION, PRESS, FREEDOM FROM UNLAWFUL ARREST & FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A VOICE IN GOV’T (ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?)
THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN WERE IGNORED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

36. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY ENDED
OCTOBER 1789
AT VERSAILLES A BANQUET GIVEN IN HONOR OF SWISS MERCENARIES
STARVING LOCALS DENIED ANY OF THE LEFTOVERS
APPROX WOMEN BEGAN TO DEMAND BREAD & RIOTED WHEN THEY GOT NONE
EVENTUALLY THEY ATTACKED THE PALACE & ARRESTED LOUIS & ROYAL FAMILY

37. MONARCHY OFFICIALLY ENDED & LOUIS SENT TO JAIL W/ MARIE
FIRST PHASE OF REVOLUTION OVER, TROUBLE LURKED ON HORIZON & PHASE TWO ABOUT TO START

38. CHANGES IN FRANCE CLASS SYSTEM ABOLISHED
CHURCH LANDS CONFISCATED BY GOV’T & SOLD TO RAISE MONEY TO PAY NATIONAL DEBT
PRIESTS TO BE ELECTED & STATE COULD CONTROL CHURCH (PEASANTS UNHAPPY W/ BOURGEOSIE)
BOURGEOISIE WAS NOT HEAVILY TAXED (THEY’RE NOW IN CHARGE!)

39. LIMITED MONARCHY WAS ESTABLISHED (LIMITED BY WHAT?)
CLERGY FORCED TO SWEAR OATH OF LOYALTY TO STATE & NOT ROME (PEASANTS EVEN MORE UPSET)

40. CONSTITUTION OF 1791 TOOK 2 YEARS TO WRITE
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY ESTABLISHED
UNI-CAMERAL LEGISLATURE CREATED CALLED LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
ALL JUDGES TO BE ELECTED
KING COULD MAKE NO LAWS
VOTE GIVEN TO MALES WHO COULD PAY TAXES

41. ANYONE WHO SERVED IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROHIBITED FROM SERVING IN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
ALL OF THE EXPERIENCE IN GOV’T GAINED IN PAST 2 YEARS WAS LOST

42. PROBLEMS REMAIN
NEW GOV’T FACED OLD PROBLEMS W/ A VARIETY OF WAYS TO APPROACH THE PROBLEMS
3 GROUPS IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, THE READICALS, THE MODERATES & THE CONSERVATIVES
THE COMMON PROBLEM THAT UNITED ALL 3 GROUPS, ABSOLUTE MONARCHY, WAS GONE & SO WAS THE UNITY

43. THE RADICALS INCLUDED WORKING POOR & SMALL SHOPKEEPERS
WANTED REPUBLIC & NO MONARCHY OF ANY KIND
ALL SHOULD BE EQUAL
WANTED MORE CHANGES IN GOV’T

44. THE MODERATES
WANTED SOME CHANGE, BUT NOT A LOT & NOT THE KINDS OF CHANGES RADICALS WANTED
COULD LEAN TO EITHER SIDE DEPENDING ON ISSUE

45. THE CONSERVATIVES WANTED NO CHANGE
RESTORE MONARCHY & GET RID OF THE DEC. OF RIGHTS OF MAN
GROUP INCLUDED THE EMIGRES WHO HAD FLED FRANCE AS WELL AS ROYALISTS & NOBLES

46. THE REVOLUTION TAKES A RADICAL TURN
THE MONARCHS OF EUROPE FEARED THE SPREAD OF FRANCE’S REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS & PROMISED WAR IF LOUIS EXECUTED
MONARCHS ALSO SPONSORED GROUPS IN FRANCE TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR THE NEW GOV’T
W/ THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE, FRANCE DECLARED WAR ON AUSTRIA IN APRIL 1792

47. FRANCE INVADED NETHERLANDS & WAS QUICKLY BEATEN
A PRUSSIAN GENERAL DECLARED THAT PARIS WOULD BE RAZED IF LOUIS WAS HARMED
THE FRENCH WERE OUTRAGED & ATTACKED THE PRISON THAT HELD LOUIS, SLAUGHTERING THE SWISS MERCENARIES

48. IN SEPTEMBER 1792 PARANOID FRENCH MOBS FEARED THAT WHILE THE ARMY WAS AT WAR, THE ROYALISTS WOULD ESCAPE & RESTORE THE KING

49. THE MOBS SLAUGHTERED OVER 1000 PRISONERS
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY RESIGNED & CALLED FOR A NEW GOV’T TO BE FORMED CALLED THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

50. THE NATIONAL CONVENTION ENDED THE CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY AND GOT RID OF CONSTITUTION ITSELF
TO PREVENT FURTHER PROBLEMS W/ KING GETTING BACK INTO POWER, HE WAS TRIED, CONVICTED & EXECUTED FOR TREASON IN JANUARY 1793
THE RADICALS ARE IN CONTROL & BEGIN THE REIGN OF TERROR

51. THE REIGN OF TERROR

52. THE GUILLOTINE

56. THE REIGN OF TERROR
KNOWN AS THE RADICAL PHASE OF THE REVOLUTION (JULY JULY 1794)

57. THE REIGN OF TERROR
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION CREATED THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY LED BY ROBESPIERRE

58. THE REIGN OF TERROR
COMMITTEE SOUGHT OUT & EXECUTED “ENEMIES OF THE REVOLUTION”

59. THE REIGN OF TERROR
IT WAS NEVER CLEARLY DETERMINED WHAT EXACTLY AN “ENEMY” WAS BUT OVER 40,000 WERE EXECUTED

60. THE REVOLUTION SWINGS BACK
IN RESPONSE TO THE RADICALISM AND TERROR OF THE PAST YEAR, FRANCE WENT TO A MORE CONSERVATIVE GOV’T, CALLED THE DIRECTORY, BEGINNING IN 1795 & ENDING IN 1799
BI-CAMERAL LEGISLATURE

61. THE REVOLUTION SWINGS BACK
NEW CONSTITUTION
5 MEN IN CHARGE
CORRUPT, BUT BROUGHT PEACE & STABILITY

62. THE DIRECTORY 5 MAN GOVERNMENT SET UP BY THE MODERATES
OVERTHROWN BY NAPOLEON IN A COUP d’ ETAT, 1799

63. THE RISE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

64. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE 1769-1821 BORN ON ISLAND OF CORSICA
DEFENDER OF THE DIRECTORY
LOST ARMY IN EGYPT TO BRITISH, BUT KEPT THAT A SECRET
RETURNED AS MILITARY HERO
1799 OVERTHREW THE DIRECTORY
BY 1802 HAD BROUGHT PEACE TO FRANCE

65. NAPOLEON AT HOME
NAPOLEON’S PRIMARY GOAL ONCE HE ACHIEVED POWER WAS TO STABILIZE FRANCE, PREVENT REVOLUTION AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE
WHAT DO YOU THINK NAPOLEON HAS IN MIND FOR THE FUTURE?

66. NAPOLEON AT HOME
NAPOLEON HELD A PLEBISCITE (VOTE OF THE PEOPLE) IN 1800 TO SHOW THAT HE HELD POWER LEGALLY
FRANCE VOTED ALL REAL POWER TO NAPOLEON
BECAME KNOWN AS THE FIRST CONSUL

67. NAPOLEON & THE ECONOMY NEEDED TO PROMOTE NATIONAL UNITY
NO TAX EXEMPTIONS B/C OF BIRTH OR TITLE
TAXES ACTUALLY COLLECTED & A BUDGET CREATED
STATE BANK CREATED
STATE LOANS GIVEN TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES

68. NAPOLEON & THE CHURCH NEEDED UNITY ON ISSUE OF RELIGION
PEASANTS HATED ANTICLERICALISM OF THE REVOLUTION
SIGNED CONCORDAT W/ CHURCH 1801

69. CATHOLICISM DECLARED THE RELIGION “OF THE GREAT MAJORITY OF FRENCHMEN
CATHOLICISM DECLARED THE RELIGION “OF THE GREAT MAJORITY OF FRENCHMEN.” RESULT IS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
BISHOPS CHOSEN BY FRENCH GOV’T AND PRIESTS CHOSEN BY THE BISHOPS

70. TITHE ABOLISHED & CHURCH LANDS CONFISCATED DURING REVOLUTION ARE KEPT BY FRENCH GOV’T
CHURCH NO LONGER INVOLVED IN THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT
CHURCH LOSES MONOPOLY ON EDUCATION. NAPOLEON CREATES LYCEES TO PRODUCE FUTURE LEADERS

71. NAPOLEON & THE LAW CREATED THE NAPOLEONIC CODE
“ALL MEN ARE EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW”
PERMITTED SOME USE OF TORTURE IN TRIALS
SLAVERY RESTORED IN FRENCH COLONIES
FREE SPEECH AND FREE PRESS RESTRICTED

72. NAPOLEON AS EMPEROR 1802: MADE FIRST CONSUL FOR LIFE
COULD CHOOSE OWN SUCCESSOR
FRANCE A MONARCHY AGAIN IN ALL BUT NAME

73. NAPOLEON AS EMPEROR
1804: PERSUADED SENATE TO DECLARE THAT “THE GOVERNMENT IS ENTRUSTED TO AN EMPEROR.”
2 DECEMBER 1804: NAPOLEON PLACED THE CROWN ON HIS OWN HEAD. WHY?!

74. NAPOLEON’S CORONATION

75. NAPOLEON WANTS AN EMPIRE
WANTED TO REGAIN COLONIES IN NEW WORLD
1801 TRIED RETAKING COLONY OF ST. DOMINGUE ON ISLAND OF HISPANIOLA
FAILED MISERABLY B/C SLAVES RESISTED THE RE-IMPOSITION OF SLAVERY

76. UNITED STATES BOUGHT SOME LAND FROM THE FRENCH: THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE FOR $16 MILLION
NEW US BECOMES A RIVAL POWER FOR FRANCE’S ENEMY, BRITAIN

77. NAPOLEON TURNS TO EUROPE

78. BRITAIN, RUSSIA, AUSTRIA & SWEDEN JOINED 3RD COALITION AGAINST FRANCE
NAPOLEON HAD TO BE STOPPED BUT COULD NOT BE AS HE WON BATTLE AFTER BATTLE IN EUROPE B/T 1805 & 1812

79. BY 1812 MOST OF EUROPE WAS UNDER NAPOLEON’S DIRECT CONTROL OR WERE HIS “ALLIES” (LIKE AUSTRIA WHO BECAME AN ALLY THROUGH HIS SECOND MARRIAGE)

80. EUROPE UNDER NAPOLEON

81. NAPOLEON’S 3 MISTAKES THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN
THE INVASION OF RUSSIA

82. THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
1806
BLOCKADE OF EUROPEAN PORTS BY THE FRENCH TO CRIPPLE BRITISH ECONOMY
BRITISH RESPONDED W/ OWN BLOCKADE
FRENCH ECONOMY HURT MORE THAN BRITISH ECONOMY

83. PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN
FRENCH ARMY SENT THROUGH SPAIN TO ATTACK PORTUGAL ON IBERIAN PENINSULA
SPANISH PROTESTED & SPANISH KING REMOVED BY NAPOLEON
SPANISH NATIONALISM FUELED
SPANISH FIGHTERS CALLED GUERRILLAS COST NAPOLEON 300,000 MEN

84. IBERIAN PENINSULA

85. INVASION OF RUSSIA JUNE 1812 RUSSIAN CZAR HAD BEEN NAPOLEON’S ALLY
FRENCH ARMY NOT ENTIRELY FRENCH– LOYALTY WAS A PROBLEM
RUSSIANS RETREATED AND USED SCORCHED EARTH POLICY
FRENCH TOOK MOSCOW SEPTEMBER 1812 & WAITED FOR PEACE THAT NEVER CAME

86. INVASION OF RUSSIA TOO LATE TO ADVANCE, TOO LATE TO RETREAT
LOST 500,000 OUT OF 600, 000 MEN (83%)
NAPOLEON NOW WEAKENED AND COULD BE BEATEN

88. THE END OF NAPOLEON BATTLE OF LEIPZIG OCTOBER 1813
NAPOLEON’S VETERAN ARMY DESTROYED
FORCED TO ABDICATE THRONE
EXILED TO ISLAND OF ELBA, APRIL 1814

89. ISLAND OF ELBA

90. HEEEEE’S BAAAAAAACKK!!! NAPOLEON IS REPLACED IN FRANCE BY LOUIS XVIII
KING IS UNPOPULAR AND NAPOLEON ESCAPES FROM EXILE
THOUSANDS JOIN THE CAUSE
LOUIS FLEES IN THE NIGHT
ONCE AGAIN, NAPOLEON IS EMPEROR

91. THE HUNDRED DAYS
THE PERIOD FROM HIS RETURN FROM ELBA TO HIS DEFEAT AT WATERLOO
DEFEATED BY BRITISH & PRUSSIAN ARMY
EXILED TO ST HELENA IN SOUTH ATLANTIC
DIED THERE MAY 1821

92. ST. HELENA