1. French Revolution

2. French Revolution Causes of the French Revolution
French society was divided into 3 different classes or “Estates”

3. French Revolution 1st Estate Priests Church officials
Exempt from paying taxes

4. French Revolution 2nd Estate Nobility Exempt from paying most taxes
Had the right to collect Feudal Dues from 3rd Estate
Served as officers in the Army
Held high positions at court

5. French Revolution 3rd Estate Common People (largest population)
Bourgeoisie: Middle class merchants, professionals and shopkeepers
Urban worker
Paid the most % of taxes
Had lowest quality of life

6. Impact of Enlightenment Ideas
French Revolution
Impact of Enlightenment Ideas
Ideas made Frenchmen unwilling to accept
the Divine Right of Kings
Privileged positions of the Church and Nobility

7. Impact of Enlightenment Ideas
French Revolution
Impact of Enlightenment Ideas
Financial Crisis
Tax system was based off of tradition
Different social classes and different regions paid different taxes
France was a wealthy country but the Government didn’t have a fair tax system

8. Impact of Enlightenment Ideas
French Revolution
Impact of Enlightenment Ideas
Financial Crisis
The Government borrowed a lot of money to help finance their wars with Britain (rival)
To help pay, the government wanted the Nobility to start paying taxes

9. Impact of Enlightenment Ideas
French Revolution
Impact of Enlightenment Ideas
Financial Crisis
Nobility would only agree to paying taxes if an Estates General was created
Estates General: a national assembly in which each of the three social classes was represented in the government

10. French Revolution Main Events
King Louis XVI gave into the 2nd Estate demands and allowed a vote to take place to select the General Estate
Delegates from each Estate (1st, 2nd & 3rd) were elected to represent their Estate

11. French Revolution Main Events
The 3rd Estate was able to elect the most representatives because they were the largest population
Estates General met in May of 1789
Delegates from the 3rd Estate declared themselves to be the Nation Assembly

12. French Revolution Main Events
King Louis XVI sought to break up the National Assembly
When word spread of King Louis XVI’s plans, the National Assembly attacked and seized a royal prison, the Bastille in search of weapons to defend themselves
The King gave in and recognized the National Assembly

13. French Revolution Main Events The National Assembly (August 1789)
Abolished privileges of the Nobles
Confiscated Church lands to pay off the states debt
Issued a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Had a constitution written and created a Constitutional Monarchy in France

14. French Revolution Main Events
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Proclaimed that the government rested on the consent of the people (Popular Sovereignty)
The Divine Right of Kings was no longer accepted
Announced that all Frenchmen were “Free and Equal”

15. French Revolution Revolution Takes a Radical Turn
In 1790, Louis XVI took an oath to the Constitution
In 1791 Louis and his family tried to escape France
Soon after the Monarchy was over thrown and France became a Republic

16. French Revolution Revolution Takes a Radical Turn
The new French Republic was seen as a threat by the other European Monarchs so France was facing constant warfare
Other parts of France were in still in rebellion
The people felt that France might lose its power
The Committee of Public Safety was created to restore power and control lead by Robespierre
The committee began a “Reign of Terror” over the people of France

17. French Revolution The Committee of Public Safety
The committee began a “Reign of Terror” over the people of France
They used force and repression to crush the rebellion
Laws were passed to allow the government the ability to arrest anyone
An estimated 40,000 Nobles, Catholic Priest and other suspected traitors were killed