1. 18-1: Causes of the French Revolution Inequalities among the social classes exist as part of the old feudal structure under the ancien régime 3 rd estate made up of peasants and bourgeoisie (middle class) are severely unhappy with their lack of rights and heavy taxes There was a soaring national debt due to the King’s spending on wars and the royal family’s lavish and expensive lifestyle Economic reforms proposed by Necker were unsuccessful and the king fired him for advocating taxes on the 1 st and 2 nd Estates Bad winter weather caused poor harvest of grains and caused a shortage which drove up bread prices and led to riots The king ended 175 years of absolute monarchy in France when he called together the Estates-General in 1789 The representatives of the 3 rd Estate formed the National Assembly and the Paris mob stormed the Bastille to protect them from danger

2. 18-2: French Revolution Unfolds I. Political Crisis Led to Revolt A. The Great Fear 1. Inflamed by famine and rumors 2. Peasant fury unleashed on nobles B. Paris Commune comes to power 1. Factions competed to gain power 2. Paris commune mobilized neighborhoods II. The National Assembly A. Special privileges ended 1. Nobles voted to end their own privileges 2. Delegates abolished feudalism B. Declaration of the Rights of Man 1. Modeled after U.S. Declaration of Independence 2. Equal rights for women not granted C. Women march on Versailles 1. Anger at Marie Antoinette 2. Demanded that the royal family move to Paris III. National Assembly Pressed Forward A. Church under State control 1. Civil Constitution ended papal rights 2. Angry reaction by clergy B. Constitution of 1791 1. Created a constitutional monarchy 2. New Legislative Assembly C. Royal Family Escape Failed 1. Caught trying to escape to Austria 2. Louis XVI viewed as a traitor IV. Radicals Took Over A. Rulers fear spread of Revolution 1. Border patrols to stop “French plague” 2. Émigrés spread horror stories B. Threats from Abroad 1. Prussia and Austria threatened war 2. France prepared to defend itself C. Radicals struggle for power 1. Legislative Assembly fell apart 2. Jacobins called for a republic

3. 18-3: The Radical Revolution August 1792 – Mob invaded the royal palace in Paris and killed the king’s guards while the royal family fled to the Legislative Assembly September 1792 – Paris mob stormed jails and massacred 1,200 political prisoners who were mostly members of the First and Second Estates September 1792 – Legislative Assembly abolished the monarchy and created the National Convention which established the First French Republic January 1793 – Louis XVI is tried for treason in the National Convention, found guilty and then publicly executed by guillotine September 1793 – Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety begin the Reign of Terror against “enemies” of the Revolution October 1793 – Marie Antoinette is publicly tried and executed July 1794 – Robespierre is arrested and tried by the Convention and executed consequently ending the Reign of Terror 1795 – Constitution of 1795 set up a more moderate three-branch government led by a small group of men in the Directory

4. 18-4: Rise and Fall of Napoleon 1790s – Napoleon quickly rose through the French military ranks 1799 – Napoleon helped to overthrow the weak and corrupt Directory 1802 – Napoleon named himself “First Consul for Life” 1804 – Napoleon declared himself as Emperor of the French Consolidation and centralization of Napoleon’s power Napoleonic Code, other reforms, and plebiscites secure support 1804-12 – Napoleon used French military to create a vast empire 1805 – Napoleon abandoned invasion of Britain after Trafalgar 1812 – Napoleon invaded Russia when it broke the Continental System 1813 – Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Nations by new alliance 1814 – Napoleon abdicated from power and exiled on Elba 1815 – Great Britain and Prussia defeated Napoleon at Waterloo Napoleon is forced into exile on St. Helena until he dies