PART 2

Due to the financial crisis in France, Louis XVI calls the Estates General to meet in May of 1789 to discuss and vote on a new tax. First time it had been called to meet in 175 years. Estates General: legislative body made up of all three Estates

Upon meeting, it became obvious that the 3 rd Estate would not give the king what he wanted without a change in voting procedures to more fairly balance the three groups. 1 st Estate 2 nd Estate 3 rd Estate # of votes# of representatives What problem do you see here???

Members of the 3 rd Estate wanted an equal say like the first two estates; they wanted more power to determine the direction of France. In the past, the other two estates always outvoted the 3 rd Estate by a ratio of 2-1. They refused to meet with the Estates General and the King, until their demands were met. They left the Estates General to go to an indoor tennis court (the only building big enough to hold them).

1 st What is the Third Estate? ……Everything! Abbé Sieyès rd What does it demand? …..To become something!! 2 nd What has it been heretofore in the political order? …..Nothing! 3 rd Estates Awakens:

3 rd Estate declared themselves the National Assembly, on June 20, Swore an oath to: a.not disband until they had written a constitution b.end the Old Regime c.create a gov’t based on the will of the people

What does this cartoon show?

Louis XVI refuses to recognize the new government and begins to mobilize troops to surround the National Assembly. a.Third Estate fears for their lives. b.Peasants see there may not be relief from inflation, unemployment, and food shortages. IT BEGINS!!

People in the countryside, in support of the national assembly, stormed the Bastille, (the kings prison) demanding that prisoners be released and demanding weapons and gunpowder they believed were at the prison. July 14 th is now France’s independence day – known as Bastille Day.

Attack on Bastille was symbolic of an attack on the injustice and inequality of Old Regime. The Bastille falls to the control of the French citizens and the revolution has begun. Louis loses control of Paris and the National Assembly is saved.

The French tri-color was adopted in July But what exactly the colors represent is still debated. Paris Bourbon (royalty) libertyequalitybrotherhood

Liberté La Republic

Did you notice what was one common thing in all 4 pictures??

On August 27 th, 1789, the National Assembly writes a document outlining all man’s rights. Like the US Declaration of Independence, it stated that all men were created equal and had equal rights to life, liberty and property. Under duress, King Louis XVI signed the document into law.

On October 17, 1789, about 6,000 Parisian women marched to the Palace of Versailles to demand bread for the starving masses of Paris. They discover the royal family trying to flee France and force the king to return to Tuileries Palace, in Paris, where they would have less opportunity to escape.

Tuileries Palace

The National Assembly also looks at the relationship between the church and the government. Church land is taken by the Assembly to help pay for the new government and to reduce debt. Priests and clergy must be elected by the people. The pope had NO voice in the appointment of new clergy. Pope Pius VI [ ]

1791- the National Assembly finishes a constitution and gives power to the new Legislative Assembly (government) A constitutional monarchy is created, stripping the king of most of his powers and redistributes political powers to the new government. The Legislative Assembly is given power to create laws and approve or prevent any war declared by the king. Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly. (1791)

1791 – a new government is elected, The National Convention, to replace the Legislative Assembly. Two distinct groups begin to form with in the National Convention, the Jacobins (radicals) and the Girondins (moderates). Sept – the National Convention completely abolishes the monarchy and declares France a republic. All male citizens are given the right to vote and hold public office.

1793 – Louis is tried and convicted of treason against the new republic and sentenced to death.

After the death of King Louis XVI, the threats from foreign armies and domestic mobs create a struggle for power in the new government. In the summer of 1793, the Committee for Public Safety is created and a man by the name Maximillian Robespierre is chosen as its leader.

Facing civil unrest across the country, the Committee for Public Safety decided who was an enemy of the state Enemies were arrested and put to death. From July 1793 to July 1794, about 40,000 people were executed, most of them being falsely accused, and 85 percent of them being peasants. Anyone else see the irony here?

The most famous victim of the reign of terror was the wife of the king ….Marie Antoinette Even those who helped establish the revolution were put to death for not being “radical” enough.

28% 31% 25% 8% 7% Different Social Classes Executed

By July 1794, no one was safe from Robespierre. The National Convention turns on Robespierre and he is sentenced to death – July 28, 1794 With no-one really in charge and fear the revolution had gone to far, the scene was set for the emergence of a new leader of France. Napoleon Bonaparte