Causes of the French Revolution

Essential Question At what point did the French Revolution become irreversible?

Louis XVI Married age 15 Crowned age 19 Introverted Uninterested in government Isolated & Clueless Louis XVI

Marie Antoinette Princess of Austria Married at age 14 Lavish in dress “Madame Deficit” Scandals Marie Antoinette

Government Estates General-each estate has 1 vote First Estate-Roman Catholic clergy (1% pop.) Second Estate-Nobility (1% of pop.) Third Estate-Bourgeoisie, Artisans, Peasants (98% of pop) Bourgeoisie-Middle class people (Doctors, Lawyers, Merchants)

Estates Nobles Owned 33% of land Clergy 10% of land Bourgeoisie & Artisans 17% of land Peasants Owned 40% of land

Causes of French Revolution Long Term Corrupt & inconsistent leadership Resentment of 3rd Estate towards privileges of 1st & 2nd Enlightenment Philosophy

Immediate Causes Government Debt Poor harvest & rising cost of bread Louis XVI rejected financial reforms Formation of National Assembly Storming of the Bastille

Financial Problems in 1789 Urban Commoner’s Budget: King’s Budget: Food 80% Rent 25% Tithe 10% Taxes 35% Clothing 20% TOTAL 170% King’s Budget: Interest 50% Army 25% Versailles 25% Coronation 10% Loans 25% Admin. 25% TOTAL 160%

French Budget, 1774

Where is the tax money?

Convening the Estates General May, 1789 Last time it was called into session was 1614!

“The Third Estate Awakens” 3rd Estate proclaimed themselves the “National Assembly” of France.

The National Assembly June 17, 1789 Third Estates created new governing body Tennis Court Oath– Will not leave till they have Written Constitution

Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789 Rumor>king was planning military coup against National Assembly. 18 died. 73 wounded. 7 guards killed. It held 7 prisoners

Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen Slogan of French Revolution: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”-Rousseau Written by Marquis de Lafayette

Women’s March on Versailles Fighting for bread Forced King to return to Paris and deal with the people

Church and State National Assembly confiscates and sells off church lands to pay for government debt Civil Constitution of the Clergy>Weakens power of Catholic Church

The Royal Family Attempts to Flee June, 1791 Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Axel von Fusen [Marie Antoinette’s lover]. Headed toward the Luxembourg border. The King was recognized at Varennes, near the border & arrested

Call for Help Declaration of Pillnitz -Austria and Prussia willing to aide French royal family Austrian Emperor Joseph II is Queen’s brother French response: Declared war on Austria Other European countries feared France’s fate and that their ideas might spread

The Great Fear: Peasant Revolt Rumors : feudal aristocracy were sending hired brigands to attack peasants and pillage their land.

The Path of the “Great Fear”

September Massacres Aug 1792 Paris mobs attack and kill nobles and priests whom they accused of political crimes Radicals take over National Assembly Call for new constitution

The French Republic National Convention (Sept. 1792) Wrote first democratic constitutions Monarchy abolished Extend vote to all males with or without property Metric system New calendar