The French Revolution Part 1 1789-1792

Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI The French Monarchy: Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI

Social Structure Commoners 3rd Estate Clergy (0.5%) Nobility (1.5%) Aristocracy 2nd Estate Clergy 1st Estate Clergy (0.5%) Nobility (1.5%) Everyone Else (98%) Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.

Living Conditions of France 1780s France is poor, bankrupt from American Revolution Monarchy spend a lot of $$$$ Peasants pay taxes. Nobility and Clergy are exempt. Famine: food shortage + rising taxes = Bread Riots

Convocation of Estate General Last time it was called into session was 1614! May 1789 First meeting after 175 years Meeting of 3 social classes Discuss what to do about fiscal crisis. King locks 3RD Estate out of meeting next day. They meet in the tennis courts. Tennis Court Oath, creates the National Assembly (Parliament-like system) and begins writing Constitution (June 20, 1789).

“The Tennis Court Oath” by Jacques Louis David June 20, 1789 King realized 3rd estate is not backing down Allows meeting to continue King’s financial advisor sides with 3rd estate King fires him.

“The Third Estate Awakens” The commoners finally presented their credentials not as delegates of the Third Estate, but as “representatives of the nation.” They proclaimed themselves the “National Assembly” of France.

Bastille 3rd Estate needed to arm themselves against King and Army Attack Bastille which held French arms Bastille Prison represented Absolutism and abuse of Monarch power Mayor is beheaded National assembly accepts violence. French Revolution Begins July 14, 1789

Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789 The Tricolor (1789) Blue = Liberty White = Equality Red = Brotherhood.

Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens Aug. 1789 Demands ideas set by the Enlightenment Life, Liberty, security, equality, resistance to oppression, freedom of speech & press, no group exempt from taxation Leaves out women and slaves No mention of Monarch

Women’s March on Versailles Oct. 1789 Rumors of Queen hoarding grain Demand King and Queen sign Declaration of Rights and move back to Paris. King hesitates, women storm the palace Behead guards, heads on sticks. Capture King and Queen force them back to Paris leading with the heads of guards on a stick.

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly 1791 1790-1791 Counterinsurgencies occur throughout France Nobles begin to Emigrate June 1791 King and Queen try to sneak out of Paris into Austria. With the help of Marie Antoinette’s lover. Buhaaahaa. Were disguised as servants Recognized, arrested and taken back to Paris as captives King on house arrest at Tuileries Palace in Paris.

Champ de Mars July 1791 Jacobins organize to eradicate King Meet in Paris Park (Champ de Mars) French troops fire into crowd Killing 50 people who were armed with rocks.

Jacobins Revolutionaries Most radical political group Ruthless Robespierre: Leader See King as unnecessary / useless King escaping is treason punished by death. They call for a Republic: elected officials Want to eliminate ideas of Medieval France and the 3 social classes

Declaration of Pillnitz Aug. 1791 Austria and Prussia intend to bring the Monarchy back to power. Threaten War Leopold II of Austria: Brother of Marie Antoinette

Brunswick Manifesto (August 3, 1792) Duke of Brunswick if the Royal Family is harmed, Paris will be leveled!! Intended to intimidate Paris Instead it increases radicalism (Pushes the Revolution Forward) FRANCE 1792-1797 AUSTRIA PRUSSIA BRITAIN SPAIN

Guillotine Apr. 1792 New Killing Device Humane Death Penalty, equality Invented by Dr. Joseph Guillotine