World Cultures Chapter 18: The French Revolution

18-1 The Age of Reason in France

Class questions How do our leaders get into office?

French Government in the 1700’s Ruled by a king with absolute power who believed that his right to rule came from God.

The 3 Estates French society was divided legally into three status groups or estates.

The 1 st Estate clergy (church leaders), 1% of the population. paid no taxes.

The 2 nd Estate Nobles, 5% of the population They paid no taxes.

The 3 rd Estate Commoners (everyone else), 95% of the population from peasants to wealthy merchants, paid all the taxes.

Influence of the American Revolution Many French looked to the successful, free democracy in America. Some French soldiers like the Marquis de Lafayette fought in the American Revolution.

18-2 The King tries to Limit Democracy

Class Question Where is France? What should the Government do if they run out of money?

Troubles in France France in the late 1700s faced many problems Big war debts from funding the American Revolution Lavish spending by the king. Massive un-employment Inflation, rising prices Bad harvest Food shortages

Estates-General A governmental body like the British Parliament. In 1789 King Louis XVI (16 th ) called a meeting with the Estates- General to ask if he could raise taxes.

Representation Although the 1 st and 2 nd estates only made up a small % of the population they got 2 out of the 3 votes in the Estates General. – This angered the commoners. In 1789 the 3 rd estate wanted to raise taxes on the 1 st and 2 nd but they were out voted.

Class Question What was the Estates General and WHAT DID THEY DO?

Class Question What kind of person do you want to represent you in government?

The Tennis Court Oath When: June 20 th 1789 Who: the 3 rd Estate What: The 3 rd estate began to call themselves the National Assembly. When they tried to meet in a gov. meeting hall the king locked them out, so they moved to a nearby tennis court and pledged to write a French Constitution.

The Tennis Court Oath Why is it important: this was the first real time the people opposed the King, was the beginning of the end for King Louise.

Question for the Class Why do we write down the rules to games?

Class Question Should people be thrown in jail if they disagree with the government?

Storming the Bastille When: July 14 th 1789 Where: The Bastille was a prison in Paris that held people that didn’t pay their taxes.

Storming the Bastille What Happened: Rioters stormed an arsenal, got guns and stormed the prison. Result: started the revolution.

New Constitution 1789~1791 National Assembly wrote a new constitution, ended feudalism, ended the unfair taxes.

Declaration of the Rights of Man Was based on the American Bill of Rights.

Class Question How does a wild fire spread?

Reaction to the Revolution Austria & Prussia sent armies to France to try and stop the Revolution. Why: they were afraid that the revolution would spread to their counties.

National Convention Who: leaders of the F. Rev. What they did: – Forced King Louis off the thrown – Elected a new group called the National Convention. – Declared France a republic in 1792

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

The Reign of Terror What: In 1793 radical leaders of the revolution executed those who opposed the Revolution. – 1793 King Louis and his wife Marie Antoinette were executed

The Guillotine

Robespierre Radical leader of the revolution, encouraged executions of “enemies of the revolution”. Was executed himself after the reign of terror.

Section 3 Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte

Class Question How can/ do we prevent one person from gaining too much power today? * Think Enlightenment

Early Life Born on the Italian island of Corsica, to a minor noble family. Sent to study at a top military school as a child.

Rise to Power 1795 National Convention called the young general Napoleon to put down an uprising. In 1799 Napoleon made himself dictator of France. In 1804 he named himself emperor

Review True or False Napoleon was French. Napoleon went to a military school. Napoleon was elected emperor of France.

Class Question What makes a law fair?

Napoleonic Code Set of laws everyone had to follow. Laws were based on Enlightened ideas like equality before the law and religious tolerance.

Achievements in France Ended fighting in France. Invited nobles back to France. Allowed people to worship at Catholic churches again. Set up a police force. Required all people to pay taxes. Reformed schools.

MilitaryMilitary Achievement Changed the French military by promoting people based on talent. Took control of most of Europe militarily and by annexing others. Could not defeat Great Britain.

Defeat 1812 Napoleon’s army was defeated in a failed invasion of Russia.Russia In 1814 a combined Prussian, British, Russian defeated Napoleon. Napoleon stepped down and was exiled to a small island of Elba. In less than a year he escaped, returned to France, and ruled for 100 Days

Battle of Waterloo Napoleons forces in June 18, 1815 were defeated by group of allied European forces. – Napoleon went into final exile in Saint Helena – Died May

France After Napoleon France was ruled by a king again, King Louis XVIII 3 more revolutions France became a colonial empire