The French Revolution Louis XVI - Napoleon

Setting the Stage  1788 King Louis XVI needs cash – France bankrupt Fighting the British during the 7 Years War (French and Indian War) Supported America during the American Revolution Upkeep on Palace of Versailles

Louis Calls the Estates-General  Estates General – Similar to Parliament – Representatives from each of the 3 classes of French society 1 st Estate - Clergy 2nd Estate - Nobles 3rd Estate – Everyone else - bourgeoisie - artists, farmers, Peasants, city workers etc

Divide up room  1 st Estate on right (2 people)  2 nd Estate in middle ( 2 people)  3 rd Estate on left ( everyone else)  The issue for today’s vote: – Extra Credit

Estates General  1 st Estate has 300 members and one vote  2 nd Estate has 300 members and one vote  3 rd Estate has 600 members and one vote – How do you feel about this if you are in the 3 rd Estate??? – WHY?

Demand for Change  3 rd Estate wants to change voting procedures. – Want to establish a National Assembly where EACH representative has a vote.

King Louis XVI’s Response  Get the idea?? NADA!!! No!!, No Way!!! Aint gonna happen!!!, Forgetaboutit!!! Nope!!! Uh-uh!!! Not on my watch!!! Not here, not now, not ever!!!

3 rd Estate Response  May Representatives meet on an indoor tennis court and pledged that they would not leave until the king agrees to their demands – “The Tennis Court Oath”  Embarrassing situation for the king  King agrees  Establishment of The National Assembly

Bastille Day  July 1789 French farmers, peasants do not have enough to eat and are paying high taxes – Nobles out of touch (“Let them eat cake”)  Peasants getting a bit rowdy  Louis XVI starts assembling troops at Versailles  People fear he is planning to attack the new National Assembly and arrest members

Bastille Day continued  People in Paris hear about the troops – Begin to riot. – July 14, Attack the Bastille – fortress prison in Paris holding political prisoners, debtors, criminals etc. Seen as a symbol of Kings power People storm the prison and free the prisoners.

Declaration of the Rights of Man  National Assembly votes to eliminate all classes, titles, nobility. – Say nobles and clergy must pay taxes too  Serves as a basis for French Constitution “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

Revolution gets out of hand  Riots soon spread to countryside – Peasants attack nobles in their houses. Kill many nobles – Nobles and Clergy living in fear

Revolution Getting out of Control  King Louis XVI attempts to flee the country with his wife Marie Antoinette  Captured and brought back  Radicals getting more say in how the government should be run

Outside Influences  Other nations of Europe worry that revolution in France will spread to their countries.

We better stop this This is getting out of hand The killed their King!!! This is not good

Other nations invade France – Austria, Prussia (Germany), Spain, Britain, wage war on France. – French fight them off  Radicals in France gain even more power

Rule of Revolution #2  “In the midst of chaos, the one who comes out on top is the one who is most organized and willing to speak out.”

Radicals Gain Control  Robespierre and the “Committee for Public Safety” – Begin hunting down all those seen as a threat to the Revolution – 1793 Louis and Marie sent to the guillotine – “Reign of Terror” Begins Around 30,000 people will be sent to the guillotine Nobles, peasants, workers, anyone Robespierre saw as a threat to the revolution

Reign of Terror – “Reign of Terror” Begins Around 30,000 people will be sent to the guillotine Nobles, peasants, workers, anyone Robespierre saw as a threat to the revolution

End of Reign of Terror  1794 – National Convention feels Robespierre has gone over the line – He is arrested, tried, convicted and executed – Don’t you just love the irony of it all???

Impact of the Revolution  Monarchy is gone  Old feudal customs are gone  Slavery in French colonies abolished  France becomes democratic country – The Directory 2 house legislature and committee of 5 Directors – Inefficient, quarrelsome,  France has LARGE, experienced army – Rising young star in that army – Napoleon Bonaparte