French Revolution

French Revolution Causes of the French Revolution French society was divided into 3 different classes or “Estates”

French Revolution 1st Estate Priests Church officials Exempt from paying taxes

French Revolution 2nd Estate Nobility Exempt from paying most taxes Had the right to collect Feudal Dues from 3rd Estate Served as officers in the Army Held high positions at court

French Revolution 3rd Estate Common People (largest population) Bourgeoisie: Middle class merchants, professionals and shopkeepers Urban worker Paid the most % of taxes Had lowest quality of life

Impact of Enlightenment Ideas French Revolution Impact of Enlightenment Ideas Ideas made Frenchmen unwilling to accept the Divine Right of Kings Privileged positions of the Church and Nobility

Impact of Enlightenment Ideas French Revolution Impact of Enlightenment Ideas Financial Crisis Tax system was based off of tradition Different social classes and different regions paid different taxes France was a wealthy country but the Government didn’t have a fair tax system

Impact of Enlightenment Ideas French Revolution Impact of Enlightenment Ideas Financial Crisis The Government borrowed a lot of money to help finance their wars with Britain (rival) To help pay, the government wanted the Nobility to start paying taxes

Impact of Enlightenment Ideas French Revolution Impact of Enlightenment Ideas Financial Crisis Nobility would only agree to paying taxes if an Estates General was created Estates General: a national assembly in which each of the three social classes was represented in the government

French Revolution Main Events King Louis XVI gave into the 2nd Estate demands and allowed a vote to take place to select the General Estate Delegates from each Estate (1st, 2nd & 3rd) were elected to represent their Estate

French Revolution Main Events The 3rd Estate was able to elect the most representatives because they were the largest population Estates General met in May of 1789 Delegates from the 3rd Estate declared themselves to be the Nation Assembly

French Revolution Main Events King Louis XVI sought to break up the National Assembly When word spread of King Louis XVI’s plans, the National Assembly attacked and seized a royal prison, the Bastille in search of weapons to defend themselves The King gave in and recognized the National Assembly

French Revolution Main Events The National Assembly (August 1789) Abolished privileges of the Nobles Confiscated Church lands to pay off the states debt Issued a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Had a constitution written and created a Constitutional Monarchy in France

French Revolution Main Events Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Proclaimed that the government rested on the consent of the people (Popular Sovereignty) The Divine Right of Kings was no longer accepted Announced that all Frenchmen were “Free and Equal”

French Revolution Revolution Takes a Radical Turn In 1790, Louis XVI took an oath to the Constitution In 1791 Louis and his family tried to escape France Soon after the Monarchy was over thrown and France became a Republic

French Revolution Revolution Takes a Radical Turn The new French Republic was seen as a threat by the other European Monarchs so France was facing constant warfare Other parts of France were in still in rebellion The people felt that France might lose its power The Committee of Public Safety was created to restore power and control lead by Robespierre The committee began a “Reign of Terror” over the people of France

French Revolution The Committee of Public Safety The committee began a “Reign of Terror” over the people of France They used force and repression to crush the rebellion Laws were passed to allow the government the ability to arrest anyone An estimated 40,000 Nobles, Catholic Priest and other suspected traitors were killed