Chapter 18

 America gets a new government  France has a revolution More complex More violent More radical

 First estate Clergy 130,000 people owned 10% of the land Exempt from the taille  Second Estate Nobility 350,000 people owned 25-30% of the land Held several high positions in government and military Exempt from the taille  Third Estate Commoners of society Overwhelming majority of society = 75-80% of population with only % of the land Bourgeoisie- middle class 2.5 million people (8%) owned 20-25% of land. They were merchants, bankers, and other professionals

 Food Shortage = higher prices  Cost of wars led to almost bankrupt government  1/3 of population very poor  French government continued hefty spending on luxuries  Louis XVI had to call a meeting of Estates-General to raise new taxes before government collapsed

 Estates-General met at Versailles on May 5 th, 1789 found itself in deadlock First and second estate could possibly outvote third estate  Third estate left meeting- called themselves the National Assembly- to draft its own Constitution. By the 3 rd day King Louis had locked them out of their room  Found a nearby tennis court and swore to continue to meet until they produced a Constitution = Tennis Court Oath  As they finished, commoners stormed the Bastille (an armory and prison) in Paris, and Louis no longer had power

 August 26 th, National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man  You will be comparing three different documents that ensure human/natural rights. Declaration of the Rights of Man Bill of Rights Declaration of the Human Rights (UN December 10, 1948)

 *Important to note that women were not included in the Declaration of the Rights of Man.  However, When Louis XVI and his family wouldn’t leave Versailles – even though he had no real power – thousands of angry peasant women stormed the palace to with pitchforks, swords, and pistols  Forced the king to accept new decrees and move to Paris  Once in Paris the royal family were basically royal prisoners to the people

 French have a new constitution – Constitution of 1791 – written by the National Assembly Limited monarchy with legislature  King with little authority  Austria and Prussia threatening to help Louis XVI restore power – they were afraid that their own nations would revolt – and National Assembly declared war on them  Really bad economy – still  Group of radicals (Jacobins) wanting more change in Paris create their own group called sans-culottes (without breeches or fine clothes) start fighting the National Assembly

 National Assembly falls apart  New National Convention elected to write new constitution Abolished monarchy to create a republic  Two groups split at Convention Girondins – wanted king to live Mountains – wanted king to die Mountains won – Louis XVI died by guillotine More chaos ensued

 With so much unrest and pressure from outside nations the Committee of Public Safety was created Headed by Maximilien Robespierre Lots of power Reign of Terror commenced  40,000 people killed  16,000 by guillotine  Short lived – replaced by Republic of Virtue

 France had defeated most of foreign enemies – due to knew military strategy  Robespierre continued to kill anyone he thought was against the Republic of Virtue  National Convention voted to kill him July of 1794 and middle class was able to gain power.  Coup d’etat – sudden over throw of the government Continued to happen until Napoleon Bonaparte takes over