Chapter 6: The French Revolution

In 1789, France still had a Medieval social system In 1789, France still had a Medieval social system –The ancien regime, or old order, divided people into 3 estates, or classes 1.Clergy 2.Nobility 3.Vast majority of the population

Clergy enjoyed large amounts of wealth Clergy enjoyed large amounts of wealth –Owned 10% of land –Collected tithes –Paid no taxes to the state High officials were well off, priests were poor High officials were well off, priests were poor Churches ran schools, orphanages, and hospitals Churches ran schools, orphanages, and hospitals Church fought against Enlightenment ideas of reform Church fought against Enlightenment ideas of reform

Nobles held top jobs in government, the army, courts, and church Nobles held top jobs in government, the army, courts, and church –Some nobles enjoyed city life, others struggled to get by Nobles resented middle-class appointments but liked not paying taxes Nobles resented middle-class appointments but liked not paying taxes

Third Estate was the most diverse Third Estate was the most diverse –The middle-class bourgeoisie included bankers, doctors, lawyers –The bulk of the estate were royal peasants –Urban workers were the poorest members All members of the Third Estate resented noble privileges All members of the Third Estate resented noble privileges –First and Second Estates pay on taxes –Fees may be put on peasants by nobles Enlightenment ideas led Third Estate to demand privileges Enlightenment ideas led Third Estate to demand privileges

Comparison & Contrast the French and American Revolutions (1:38) Comparison & Contrast the French and American Revolutions (1:38) Comparison & Contrast the French and American Revolutions Comparison & Contrast the French and American Revolutions

Financial Troubles Deficit spending caused a large financial crisis Deficit spending caused a large financial crisis Wars caused France to go into debt leading to more money being borrowed Wars caused France to go into debt leading to more money being borrowed –By 1789 half of the governments money went toward paying interest Bad harvests led to increased food prices and lowing classes going hungry Bad harvests led to increased food prices and lowing classes going hungry Taxes would help solve problems buy nobles and clergy resisted Taxes would help solve problems buy nobles and clergy resisted

As problems rose, the king was asked to summon the Estates-General, a legislative body of all three Estates As problems rose, the king was asked to summon the Estates-General, a legislative body of all three Estates –King feared of losing power, nobles hoped to gain power Before meeting each Estate listed their grievances in cahiers, or notebooks Before meeting each Estate listed their grievances in cahiers, or notebooks –Most wanted fairer taxes, free press, and regular meetings of Estates-General

Representatives of the 3 rd Estate were well read and expected reform Representatives of the 3 rd Estate were well read and expected reform Voting became an issue as the 1 st and 2 nd Estates usually outvoted the 3 rd Estate Voting became an issue as the 1 st and 2 nd Estates usually outvoted the 3 rd Estate After weeks of stalemate the 3 rd Estate became the national Assembly representing the people of France After weeks of stalemate the 3 rd Estate became the national Assembly representing the people of France When their meeting place was blocked the NA went to a tennis court and took the Tennis Court Oath pledging to write a constitution When their meeting place was blocked the NA went to a tennis court and took the Tennis Court Oath pledging to write a constitution

Parisians Storm the Bastille Rumor was royal troops were headed to occupy Paris Rumor was royal troops were headed to occupy Paris Parisians wanted to defend themselves so they demanded weapons from the Bastille, a prison Parisians wanted to defend themselves so they demanded weapons from the Bastille, a prison After the commander refused, the crowd stormed the gates and took over the fortress After the commander refused, the crowd stormed the gates and took over the fortress

Storming of the Bastille (1:59) Storming of the Bastille (1:59)

Section 2: The French Revolution Unfolds 4 Phases of the French Revolution 4 Phases of the French Revolution –Moderate phase of the National Assembly turned France into a Constitutional Monarchy turned France into a Constitutional Monarchy –Radical Phase Escalating violence ended the Monarchy and began the Reign of Terror. Escalating violence ended the Monarchy and began the Reign of Terror. –The Directory Period of reaction against extremism. Period of reaction against extremism. –Age of Napoleon Consolidated many revolutionary changes Consolidated many revolutionary changes

“The Great Fear” A terrible famine caused much of France to search for food A terrible famine caused much of France to search for food Rumors of attacks on villages and soldiers taking peasant crops spread Rumors of attacks on villages and soldiers taking peasant crops spread Peasants fought back by burning manor records and stealing grain Peasants fought back by burning manor records and stealing grain

Different factions, or groups, formed in Paris Different factions, or groups, formed in Paris Moderates followed Marquis de Lafayette who fought in the American Revolution Moderates followed Marquis de Lafayette who fought in the American Revolution –Led the National Guard Militia against royal troops. –This was the 1 st French group to fly the colors red, white, and blue.

Paris Commune Replaced the government that was loyal to the Crown Replaced the government that was loyal to the Crown Mobilized neighborhoods to violent action against the government Mobilized neighborhoods to violent action against the government Led to more rumors about the royal family and members of the royal court. Led to more rumors about the royal family and members of the royal court.

A cartoon on the Paris Commune of "I wish to be free. It is my right and I will defend it." One motive that lay behind establishment of the Commune was the demand that Paris be allowed to govern itself. Paris also wanted to continue the war against Prussia in A cartoon on the Paris Commune of "I wish to be free. It is my right and I will defend it." One motive that lay behind establishment of the Commune was the demand that Paris be allowed to govern itself. Paris also wanted to continue the war against Prussia in 1871.

Théophile Ferré, a member of the Paris Commune. He served for a time as the Commune?s public prosecutor, and won a reputation for militancy and ruthlessness. The Thiers government sentenced him to death by firing squad. Théophile Ferré, a member of the Paris Commune. He served for a time as the Commune?s public prosecutor, and won a reputation for militancy and ruthlessness. The Thiers government sentenced him to death by firing squad.

National Assembly Makes Changes (2:04) The National Assembly voted to end all privileges of the noble class The National Assembly voted to end all privileges of the noble class –This gave all male citizens equality before the law The Declaration of the Rights of Man was written in the form of the Declaration of Independence The Declaration of the Rights of Man was written in the form of the Declaration of Independence –Spoke of natural rights and governments job to protect rights –Liberty, property, security, and resistance to opposition –All Male citizens were equal before the law..and had the right to hold office.

Olympe de Georges wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Women and Female Citizens Olympe de Georges wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Women and Female Citizens “Woman is born free and her rights are the same as man” “Woman is born free and her rights are the same as man” Believed men and WOMEN should be eligible for public office Believed men and WOMEN should be eligible for public office Louis XVI did not accept the reforms..nobles continued their comfortable lives while the peasants suffered. Louis XVI did not accept the reforms..nobles continued their comfortable lives while the peasants suffered.

Six thousand women marched from Paris to Versailles demanding bread and to see the king!!! Six thousand women marched from Paris to Versailles demanding bread and to see the king!!! Marie Antoinette – Was the Austrian born Queen who there anger was aimed for Marie Antoinette – Was the Austrian born Queen who there anger was aimed for Lived an extravagant life..which led to further unrest. Lived an extravagant life..which led to further unrest.

Marie Antoinette Was against the reforms of the movement Was against the reforms of the movement Her lifestyle made other women resent her Her lifestyle made other women resent her Often lived in a little cheateau in Versailles to live her own life on her terms. Often lived in a little cheateau in Versailles to live her own life on her terms.

Women refused to leave until the King met their most important demand = Return to Paris. Women refused to leave until the King met their most important demand = Return to Paris. King, unhappily, loaded up his family and went to Paris King, unhappily, loaded up his family and went to Paris Crowds along the way cheered the King as he was now wearing the tri-color of the revolution Crowds along the way cheered the King as he was now wearing the tri-color of the revolution Louis XVI and his family would stay in the Tuileries Palace..as a virtual prisoner for the next three years. Louis XVI and his family would stay in the Tuileries Palace..as a virtual prisoner for the next three years.